Decorating Your Home on a Budget

Your home is your sanctuary and decorating it to suit your style doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Whether you reuse the furniture you already have, repurpose second-hand finds or make your own accessories, these DIY home décor ideas and cost-saving tricks will help you build an affordable space that you won't ever want to leave again.

Purge and Repurpose

Before decorating - sell, donate or give away extraneous items. Then see if any of your leftover pieces can be used in new ways. A wooden chair could become a side table, a trunk could turn into a coffee table or a bookshelf with lower cabinets could make a pretty cocktail bar.

Paint an Accent Wall or Door

Nothing freshens up a room like a fresh coat of paint, but multiple cans can be expensive. Rather than painting every wall, door and piece of trim in your abode, pick and choose accent walls and doors that could use a pop of colour.

Reupholster your Couch or Armchairs

There's no need to buy a new sofa and chairs. Instead, reupholster the pieces you already own to give them new life. And if you're starting from scratch and don't have any furniture, try to find second-hand or sale items with stylish shapes and reupholster them with fabrics that suit your tastes.

Refurbish Second-Hand Pieces

It might only take paint and new hardware to turn a tired desk or sideboard into a star piece in your collection. Vintage items can also be used in creative ways: think stacked wood crates as bookshelves or an old door on its side as a headboard—and those are just a few home decorating ideas on a budget.

Frame Pages from Art Books or Calendars

Clipping images from old cards, vintage magazines and artsy calendars can be an affordable way to accumulate prints for your walls. Create a gallery wall with multiple pieces clustered in a group to fill up larger spaces.

Get Creative with Accents

Make your own stationary drapery panels (rather than full drapes) to add a bit of texture to a room with minimal fabric. Fake a cozy fireplace with a tray of candles or place flowers in mason jars. There are tons of tips for how to decorate your home, whether you go to your local craft shop for ideas or peruse crafting sites online. 

Redeem your Points

Use points that you've earned with your credit card to help buy essentials for your home. For example, PC Optimum points earned with a PC Financial MasterCard can be redeemed† for  décor and other items at Loblaw (opens in a new window) banner stores such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Don't Rush

Rather than spending your budget on finds that you'll want to replace in two months, collect items over time that you actually love. It might mean that your home will take longer to complete, but every piece will feel personalized and have meaning.