Moving into a new place invariably brings out many people’s inner nesting mode. After all, it’s your new place — don’t you want it to reflect your awesome personality?
But decorating your new digs can end up breaking the bank, unless you come up with creative solutions. The following are some frugal yet tasteful ways to spruce up your space.
Mirrors
Mirrors can instantly add depth and brighten any room. Although they can be pricey, Ikea, Walmart and Target have cheaper alternatives.
If you buy an over-the-door mirror, instead of hanging it vertically, try hanging it horizontally over your couch.
Photo frames
Colorful picture frames can be found anywhere and go on sale regularly. You can display
them on your desk, a side table or hang them up on the wall to add a little punch and
personality.
Plus, when you invite new people to hang out at your place, photos are a great conversation starter. If you have a bunch of great vinyl records and want to show them off, there are also relatively inexpensive record frames.
Tapestries
Yes, it’s a college cliché, but it’s only a cliché because it works so well. The best part about tapestries is that you don’t have to get ones with marijuana leaves or Bob Marley on them, and you also don’t have to tack them up on your wall, though there is nothing wrong with that if you want to fill up a dreary white wall.
Tapestries also add a punch of color to that couch you got from Goodwill (or from beside a dumpster) to your bed spread. That is, if you even make your bed.
Blankets
Not only do they have the potential to be colorful and fun, but they are also incredibly useful once November rolls along.
To make your own fleece blanket: Try going to a craft or fabric store that sells fleece in lots of patterns, then pick out your two favorite ones and decide how big you want your blanket to be. Making it 6′ x 4′ usually works well.
Next, with an pair of scissors, cut the border of the fabric into strips about 5 inches deep and 1 inch wide. It helps to match both patterns up because you will end up tying each strip together to form — get this — a super fleece blanket.
Yes, slightly juvenile, but it’s cuddly and better than a Snuggie.
Candles
This may be a little bit more on the girly side, but candles are nice. Not only are they relaxing, but guys, if you light some votives on a date night, you win instant points. And tea lights are super cheap, as well.
Painting a wall
If your landlord allows you to paint the walls of your apartment or house, go for it. However, painting every wall in every room can be expensive, between the costs of paints, brushes and the time it takes to do everything.
Instead of painting every wall, paint just one wall. Not only is it dramatic, but it also adds a pop of color to an otherwise dreary room. If you can’t paint a wall, then paint your dresser, desk, kitchen table, chairs or even around the edges of photo frames and mirrors.
Plants
No, not that kind of potted plant. (Unless you have the necessary medical license for it.) Ferns, lilies, water bamboo and cacti are nearly impossible to kill, so they don’t require you to be a master gardener.
They only require a little bit of attention and bring not only natural color to the room, but actually help keep the air fresher. If you feel as though no matter what you do, you’ll kill the plant, opt for the safer route of buying a vase and sticking a couple of fake flowers in it.
Posters
Posters can be of your favorite bands, favorite movies, favorite sport teams, landscapes, prints of famous paintings and photos. It can be classy or it can be raunchy.
It can be colorful or in black and white. You can declare whether or not you’re a Trekkie or a Harry Potter fan. It’s tried and true and works every time. Plus, you can learn a lot about people solely based on what kinds of posters they have hanging around.
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