10 Budget Bedroom Decorating Tips
Give your student digs or share house bedroom maximum style for minimum cost with these simple styling tips
Whether you’re moving into student housing or renting, buying or sharing your first home, when you start out living independently your design ambitions are often hampered by your wallet. Finding and funding a first home can drain your bank balance, leaving little behind for the fun business of designing, shopping and decorating. In addition, your first home may only be temporary, so making pricey alterations could be not only beyond your means, but impractical too. Luckily, there are many ways you can personalise or even transform the bedroom in your first pad, without breaking the bank or leaving behind a beautiful legacy for someone else when you move. Here are 10 clever ideas to start you off.
2. Choose freestanding
You may love the clean lines and space efficiency of built-in furniture, but it’s often expensive to design and fit, and you can’t take it with you when you move. A safer option is to stick to freestanding storage, which will still look stylish but is also portable.
Invest in the best new pieces you can afford, but if your budget only stretches to flatpack designs, they may not appeal. Consider sourcing a vintage alternative instead, or upcycle an old item that may look tired but is still robust, as in this bedroom.
10 impressive upcycling projects for the bedroom
You may love the clean lines and space efficiency of built-in furniture, but it’s often expensive to design and fit, and you can’t take it with you when you move. A safer option is to stick to freestanding storage, which will still look stylish but is also portable.
Invest in the best new pieces you can afford, but if your budget only stretches to flatpack designs, they may not appeal. Consider sourcing a vintage alternative instead, or upcycle an old item that may look tired but is still robust, as in this bedroom.
10 impressive upcycling projects for the bedroom
3. Arrange your objects
Take time to thoughtfully arrange the pieces you own. Even humble objects can look beautiful when carefully organised into a display, and these little vignettes will do much to boost the room’s overall feeling of style. Mix items together, from postcards and books to ceramics and figures, then add simple flowers in a jam jar for extra personality.
Take time to thoughtfully arrange the pieces you own. Even humble objects can look beautiful when carefully organised into a display, and these little vignettes will do much to boost the room’s overall feeling of style. Mix items together, from postcards and books to ceramics and figures, then add simple flowers in a jam jar for extra personality.
4. Repurpose garage sale finds
Instead of buying new furniture, which can be costly, repurpose a vintage piece. An old tea chest or a stack of vintage suitcases can work as a bedside table, for example, while old wooden crates make useful wall-mounted storage.
Think laterally as you scour op shops and garage sales looking for cheap and unusual buys. There are many kooky things out there that could be reimagined as a useful item of bedroom furniture that’s full of character.
Instead of buying new furniture, which can be costly, repurpose a vintage piece. An old tea chest or a stack of vintage suitcases can work as a bedside table, for example, while old wooden crates make useful wall-mounted storage.
Think laterally as you scour op shops and garage sales looking for cheap and unusual buys. There are many kooky things out there that could be reimagined as a useful item of bedroom furniture that’s full of character.
5. Create impact with bedding
Completely redecorating the bedroom in your first home may not be an option, either because of cost or tenancy regulations. Instead, introduce a splash of colour, pattern and warmth with beautiful bedding. A bright bedspread or throw will instantly brighten plain bedding, or try mixing up styles and patterns for an eclectic look. This will easily distract attention from a peeling paint job or dodgy wall colour.
Completely redecorating the bedroom in your first home may not be an option, either because of cost or tenancy regulations. Instead, introduce a splash of colour, pattern and warmth with beautiful bedding. A bright bedspread or throw will instantly brighten plain bedding, or try mixing up styles and patterns for an eclectic look. This will easily distract attention from a peeling paint job or dodgy wall colour.
6. Embrace the past
Secondhand furniture is your friend when kitting out your first home. Look out for old pieces and remember that a tired paint job is often hiding a solid and serviceable piece of furniture. If your find needs a facelift, upcycle it by sanding and painting it or by stripping it back to bare wood and waxing it.
Secondhand furniture is your friend when kitting out your first home. Look out for old pieces and remember that a tired paint job is often hiding a solid and serviceable piece of furniture. If your find needs a facelift, upcycle it by sanding and painting it or by stripping it back to bare wood and waxing it.
7. Get creative with cast-offs
The cheapest way to furnish your bedroom is with pieces that cost nothing at all. If you don’t know of anyone that’s getting rid of some furniture that might suit you, it’s time to hunt down some scrap. Anything from scaffolding boards to old milk crates can be fixed and fashioned into furniture that works hard, looks exciting but costs nothing.
The cheapest way to furnish your bedroom is with pieces that cost nothing at all. If you don’t know of anyone that’s getting rid of some furniture that might suit you, it’s time to hunt down some scrap. Anything from scaffolding boards to old milk crates can be fixed and fashioned into furniture that works hard, looks exciting but costs nothing.
8. Lay some rugs
Maybe the floor in your new place is a bit rough or cold, or perhaps the landlord’s taste in carpets is stuck in the 1970s. No matter. Simply lay some rugs. You don’t need to spend hundreds on pure-wool rugs. Instead, look out for inexpensive woven cotton ones in colourful patterns. Layer them up for a multi-coloured look, or find a sizeable rug that will cover plenty of floor and instantly warm up your space.
Maybe the floor in your new place is a bit rough or cold, or perhaps the landlord’s taste in carpets is stuck in the 1970s. No matter. Simply lay some rugs. You don’t need to spend hundreds on pure-wool rugs. Instead, look out for inexpensive woven cotton ones in colourful patterns. Layer them up for a multi-coloured look, or find a sizeable rug that will cover plenty of floor and instantly warm up your space.
9. Hang patterned curtains
Dull, plain or shabby curtains will do nothing to lift the look of your bedroom, so take down any drapes that are under-delivering and replace them with something fresh. Patterned curtains create a splash at your window and can rev up a neutral scheme for minimal cost – look out for inexpensive ready-made ones, which come in a huge range of designs.
A complete guide to curtain styles
Dull, plain or shabby curtains will do nothing to lift the look of your bedroom, so take down any drapes that are under-delivering and replace them with something fresh. Patterned curtains create a splash at your window and can rev up a neutral scheme for minimal cost – look out for inexpensive ready-made ones, which come in a huge range of designs.
A complete guide to curtain styles
10. Make a statement bedhead
If your humble mattress set is looking a bit dull in your first bedroom, give it some heft by adding a statement bedhead. Use old timber or, as here, a vintage door to help zone the sleeping space and boost your bed’s impact.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for making your bedroom beautiful on a budget? Share them in the Comments section.
MORE
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My Houzz: Creative Share House Living in Sydney
If your humble mattress set is looking a bit dull in your first bedroom, give it some heft by adding a statement bedhead. Use old timber or, as here, a vintage door to help zone the sleeping space and boost your bed’s impact.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for making your bedroom beautiful on a budget? Share them in the Comments section.
MORE
Budget Decorator: 15 Decorating Updates That Won’t Cost a Cent
10 Ways to Spruce Up Your Bathroom on a Budget
My Houzz: Creative Share House Living in Sydney
Good lighting is expensive to install and tricky to get right, so it’s no wonder the average rented room or first home does not feature good, mood-enhancing lighting. If your bedroom is lit by a solitary bulb in the centre of the ceiling, supplement this with inexpensive lamps or fairy lights, to boost overall light levels and create warm washes up the walls.