How to Make a Decorating Budget (Fill Your Home Without Emptying Your Wallet)

2020-05-17T10:11:28+00:00

By FDP

Decorating can be expensive, particularly if you have to do a whole room or a whole house all at once. A decorating budget will be your most important tool in making sure you don’t empty your wallet while filling your house.

Make a Wishlist

The first thing to do is to let your imagination run wild. Think about all the things you would love to have, whether you think it will fit within your decorating budget or not.

Collect inspiration photos and write down all the things that stick out to you. Are you in love with wallpaper? Do you love the look of wainscotting? Are you attracted to specific statement pieces? Having a list of items you want to include will help you when it comes time to make a decorating plan.

Determine Your Budget

Put your wishlist aside for the moment and create a budget for the room(s) you need to decorate. Be honest about your regular expenses and really figure out how much you have to spend on this project. No decor item is worth having if it’s going to make you feel guilty or compromise the rest of your lifestyle. So figure out what you have to spend – what exactly you spend it on will be decided later.

Make a Decorating Plan

A decorating plan includes everything from creating an overall look, determining the floor plan, and adding any extras like wallpaper, light fixtures and artwork.

This is pretty much everything that will go into the room. This is where you want to work from your wishlist. Take all the things you wrote down and figure out what you actually want to put in your room while keeping your budget in the back of your head.

Comparison Shop

Comparison shopping before you buy is very important.

You need to familiarize yourself with what things really cost. Remember to include things like labor costs for custom work, shipping and delivery, and any other extras that may not be on an item’s original price tag. And don’t let yourself get discouraged during this process. While the prices quickly add up there are often ways to get what you want for the price you can afford – you just need to be willing to compromise. It’s not as hard as it seems to decorate a room on a budget.