Sick of your current bedroom, but unwilling to spend a fortune redecorating it? Well, you’re in luck—updating your bedroom doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, with a little creativity and do-it-yourself effort, you can take your bedroom from drab to fab on any budget. Here’s how:
$40: Paint Your Walls
Assuming you’re allowed to paint (if you’re a renter, check your lease or ask your landlord first), doing so can be a great, cheap way to dramatically change the look of your bedroom. A gallon of paint with primer costs about $40, and is good for approximately 350 square feet of wall (enough paint for a room about 12 by 14 feet with two windows and two doors). If your room is bigger, or you just don’t want to take the time needed to complete a decent-looking paint job, consider only painting one accent wall. Tip: When you go to buy your paint, let the person at the store know how much space you’re looking to cover, so you don’t end up with (and pay for) a ton of extra paint.
$5: Refresh Your Furniture
Re-purposing old furniture with a touch of paint or a new stain is a simple and budget-friendly way to breathe new life into a space. Don’t worry if you’re not the handiest person—tutorials for painting every piece of furniture, from nightstands to bed frames, can be found online. You won’t need nearly as much paint for a piece of furniture as you’d need for your walls, so you may even be able to get by with just buying a $5 paint sample can.
$5: Get Artsy
Artwork for your walls is perfect for sprucing up any space. Unfortunately, it’s also a tad expensive to buy original art. Luckily, even the least artistic among us can create some seriously cool artwork—usually for way less than you might expect. DIY projects such as these from Refinery 29 and Better Homes and Gardens can completely re-vamp your space for as little as $5 (and a little time spent getting crafty).
$50: Make a Funky Headboard
Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, so give it a makeover for an instant transformation. Instead of buying a new (expensive) comforter, target your headboard. There are tons of ways to re-create your headboard, and many of them involve very easy to find and non-expensive items. Check out this list from Homedit for some awesome DIY headboard ideas that anyone can do.
$30: Treat Your Windows
A new set of drapes and a stylish-looking curtain rod will only set you back about $30. Depending on how many windows you have, updating the window coverings can be an excellent, affordable, and easy way to completely re-vamp your bedroom. I recommend shopping online for window treatments on sites like Amazon and Overstock—you just can’t beat the variety of styles and the range of prices.
$20: Let There Be Light
It’s amazing what a little light can do. Stores like Target and IKEA stock tons of unique, eclectic table and floor lamps—usually for around just $20 each. So swap out the old bedside lamp with a funky new one. You’ll be surprised what a dramatic difference such a small change can make.
$0: Clean It Up
If you’ve read my past columns, you know that I look for basically any opportunity to throw things out. Too much clutter can ruin any room by making it feel smaller and disorganized. So, for an immediate (and free!) bedroom update, take a couple of hours and trash, recycle, and donate all the unnecessary things taking up space and cramping your style.
Don’t let low funds keep you from treating your bedroom to a stylish upgrade. Instead, channel your inner handy-woman and take on a few crafty projects. You’ll be amazed how easy and cheap it can be to completely make over your space.
