I love decorating my home, but I don’t love the sometimes high prices that go along with it. $1,000 for a chair? $100 for a simple frame? I don’t have that kind of money, so I bargain shop for home decor and other pieces at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Target. I almost always find what I am looking for at a much cheaper price.
Here are some more of my favorite tips and tricks for decorating on the cheap:
Buy “damaged” accessories
I always check home stores for “scratch-and-dent” accessories. Usually, all they need is a little touch-up paint or TLC. Sometimes, I just turn the damaged part to the wall so you can’t see it. No one will ever know! 
Make your own artwork
For less than $50, I bought a couple of canvases, paint, and brushes from a discount art store and made my own “abstract” art for the walls of my living room. It looks really cool and cost much less than store-bought artwork.
Use Craigslist
I love to buy furniture from Craigslist. Usually, I have something in mind before I start looking through the ads online. It might not happen right away, but after a month or two of searching, I usually find what I want.
Check out yard sales and estate sales
Craigslist is also a great resource for finding yard sales in your area. It’s also helpful to get a preview of what’s for sale, so you don’t waste your time traveling around to different yard sales. You can also sign up for estatesales.net to get notifications of tag sales, estate sales, and auctions in your area.
Offer to pay cash
One time, my husband and I were looking around a small furniture store. We came across a bookshelf that we loved, but we didn’t want to shell out full price for it. After chatting with the shop owner about the price, he offered to give us a 15% discount if we paid cash instead of using a credit card. It was a done deal after that!
Shop consignment stores
In addition to selling clothing and accessories, many consignment stores also sell furnture and home accessories for a fraction of the price.
Buy from hotel surplus stores.
I haven’t done this one yet, but a friend told me about an amazing marble table that she bought from a local hotel for less than $100! Just Google “hotel surplus” for more info and where to buy.
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
Thanks for the awesome tips! I hate spending a lot of money on things and these tips will help a lot : )
Great tips! These are some of my favorites for trying to stretch my dollar as farrrrrr as it’ll go!
50% of all my furniture came from Craigslist, and the other 50% came from yard sales, Good Will, and excess from family members. Same with TVs. We have three TVs, and only one of them I paid money for, and I paid $5 for it. That TV is older than me! Really, the only non-decorative furnishing in my house that I actually got new was my mattress and box spring, and even that was a graduation present. I’m pretty much the only person I know who is my age (21) and has a fully furnished house!
i just started getting into decorating and it’s tough being on a budget. i checked out some antique stores and some have some cool stuff. i’m definitely checking out this hotel surplus thing!
I think that maybe an old piece of furniture just has more character.
Wei Wei
good tips! I bought my dining table at an auction and love it! It was a killer deal! Have a good day
[...] Home Decorating on the Cheap [...]