5 Ways to Get a Designer Look for Your Home on a Budget

Get a high-end designer look for your home without breaking the bank. Here are 5 smart, stylish ways to decorate a house cheap.

All too often, folks think a well-styled home has to cost an arm and a leg to decorate. That simple isn’t true. You’d be surprised at how great you can make any room look on the cheap!

I’ve been enamored with home decorating ever since I was a little girl. I dreamed of the day I’d have a place of my own to decorate. When that day finally came, the reality came that my dreams didn’t always match my budget.

I learned pretty quickly that if I wanted the designer look that that I loved, I had to get creative. Over the years I’ve made it my mission to figure out how to decorate a house on a budget, while still making it feel high-end and welcoming. These are some of my tried and true tips, so that you can make that happen in your home, too!

Shop Thrift and Consignment Stores

You are seriously missing out if you’ve never gone thrifting for home decor. I’ve found some of my very favorite pieces at my local thrift stores, antique malls and consignment shops for a fraction of what I’d pay for them new.

Decorating your home doesn’t mean that every piece has to be brand new or expensive. That gorgeous blue mirror, the brass candlesticks, and even the white ceramic lamps in this space? You could easily find similar pieces like I did if you are patient and know where to look.

When I’m shopping thrift or consignment, I always look for:

• Quality furniture with good bones – even if the finish is dated, paint can work wonders.
• Unique accessories like brass pieces, blue and white pottery, or vintage art.
• Lamps with classic shapes – even if the shade needs updating.
• Mirrors and frames – they instantly make a room feel more designer.

The main thing is to look beyond the surface. A quick coat of paint or new hardware can take something from dated to designer in no tiem.

If you are new to thrifting, start my checking out stores in higher end neighborhood. Keep a running list of the things you are looking for.

Check out how I gave my entire new dining room a makeover using thrifted pieces.

DIY Large Picture Frames

Oversized artwork can instantly make a space feel high-end, but large-scale frames from the store can cost a small fortune. If you’ve priced them out before, you know what I mean! The good news is, you can totally get that designer look for way less by making your own.

The picture above this fireplace is the perfect example of how a large DIY frame gives even inexpensive art a polished look. Whether you are framing printable art, a canvas, or even fabric, it is easy to build your own frame.

This is one of my favorite tricks when I need something big to fill a wall but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars. You’ll be surprised at how much impact a DIY frame can have in your space.

Faux Grasscloth Wallpaper Instead of Real Grasscloth

If you’ve ever priced real grasscloth wallpaper, it is not exactly budget-friendly. As much as I love the texture and depth it adds, spending hundreds (or even thousands!) on wall coverings just isn’t in the cards for most of us.

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Enter faux grasscloth to the rescue. The wallpaper in this dining room isn’t the real deal- but you’d never know it unless you were super close to it. It gives the same soft, layered look and adds so much warmth to the space.

You can even find peel-and-stick versions that go up in no time and don’t damage the walls. This is a great option for renters.

This simple swap gives you tons of style without the cost-and it’s one of my favorite ways to add a touch of luxury on the cheap.

Use Inexpensive Amazon Pillow Covers Instead of Purchasing Designer Pillows

Throw pillows are one of the easiest ways to update a space, but designer pillows are ridiculously priced these days. Instead of spending upwards of $60 or more on a single pillow, I like to use budget-friendly pillow covers from Amazon.

You can find stylish options in every pattern, color and texture and many look like the high end versions that I see in boutiques.

In my living room, those blue and solid green ones? Total Amazon finds. I even re-used pillow inserts I already had so updating the look of my sofa was quick and oh-so affordable.

Here’s why I always recommend inexpensive pillow covers:

• They’re easy to swap out seasonally or whenever you’re craving a change.
• You don’t have to store bulky pillows, just the covers.
• You can mix high and low—a few budget covers paired with one luxe fabric creates a layered look.
• You can try out trends without committing a lot of money.

I’ve had great luck with covers that even come with hidden zippers and textured fabrics for a fraction of the cost.

Rearrange Existing Decor

One of the easiest—and totally free—ways to refresh your home is by simply moving things around. I like to think of it like rotating toys when my kids were little. I’d put some away for a while, and when I pulled them back out, it was like Christmas morning all over again!

The same idea works for home decor. Shop your house and give items a break every now and then. Pull a lamp from the bedroom into the living room. Swap vases between rooms. Or just try styling your shelves, coffee table, or mantel in a new way with pieces you already own.

Here’s why this works so well:

• You notice things again when they’re in a new spot.
• You can edit down clutter by storing extra decor and rotating it seasonally.
• Your home stays interesting without constantly buying new things.

In this photo, every piece is something I already had—books, a little chinoiserie jar, and a pretty planter. But with a little rearranging and grouping them together, it all feels curated and fresh again.

If you’re feeling stuck, take everything off your surfaces and start from scratch. That little reset can be the inspiration you need to fall in love with your space all over again.

Just remember that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home look beautiful and feel inviting. With a little creativity, some budget-savvy tricks, and maybe a DIY or two, you can get that designer look for less. The key is to be thoughtful about what you bring into your home—and to work a little magic with what you already have.

Give just one of these ideas a try, and I think you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!