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We’ve all been there — scrolling Pinterest or Instagram, looking at perfectly decorated spaces and wanting to turn our own homes from ordinary to lovely. But while perusing for inspiration, we also quickly realize it’s not as easy as it looks.
Decorating can be an expensive task and time consuming to transform our favorite spaces into something out of a magazine. But never fear! We’ve got some handy decor hacks and tips to help.
From easy DIY projects to “use-what-you-have” approaches to even just some solid shopping tips to help you get the most bang for your buck, these tips are pretty much guaranteed to give you the tools to redesign your space.
Who knows, you might want to post your space to Instagram as inspiration to others once you’re done — and you don’t have to tell them you did it the easy way.
Make your own cute picture frames
Framed wall art, be it photographs carefully curated into gallery walls or just inspirational quotes and words are a great way to give life and character to a space. The catch? Cute picture frames can be expensive! But there’s a way to get beautiful frames for a fraction of the cost. All you need is a can or two of spray paint of your choice and a trip to the thrift store. You can get picture frames, either empty or with some interesting art choices, at thrift stores for a few dollars each. In many cases those frames will even be sturdier than new frames or perhaps more ornate. Pick a few frames you like, take them home, clean them up and then spray paint them to the color of your choice. This works especially well with metallic paint if you’re going for a touch of silver, gold, or even rose gold. And, when your decor taste changes, you can always spray paint the frames again to match your new style. Perfect! Bonus tip: you can do this with old mirrors, too, just make sure to cover the mirrored portion before painting.
Hang curtains close to the ceiling to create height and dimension
Very few of us are lucky enough to have huge, floor to ceiling windows but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it look like we do! Try mounting your curtain rod close to the ceiling and then using long curtains that flow to the floor. Visually, it will trick the eye into seeing the room as taller than it actually is. This tip is especially great in small apartments that need a bit of a boost. Also, if you have a situation where there’s only one window on a wall and it would look better with two? You can hang a matching curtain in the space where the window should be. It helps create a sense of balance which is very aesthetically pleasing.
Repurpose objects you already have
This one might be our favorite tip. We all have objects we either aren’t using or aren’t using to their full potential. Some great examples of this are beautiful bowls or cake stands or even little baskets and trays. We have them, but maybe the end up as catchalls or are stored away for “special occasions.” But if we repurpose those items it can truly transform a space. Try a cake stand or cake plate on top of a dresser to put your daily wear jewelry on alongside a candle or your regular bottle of perfume! It creates visual interest and is a fun way repurpose an item. Got a fun bowl? Put it on your table and use it to hold fruit or other objects. You can even put a small dish in your entry way to hold keys and coins.
Think outside the box
Similar to repurposing items, this hack involves using items outside their intended use. Fabric wall hangings are a popular decor item right now (they make for great bedroom decor and substitute headboards) but can be pretty pricey to get one in a large enough size or just one that you like. Fortunately, any pretty fabric item can be hung as decor. A nice-sized fabric remnant from your local craft store, a pretty vintage sheet from a tag sale, even a throw blanket on clearance from Target can be hung up as a decor item.
Hit the clearance section at your favorite home store
You don’t have to repurpose or DIY to get nice style, but you also don’t have to pay full price. With merchandise changing out regularly at home and craft stores, things go on clearance regularly too and that’s where you can hit the decor jackpot. Always check those sections first for whatever items you’re looking for. Yours truly once was able to find a piece of framed art that retailed for $150 for $10 simply because it had gone “out of season” by the store standards even though it was a pretty classic piece. It remains a central feature in my home eight years later.
Clean. Yes, really…
This hack/tip is probably one that might be met with a few eye rolls, but ask yourself: what is one common feature that is in all beautifully decorated homes you see on Pinterest or Instagram? They’re all clean. Having a clean, fresh space will always look more beautiful than one that isn’t, no matter what items are on the wall or what furniture you have. Make it a point to keep things clean and tidy and you will already be rocking your space. Everything else? Just stuff.
What is your favorite decorating tip or hack? Let us know in the comments!
The Hudsucker 
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