How To Change up Your Décor Without Spending Money

Anyone can freshen up their interiors with a credit card and the internet, but when you’re moving out, you don’t want to invest in more improvements than necessary. And when you’re moving in, you don’t want to blow your budget until you’re sure what to do with the place. If you’re wondering how to change up your décor without spending money, a little ingenuity is all you need.

Update Oldies but Goodies

Do you know what’s even cooler than mint-condition antiques? Going through your junk and giving it a new vocabulary. Hey, that’s not a busted old door—that’s “architectural salvage,” which you can “reclaim” and “upcycle” into a “farmhouse-chic” table. And if it turns out to be just another project that ends in epic failure? Use it anyway, and call it “bohemian,” “folk,” or “eclectic.”

Take Things Out of Context

You’ve gotten used to the way things are, but rearranging a few things can help you appreciate them anew. Move a rug to a new spot for an unexpected jolt of color. Take that bar cart out of the corner and repurpose it as a nightstand. Get crafty with the extra jars in the pantry, and turn them into bathroom organizers. Try an accent chair in a different room. Better yet, switch rooms altogether for an entirely new view of the world.

Brighten Bookshelves

It can be startling to realize that bookshelves aren’t necessarily just for books, but giving them a makeover can change a whole room. Yes, it might hurt to dismantle your well-worn Stephenie Meyer library, but even if it goes against every fiber of your being, it can be good for you. It’s freeing to add other items—and even empty space—to your shelves to elevate your surroundings. Overstuffed shelves can be claustrophobic, while airier arrangements have a new and modern vibe.

Shop Your Own Stuff

If you’re of a certain age, you probably have things packed away in the attic that you don’t even remember buying. Or maybe there’s a moving box in the garage that you never got around to opening. Take a deep breath, and dive in. You might come across family mementos or fabulous items that had to make way for seasonal décor and kid stuff. So restore that crystal decanter to its rightful place of glory, and hang your souvenir kimono on the wall. Worst case scenario, you’ll remember why you stashed it away in the first place, and you can toss it.

If you’re not sure how to change up your décor without spending money, get inspiration from these design concepts: group things in threes; unite elements by color; create a focal point; place furniture at an angle; showcase items on a gallery wall. Professional interior decorators may cost a lot, but you can steal their secrets for free.