What to be able to afford decorating your home? Here’s how.
Before learning a few strategies, I never thought I would be able to afford the style I wanted in my home. The first step of overcoming this thought process was to first say to myself, it’s overall cheaper to buy quality once than to buy cheap five times. What I mean by that is, when my kids were small, we barely had the money to pay our monthly bills.
When I did have those rare extra funds, I spent it on a $40.00 particle board bookshelf from Walmart that is basically held up by the cardboard backing and pins nails. The shelf would make it maybe six months to a year before inevitably the kids would leave a drink on it, try to climb it, or the weight of the books would bow the shelves. It quickly went from an okay looking piece of furniture to a leaning, sagging eye sore.
So, I would save another $40.00 and go back to Walmart and do the same thing. Therefore, $120, $160 and two years later I was in the same predicament. Instead of waiting a little bit, putting that money back and buying a $120-$200 shelf that could literally last the rest of my life. And yes, you can find a bookshelf for $200.00. It just might take some effort and a little bit of patience.
Tips to save money for your interior design
- Stop buying cheaply made furniture.
- Part-time/seasonal work.
- Set up a savings account and have a portion of your paycheck go directly into that account.
- Sell things on FB Marketplace.
- Have a yard sale. Not enough stuff to sell by yourself? Ask a few friends or neighbors if they want to join forces.
- Purchase an e-design (btw, I offer these here) and buy the pieces on the board as you are able.
- Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthday, let your family and friends that you’re saving for décor. Most people want to get you what you want instead of wasting their money on something you’ll never use.
Our homes are worth the extra effort. Try to think of it like this; we all save for vacation. We do all these things in preparation for that one week a year. This is like a vacation you get to enjoy every day! Walking into my home every day is like going somewhere special to me. My house isn’t finished, and I don’t know that it will ever fully be (don’t tell my husband I said that), but I love the pieces I’m bringing in and the ones I’m replacing with something better.
How are you planning to save for interior design?
I love this. What helped most is the suggestion to let family and friends know I’m saving for decor. I never know what to tell them. Now I do. Home Goods or Home Depot gift cards!