Decorating on the Cheap

ikea!!!! also, check out urban outfitters apartment stuff; REALLY cute accent pillows, lamps etc. another thing i would recommend is goodwill. take the hideous pictures out of the picture frames, maybe add a fancy looking matt... put in whatever picture you want and voila! couple of those on your wall and it instantly makes your room more interesting

I recently saw something on tv with wallpaper and I'm thinking of getting some really nice accent wallpaper to go on a bare wall that I have no idea what to put on there. Perhaps one strip of plaid wallpaper going across the wall or covering up some photoframes in something plaid and hanging them up. Whatever it is, I think plaid will definitely go on that wall. Hope that gives you an idea :)

i love the painting idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in the process of making myself a guest room/office out of a 3rd bedroom we just cleared. Obviously I'm trying to do it on the cheap, so it's a really slow and long process as I can afford it. First, I took a big tape measure and figured out the size of the room and made sure to note where the vents were, closet door openings, windows, etc. so I could see where furniture could fit, so I didn't waste my time falling in love with, or researching stuff that won't work. Then, I've just taken one step at a time (ie: bookcases, desk, chandelier) and researched the heck out of it. I made bookmark folders for each component of the room and saved all of my favorites until I was ready to weed through and pick out the finalists. I think Julia's idea for looking at kid's options is a great one! I found a really cute Crate & Barrel desk that was supposedly for a kid's room, but you'd never know and my chandelier in the description says it'd be great to liven up a child's bedroom. Who would have known?! I also highly recommend TJ Maxx and Marshalls for some amazing home furnishings. Hobby stores like Michael's sometimes have really cute vases and decor items for cheap, or DIY that you can paint to match your decor. Thanks for sharing the wallpaper idea - I love that and will have to try it! If you're looking for really, really cheap and DIY you can check out Craigslist or Freecycle to get used items and re-invent their use or re-paint them, swap out legs, etc. I once made a really cool room divider out of old closet doors that I painted and re-used.

Hi, I liked the"before" photo of your living room better.   Now it looks like every other minimalist/ikea nightmare.  I say, just wait until you can afford, or come across, the things you like.  Sometimes, decorating takes a long time...picking up things from your travels, antiquing and whatever else does not all happen in one week.  Thanks!