We’d all like to have a beautiful home that we’re proud to call “ours”, but home renovation projects can be very expensive and time-consuming. Whether you’re living by yourself in your first apartment, raising a family in a forever home, or enjoying your sunset years in peace and quiet, the fact remains the same: interior design costs a pretty penny.

But you don’t have to shell out the big bucks to create the personal oasis you’re searching for. We’ve gathered 12 DIY decorating hacks that can please all ages, in all walks of life. Use these tips and tricks to emulate the top home design trends of 2020 at a fraction of the cost.

1. Do some light landscaping. The exterior of your home is the first thing you and your guests will see as you approach the door, so it should feel warm, bright, and welcoming—rather than dark, overgrown, and dilapidated. If your front exterior could use a little facelift, you can boost its curb appeal with some light landscaping. You don’t need to hire a professional; simply get out some garden shears to trim back unruly plants and pot a few vibrant flowers to add a splash of color.
   
2. Repaint the front door. Rather than replacing the front doors, revamp your entryway with a fresh coat of paint. Whereas new doors can range from $400 to $4,000, you won’t spend more than $50 on paint. Go for trendy teal or fire engine red to turn heads, or sand and stain existing oak to create a beachy, driftwood effect. If you watch a few tutorials online, you can avoid hiring a professional painter and achieve a luxury paint look by yourself at home.

1. Wow everyone with the walk-in entry. You should take your entryway to heart if you want to make a stylish first impression. We suggest starting from the ground up with rugs that can define the space because textures and patterns result in a finished feel. If the space lacks a closet for storage, get creative and find a dual-purpose piece of furniture that looks as hard as it works. You can use the surface area on top, below, and within so that it doesn’t appear cluttered.
   
2. Create your own custom wallpaper. Save money by making your own customized stencils with large pieces of cardboard. You can go for classic chevron stripes or Southwestern arrows—the only limit is your creativity. Tack them to the wall with pushpins and use a ruler to ensure they’re aligned straight. Trace the stencils using chalk and add decorative washi tape for a polished finish.
   
3. Add the illusion of space with mirrors. To make a small room feel larger and more open, hang a couple of mirrors in strategic locations. The reflections across the room can create an optical illusion of additional square footage.
   
4. Place some throw pillows. Give the living room a new feel by adding some throw pillows to your couch and loveseats. A change-up in accent colors or patterns can revamp the space without spending much money. If you know how to sew, you could also repurpose your existing pillows with homemade slipcovers.

1. Hide an unsightly router using a hollowed-out book. If your entertainment center or home office is looking a little cramped, this decorating hack can help you conceal anything you’d like left out of sight. That way, you can avoid purchasing expensive mounting systems that create a clean, streamlined effect.
   
2. Create more storage solutions. A messy home is unideal, so try to ensure everything has a proper place rather than absent-mindedly strewn about. You could install secret cubbies beneath a bench seat, add a cabinet to hide all your keys and mail littered across the kitchen corner, or hang a shelf to display picture frames.
   
3. Add ambient lighting. If your lights look a little lackluster, you might consider adding some ambient lowlights to enhance a room’s appeal. One budget-friendly design idea is to make lanterns filled with fairy light strings for a whimsical, rustic vibe. The space will feel warmer and more inviting, whether that’s to curl up and read a book, play board games with the family, or relax watching TV.

1. Go green with a touch of nature. Placing lush greenery throughout the home has positive benefits on mental health, but it also offers a cost-effective way to decorate. Make the most out of seasonal varieties by placing a pot within a pot; that way, you can easily swap them out as necessary and spare the expense of fine ceramics each time. If you don’t have a green thumb and don’t want to purchase plants that won’t last, remember that succulents are virtually fool-proof and you can also turn to fake houseplants that achieve the same result with one initial purchase. This decorating hack is much friendlier on your budget than buying a fresh bouquet of flowers every week.
   
2. Repurpose old jewelry into curtain tiebacks. These fixtures can be unjustifiably expensive, but you can achieve the same look by tying unworn rhinestone necklaces around curtains for a bohemian-inspired aesthetic.
   
3. Look around the house for items you can recycle. Jewelry isn’t the only thing you can reuse. Before you go shopping for home decor pieces, see what you already have laying around the house that you can reimagine as something new. One of the most popular objects to recycle is the cork of a wine bottle. They’re both rustic and classic, plus their neutral color means they can be woven into a variety of settings.

You don’t need to use a reverse mortgage calculator to see how much wealth you can reinvest into the appearance of your home, nor do you need to choose between the kid’s summer camp and your seasonal renovation project, nor blow your college budget.

All of these decorating hacks are extremely affordable yet powerfully effective. See what strikes your inspiration and start making small improvements to your interior decor. You may be surprised by how much you can achieve with such little money spent!

Kaelee Nelson

Kaelee Nelson received her Master degree with an emphasis in Digital Humanities and pursues her career as a writer in San Diego, currently writing for 365businesstips.com. She enjoys informing readers about topics spanning industries such as technology, business, finance, culture, wellness, hospitality, and tourism.