Stuck in a Rut? 7 Ways to Create a Beautiful Home on a Budget!

Hi there, Friends! Have you ever found yourself in a rut when it comes to decorating your home? We all want to create a beautiful home but at times, it can be a challenge to keep from getting stuck in a rut. You might think since I share upcycled and repurposed home decor each week, that I wouldn't be prone. To be honest, I hadn't even realized it myself, until I made a simple change recently. Today I'm sharing some thrifty tips that will help you conquer a decorating rut or avoid one altogether!

Break your own rules and make a change!

For over fifteen years, without realizing it, I'd been in a rut by assuming that the living room wall was the only place for my faux fireplace mantel. By doing so, I'd limited my decor by the need to arrange everything around the piece I thought couldn't be moved. However, last month when I decided to try moving the mantel from the living room to the dining room, I couldn't believe what a difference it made. Once the mantel was moved, it opened up new possibilities for rearranging other furniture. Now it feels like a whole new room and feels larger, too! Previously the mantel was centered on the turquoise wall under the mirror--here's a view of it, last spring.

Take a look around your living space. Have you made assumptions like mine? If so, I want to challenge you to switch things up a bit. I can't tell you what a big difference this small change made for me. {See the tutorial for my upcycled vintage plate sign, here.} 

Play musical chairs...literally!

After rearranging the living room, I had space for a small sitting area. Instead of using the pair of gray velvet slipper chairs that previously flanked the mantel, I played musical chairs, literally. I moved one of the gray chairs near the mantel in the dining room and switched the other for this upcycled toile chair I made over from an estate sale find, that was previously in a guest room--which brings me to the next tip....

Make something new or upcycle something old.

Earlier this week, I shared a tutorial for this $10 DIY pom-pom throw. See how to chalk paint a yard sale sofa, here and how to upcycle a throw pillow, here. Upcycling pillows by flipping them to the back side and stenciling them as seasonal decor saves money and storage space!

Showcase your collections.

Last week I shared how to style collections as seasonal decor. Whatever you collect...

....give your collection a special place to shine. {Check out the set of vintage Friendly Village dishes I scored at a yard sale!}

Bring the outdoors inside.

A walk through the garden can be therapeutic--why not bring a little bit of nature indoors and enjoy its soothing and fragrant benefits? 

It's beautiful and free!

Shop thrift stores, estate sales and yard sales! 

I know, I know, I probably sound like a broken record but check out the same living room photo I shared earlier--this time labeled with where I bought my furnishings before upcycling them. Enough said ;)

Add a touch of whimsy!

Have you ever noticed that it's often the whimsical accents in a home that reflect the owner's personality? Let your home tell your story! If you follow me on Instagram, you saw a sneak peek of this photo. I joked that Juliet was dress for fall in Texas, still wearing her floral dress, but with a fur collar added for the season. 

Several years ago, I repurposed this vintage kiddie chair as a wall shelf and ever since, I have enjoyed changing it up for the seasons. 

Have a thrifty tip I didn't cover? Share it in the comments, please! 

MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR FEATURING THIS POST: