This post is all about my FREE home decor checklist! Decorate your house like a pro by making sure you have all the decorating essentials for the main rooms in your home. In this post, I’ll also include some valuable tips for how you can complete the checklist on a budget.
Do you ever look at a room in your house and think, “Hmm… I think there’s something missing?” Well, there probably is.
There are a few key elements that make up the base for all the major rooms in a home. If you make sure you have these, your room will feel much more complete and put-together.
I created a list of the home decor essentials for the major rooms in most homes, including the living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, entryway, and home office.
You can get the checklist using the button below, but before you do be sure to read my tips to complete the checklist on a budget.
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Tips to Complete the Home Decor Checklist on a Budget
Before you start reviewing this checklist, I want to say that you may not need everything on the list. Start with the major elements and then add decorative items as needed over time.
Here are a few tips to get everything you need on a budget.
1. Thrift Stores
You don’t need to buy everything brand new, especially if you’re furnishing a new home or apartment.
Head over to the thrift stores in your area. You might be able to find some really unique decor items for a huge discount.
Keep an open mind and look closely at the furniture and decor sections. Upon first glance, it may seem like there’s nothing for you there, but when you look closer you’ll often find that there are some hidden gems.
2. Brainstorm and Prioritize Your Budget
Planning ahead and setting a budget makes a huge difference. Brainstorm everything you need for each room and set a budget for everything.
Calculate the cost of each room and then the budget for the entire decorating project. Rearrange your budget as needed to make sure you get the essentials and avoid overspending.
To help you plan your budget, I created a home decorating budget spreadsheet that will do all the calculations for you.
3. Repurpose
Repurpose as much as possible! You may be able to rearrange things throughout your house to make the most of what you already have.
Maybe you have an extra lamp in your bedroom that you could use in your living room. If it’s not the right color scheme, grab a cheap bottle of spray paint and do a little DIY. There are some really cool textured and metallic spray paints that work great for home decor.
4. DIY
Cut down on some of the big ticket furniture pieces by doing a bit of DIY. When I was decorating my bedroom, I really wanted a big wooden headboard with matching side tables.
The headboards I wanted were hundreds of dollars, and at the time, I didn’t have the budget to justify the expense. Even if I had forked out the money, I wouldn’t have much left over for the smaller decorations that really bring a room together.
I found a couple of YouTube videos showing me how to make my own headboard using wood from the hardware store, and I was able to do the entire project for hardly any money.
I wish I had documented the project, but unfortunately, it was before I started my blog. I do, however, still have the YouTube videos that I followed.
Here is the video for the headboard I made. You can get all the wood cut for free at the hardware store, so you don’t need any fancy equipment.
Here’s the video for the nightstands that I made. These were so easy to make and I love the way they turned out. I used a dark wood stain for my headboard and nightstands.
Conclusion
I hope my home decor checklist helps you create a home that you absolutely love and looks like it was decorated like a pro. If you’re stuck on some of the decorating decisions, be sure to check out my room designs, where I create shop-the-look mood boards that you can use as decorating inspiration or create the entire look in your home.
