How to Decorate on a Budget

Move the furniture around. You can get a fresh perspective and a new feeling in a room if you just move the couch to the other side of the room. Move it closer to the window or put the side table on the other side. You don't have to buy anything new or hire a designer to make the furniture you already own look good!

Reupholster something you already own. You can make a couch or chair look completely new by reupholstering it. You could also reupholster bucket to make an ottoman or small stool. 

Paint works wonders. Paint a door or a set of cabinets or your bookshelf to make it look new. There's nothing like a new coat of paint to brighten up a room.
A similar tip is adding contact or wallpaper to the back of your bookshelves for a subtle pop of color.

Scour estate and garage sales and thrift stores. Inventory will change often so it's to your benefit to go as often as possible to snatch up the best stuff. Online resources like Craigslist will list items for sale or even things that are free. Sometimes you'll get lucky and you'll find something left on a curb, but it's a better bet to look for things in a thrift store that you can repurpose.

Split sets with a friend. If one of you finds a couch and chair set that you both love, split the cost with each other. One of you gets the couch and the other gets the chair. This is a good way for both of you to get something new and save money!

Add a mirror or two. Mirrors work room magic. They can make your space seem bigger or more open. They can also reflect more light around the room if your house tends to be a bit dim. If you find a mirror with a beautiful frame, then your room will look that much better!
You could even make your own mirror frame like this Color Wheel Clothespin Mirror.

Mix quality pieces with less expensive ones. For example, buy one pricier piece of art, but surround it with cheaper prints. The quality piece becomes the focal point and the prints will be accents that will make your room look more interesting. 
You could also make your own art instead of buying prints. You don't have to be a professional artist to make something beautiful to decorate your walls!
Use your scrap fabric to make this stunning Embroidered DIY Wall Art.
Another tip is to frame beautiful pictures you find in magazines. Your magazines are just waiting to be turned into wall art, and your guests won't believe that you really just ripped it (carefully) out of a magazine.

Upgrade your coffee table. One of our favorite coffee table upgrades is one of the simplest: cut (or have someone cut) some Plexiglass to fit over your coffee table. Underneath, you can display photos of your favorite memories, places, or people. You can simultaneously protect a wooden table from coffee rings and also show off your photography! 
It will be the best conversation starter and send you happily down memory lane with your guests. 

Buy the good things where it matters. If you buy something just because it's cheaper than something else, then you're going to want to replace it immediately. If you can wait and save a little more to buy something more high quality, then you'll be much happier with the purchase. If it's a quality piece, then it will last longer and you'll get more return on your investment. 
Buy a good couch and a good mattress. Those things might be a bit more expensive than you'd like; however, having a nice place for your guests to sit and a good mattress to sleep on every night is a necessity. Having places to relax will make your life happier and just better. 
You can buy things cheaper like coffee tables and picture frames. Spend money where it counts and cut back where it doesn't matter much. You'll be glad you prioritized. 

Tiny upgrades make a big impact. When you change the little details, they make something look brand new. Change the hardware on your cabinets or switch out your door knobs. Switch out a lampshade for something different and see how it changes the light in the room or brightens a previously dark corner. Upgrade the faucets in your bathroom and it will suddenly feel like a spa.
Little changes like these can make your house look carefully constructed. Perhaps they can even improve the value of your home if you're looking to sell.

Add plants. A room will be instantly more "homey" and feel finished when you add plants or flowers. If you have a black thumb, you can rest easy. There are plants like succulents or even faux flowers that will still make your house look complete and floral.