I mentioned in a recent post that I was moving and that we bought a house. Which is exciting, however, saying goodbye to my cozy little apartment is bitter sweet. I loved that place.

I’ve had a lot of apartments but this last one is maybe one of my favorites. I loved how it was sort of an understated glam (as opposed to my last apartment that was just full on glam AF. You can see that place here) and little details like the arched windows and doorways gave it some added charm.

I probably should’ve gotten these up sooner (like before I moved into the new house) but hey, better late than never right?

Decorating has become one of my favorite things to do and I have really reveled in the process of each one.  I feel like I have finally mastered the art of decorating on a budget and making the inexpensive look expensive, so I thought I’d share some of my tips.

1. IKEA HACKS

I put this first one for a reason – Ikea hacks are the shit. Ikea furniture is SO much more affordable than say, West Elm, however, if you find a hack you like, you can get that expensive look for much, much less. This white cabinet is exhibit A. This is the Ikea Best Cabinet. I simply glued on a custom molding from Overlay’s (if you haven’t heard of them you NEED to check them out. They essentially make the chicest molding overlays for the various Ikea collections and can turn the most basic bitch piece into something gorgeous. They even do custom designs. I then drilled a hole and used a pull I bought on Amazon. If you want to see this cabinet and another one I did, I have a full post and video HERE.

 2.THRIFTED  KNICKKNACKS

This one might seem obvious for those of you who are on a constant bargain hunt, but there are some people but there that would turn their nose at this idea. Thrifting isn’t for everyone, but you can find some beautiful vintage pieces like this blue and white bowl. I probably got this 10 years ago at a Salvation Army for like $3 back when I was waiting tables and buying home decor was a luxury. But I have kept it and still use it and every time I look at it, it still gives me the ‘special piece’ vibe. $3 well spent if you ask me.

3. THROW IN SOME UNFINISHED PIECES

Unfinished wood furniture can be pretty inexpensive and when styled correctly can look really chic. I snagged this dining room table when it was on sale for only $100 on Hayneedle, but when paired with the tufted chairs and high end area rug, it suddenly elevates the look.

4. WHEN IN DOUBT, GOLD SPRAY PAINT

There is something about gold spray paint that makes the most beat up thing look luxurious and glamourous. I’ve taken it to many a vase, table, bookshelf, picture frame, planter, candle holder, tray….the list goes on. This coffee table was another Ikea Hack using gold spray paint and marble contact paper.

5. CREATE YOUR OWN ART

I absolutely love art and it can really change the look and feel of a space. It can be very expensive, however, so I am all for making my own. You don’t have to be artistic either, putting together some of your favorite photos and creating a wall gallery is an art piece in and of itself. Here I took some photos of my trip to Mykonos and had them printed on Shutterfly and put them in these Ikea frames. Not only is this much more affordable than ordering large art pieces this size, but it really gives that personal element.

Dining Room: Table – Hayneedle, Chairs – Amazon, Rug – Rugs USA, Art – The Aestate, Basket – Homegoods, Plant – Lowes, Cabinet – Ikea, Overlays – Overlays, Pulls – Amazon

Living Room: Sofa – Walmart, Chair – Pier One, Cream Throw Blanket – Hayneedle, Fur Pillow Covers – Hobby Lobby, Lamps – Lamps Plus, Pink Pillow – Tonic Living , Shag Rug – Home Depot

I hope you guys found these tips helpful. I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!

XO,