How to Set a Budget for Home Decoration

I admit I’m not very good when it comes to creating a budget. I generally jump right in, buy the one thing I need most, and then worry about when, or if, I’ll ever be able to buy anything else. But as a responsible person, I have to advise against what I do or your house will be forever empty.

If possible, begin by listing absolutely everything you’d like to have in every room, regardless of cost. List the things you intend to make over and write down how much time you think it will take to do each project. Then list what you need right away, what can wait, and guesstimate how long you think the complete project will take. Next, establish a realistic budget and timetable for each phase of the plan. You may find that the smaller, less expensive items will quickly establish the look and feel you want to achieve, and these will therefore be your first priorities.

Set aside a portion of your budget for the most important, and usually expensive, items. Most people define these as sofa, chairs, table and chairs for eating, a bed and dresser or armoire to hold your clothes, and maybe floor covering. However, you may feel perfectly comfortable living out of cardboard boxes on your bedroom floor for a while and eating at a card table, so that you can afford something else you want more desper-ately.

A plan is personal and can be flexible. For example, if a sofa is number one on your list and a coffee table is number five, you can switch things around if you find a wonderful coffee table before settling on the perfect sofa. Just keep in mind that you might have to buy the sofa to fit the coffee table rather than the other way around.

Do It Yourself
Painting and wallpapering are two things most people can do themselves, and it will save a great deal of money. In fact, painting is the quickest and cheapest way to transform a room and give it personality before adding a stick of furniture.

Saving by Sewing
Another do-it-yourself project is sewing. If you can sew a straight line on a sewing machine, you’ll be able to make simple curtains, throw pillows, table covers, seat cushions, duvet covers and possibly slipcovers. All of these add real impact to a room, and, if you make them yourself, you have control over the cost, depending on the fabrics you choose. In fact, if you can sew, you can use better fabric than you might be able to afford in a ready- or custom-made item.

Help for Do-It-Yourselfers
The more you can do yourself, the more you’ll free up your budget for things you can’t make. Even if you feel all thumbs, don’t dismiss this idea. More and more manufacturers are addressing homeowners’ needs with products that make doing things yourself quite carefree and easy. They provide all sorts of help in the form of 24-hour, toll-free hotlines, Internet numbers for their Web sites, and booklets and pamphlets at point of purchase. Pick up all those freebies at home centers and stick them in the pockets of your notebook.