How To: Make YOUR Home Look 10x MORE Lively & Sophisticated on a Budget

I think everyone can agree that one of the best feelings in the world is when your home is finally decorated the way you want it. The hard part is making your space look lively & sophisticated with a limited budget. The good news is, we have 8 simple tips to help you create the space of your dreams, even with a small chunk of change. The bad news is, your friends are going to be so jealous of your beautiful place that you are going to have to rave to them about this blog on Storage Theory that inspired you to redecorate...okay maybe i'm fantasizing a little too hard. Let's get into the tips..

Tip #1: Invest in One Good Bucket of Paint

There is no quicker fix than a bucket of paint. Paint can give complete new life to your walls, cabinets, or dingy wood furniture. Make sure to do some research before choosing a color though, some colors like red or orange could make or break the vibe in your space.

BONUS IDEA: Use chalkboard paint on an entire wall to create a creative space for you & friends to draw on. 

Tip #2: Declutter Declutter Declutter

The easiest way to make your space look more sophisticated? Get RID of clutter. When random items are laying around your home, it makes a space look less organized and less "intentional". And to be honest...who really needs all of that stuff?! Do a decluttering sweep & donate whatever you don't use...boom, done. 

Tip #3: Buy a LOT of Plants

Adding any type of green living organism to your space is going to instantly make it look more alive...literally. Even under a tight budget, plants can still be relatively cheap way to add life into your home...especially if you get them from somewhere like a farmers market. As long as you stay far away from the beautiful planters they sell at Urban Outfitters, your pockets will still be happy.

Tip #4: Dress Up an Old Sofa

Throw some colorful blankets over your existing couch or even add a slipcover to jazz it up. Either of these options are low cost and can make a huge difference in the appearance of your sofa.  

Tip #5: Take Advantage of Your Local Thrift Stores

This one is a no-brainer to most of the savvy shoppers out there, but still a good one to mention. Thrift stores surprisingly have a very good selection for home decor items. If you really think about it, when people downsize they either throw items away or donate them. This is why thrift stores are a gold mine for things like trinkets, kitchenware, and photo frames...lots of photo frames. 

Tip #6: Rearrange the Furniture

This is one of the easiest ways to make your space look fresh & new...well at least "fresh & new" to you. By rearranging your furniture, there is a whole new opportunity to change the look of your place. Try moving your bed somewhere where the natural light hits or even rearrange your living room to have something else besides your television to be the focal point. 

Tip #7: Buy New Lightbulbs

This is one of my favorite budget-friendly ways to change up my place. The lighting in a room can dramatically change the mood, whether dim or bright. I suggest to change out all of your bulbs for brighter ones to create a more inviting space. 

Tip #8: Replace Your Outlet Covers

Though this may not be a top priority if you are on a budget, it can definitely make your place look more upgraded. Replace your outlet covers with something like the Power Perch to add more use to your outlets. The Power Perch is great to hold phones while they are charging or even plants!