11 Free and Cheap DIY Ideas To Reuse What You Already Have

Do you have a decor/furniture you can reuse or repurpose? Do you want to decorate your home on a budget? I truly believe decorating can be inexpensive.

Before you head out and shop for new decor, take inventory of what you have. Below are simple DIY ideas to give to transform your home on the cheap.

Update your furniture

Painting is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to update decor or furniture. It’s my favorite quick fix. I’m not handy but I love to paint. It’s affordable but it makes a big impact. Another option is stain. I just finished repainting and staining my credenza. Now it looks bright and modern. I love wood furniture because it can be either stained or painted. I painted our dark coffee table recently and the room looks so much brighter. It’s amazing what a can of paint can do!

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Spray Paint Knobs, Window Trims, and Fireplace

Do you have a dated kitchen or dresser pull that needs updating? Grab a can of spray paint at Walmart for $1 and spray paint it black or brass. You can do this with old doorknobs too. You probably noticed the black windows trend on Instagram. I updated ours by painting the trim black. It gave our home exterior a more contemporary look. Simple updates can make a dramatic difference. Check out our updated fireplace cover here.

Rearrange Furniture

Rearrange your furniture to give your home a completely different look. Remember to create a focal point. A focal point could be anything from a fireplace or bookcase to wall art or a gorgeous view. The standard rule is to make sure the furniture is placed around a focal point. Face seating to encourage conversation. Don’t crowd. Leave enough space for the traffic.

Repurpose Furniture

Do you have a chair in your bedroom that can be used in your living room or vice versa? In the wintertime, you can use an outdoor stool as a plant stand or as a side table in your living room. How about moving a bench from your bedroom to the entryway? You get the idea. In a new spot, it feels like new furniture.

Mix and match pillows

I have a huge collection of pillows. It’s the one decor I change all the time. Choose pillows of different sizes or patterns that complement each other. Use pillows with texture to add interest to a room. If you like to sew, make your own pillow covers or pillow cushions for your dining chairs. My favorite store to shop for pillow covers is Hobby Lobby. They have 50% off on all their pillow covers once or twice a month.

Create wall art

Do you have baskets? They can double as wall art. This trend is popular in boho or modern farmhouse decor. I love the way it adds texture to a space. If you don’t like this idea, you can make gallery wall art by combining different size pictures. Use the ones you already have. For a more unified look, paint the frames the same color (black, white, and gold are good picks). I like to move pictures between rooms. This simple trick gives any space a fresh look. If you have kids that draw, create a gallery wall from their art.

Rotate your accessories

Look around your house and see if you can find decors that you can use somewhere else. For instance, move a bathroom candle to your coffee table. Switching up accessories can spruce up a space. Display books on shelves, on a nightstand, or on a coffee table. Dress up a coffee table by stacking 2 books and a candle or a vase on top. Mix accessories with different heights and shapes. Layering is key to add depth and dimension to your decor.

Display your collections

Do you love to collect souvenirs? Take two or three groups together on a console table or mantel. Incorporate mementos into your home as a way of showing visitors something personal about you. Avoid using too many small pieces because it makes a space look cluttered. My favorite accessory is a vase. I like to group them in different shapes and sizes.

Forage branches or flowers from your backyard

Most designers love to add greenery to a space. You don’t have to buy fresh flowers every week to achieve a designer look. Go outside and cut flowers or branches from your garden. If you can, start a flower garden. I live in PA (zone 7) where it gets very cold in the winter. I plant Zinnias and Dahlias every year. I have fresh flowers from summer to early fall. And I love getting out to tend the garden.

Swap your curtains or throw blankets

I like to swap curtains between the bedroom and the dining room. This doesn’t work for everybody because not all windows are the same size. But this is a great way of achieving a new look at no cost. Throw blankets and pillows are my favorite accents because you can move them around easily.

Use printables

Printables are one of my favorite ways to add seasonal decor to my home. It’s fun to switch it up every season. I have wall art printables you can purchase here. I use the same picture frames for different seasons. I like to shop at Thrift Stores, Dollar Tree, Ross, and Hobby Lobby for inexpensive picture frames.