How to Decorate When You Are Broke

How do you decorate your apartment when you are broke? Many potential clients ask us how to make their apartment or rental house look good on a tight budget. A tricky part of starting on your own is how to freshen up your place using hand-me-down furniture. The picture above sums up the problem:

• The blue sofa you got from your sister is comfortable and is pretty neutral

• The rug from your mom is nice, but it's way too small

• The plants are good, always a good idea to bring a little life into a room

• The wall hanging above the plant? If you like it and it feels good to you -- keep it!

• We believe that you don't have to take EVERY hand-me-down you are offered

Small Changes with Big Impact

Here's what we would change and add to a hand-me-down furniture situation, spending very little but making the space a little more personal.

Ditch the rug. It's too small, so it's better to put it away for now. Save up for a bigger rug. The legs of your future should touch the rug. Allisa Jacobs created a good rule of thumb for choosing an area rug. Save up to buy a rug that is as big as the area rug sizes below.

Put a Big Print or Poster Behind the Sofa

Put a big print or poster behind the sofa. You don't have to spend a ton (and we can always source this for you). We source free or almost free historical prints for clients or we can find a cool poster for your space.

Just two small changes can make a huge difference in your apartment. One thing we believe in is enjoying the journey of making your space feel like home.