We’ve all been struck with the intermittent room overhaul itch, especially after reading a particularly inspiring room transformation article. Oftentimes, we don’t know where to start, or have a limited budget that prevents us from fully overhauling a room. Luckily, there are lots of subtle ways to enhance a space without any renovations or draining your bank account. We’ve compiled a few simple tips on how to revamp a room without breaking the bank, yet still becoming HGTV worthy!

Clean House

The first step to changing any space is ditching what you don’t want or need anymore. An Offerup study on clutter published that 72% of Americans believe they would gain more space in their homes by purging unused items, yet 41% of Americans haven’t decluttered in over a year. Clutter has been proven to increase your stress levels, cause a riff in home flow, and even negatively affect your physical health. If decluttering your space will adversely boost productivity and give you the confidence to invite guests into your home while maintaining peace of mind, then why aren’t more people doing so?

Sometimes, all a room needs is a good clean-out to really make a difference. A solid rule of thumb is to follow the “one year” rule. This means that if you haven’t used the item in one year, then it’s time for it to go. Marie Kondo, Japanese room organizer extraordinaire, poses the question, “does it spark joy?” When you ask yourself this question and find that the answer is, “yes, this item does spark joy,” then keep it! On the other hand, if you find that the answer is, “no, this item does not spark joy,” toss it out.

Even better than tossing unwanted items out, consider donating them. This way, the things you no longer use can be given a new start with someone who needs and will actually utilize it! As for those items that still spark joy but you might not use everyday, stow them away in plastic containers, or install floating shelves and wall cubbies to maximize floor space in order to keep your space organized.

Frame Your Life

A simple way to flip your space is by playing with decorative wall frame styles to showcase your existing artwork and pictures in a new way. If you have mismatched frames, it can mess with the flow of a room, so choosing many within the same color scheme and style will make your photos look like they complement one another seamlessly. 

Creating a gallery wall is a great way to combine family photos as well as art prints into one decorative setting. Incorporating 3-D pieces, such as a ceramic sculptures, will make a simple gallery wall pop even more. If you’re looking to do something contrasting to hanging traditional picture frames on the wall, position them to sit on top of a shelf, dresser or cabinet for a more relaxed look. 

Room Accent Swaps

Do you have an overflowing bookcase? If so, change it up by removing books and placing medals, antiques, or trinkets in the space instead. This will diversify your room decor while also providing you with an opportunity to showcase items you love but have had sitting in a box. If you’re wondering where you can put the stack of books you just removed, consider transforming them into a side table by simply placing a tray on top of it. Voila, your room will have taken a whole new look in a matter of minutes! 

Similar to swapping out your books, if you’ve had the same old frumpy pillows sitting on your couch for years, swap them out for new ones. Pillows are usually inexpensive but are a great way to change the feel of a room because they add great texture or color to a space! Larger pillows can give a room a luxe vibe, while patterned pillows can upgrade the space instantly by drawing the eye in.

Become a DIYer

While everyone seems to be ranting and raving about do it yourself projects, you might want to get on board because it actually boasts a lot of perks. Pushing yourself to learn a new skill in order to achieve a task provides you with feelings of satisfaction and confidence. As an added bonus, a DIY project is something that you can either do by yourself or with your family as a fun weekend project. A study on self-made products showed that participants who made their own item valued their creation significantly more than a store bought version.

One great DIY tip that will help you elevate any room is to replace furniture knobs and pulls. Instead of going out and finding a brand new (and often expensive) dresser, swapping out these subtle details will save you both time and money. At only a few dollars a piece, new pulls and handles can completely change the look to any piece of furniture. Similarly, if you really want to transform the feel of a piece, try adding a fresh coat of paint, as it will be sure to refresh the vibe of your space. 

If you were previously unsure on where to start with a room transformation, we hope that these tips will show you how to be creative with limited money to put into a space. After all, giving a room a new life doesn’t have to include draining your bank account, but some effort and a vision can completely change the way you look at a room!