Refresh the decor in your home without spending a ton! Check out these 7 (EASY) DIY budget-friendly ideas sure to give your home a new and inviting feel.
This post is all about 7 DIY Decor Ideas to Refresh Your Home.
At the start of every new season, it’s fun to switch things up at home! Adding new accent refreshers to your abode can keep the energy feeling new, inviting, and ready for entertaining.
Marie Kondo’s New York Times best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” is a perfect example of what happens when we take pride in our home by tidying up and adding new touches here and there that speak to our hearts.
While this article is not specifically geared toward organization, it is essential to note that part of refreshing the home may mean a few items need to go or at least be transformed by a DIY process to get the energy flowing again. Remember, the goal is to refresh the home, so keep that in mind before adding new pieces. Less is sometimes more in this case!
If you’re used to taking a trip to HomeGoods for home decor refreshes, then you know those shopping visits can add up quickly. Learning to incorporate some DIY decor into your seasonal refresh can keep costs low while also keeping things looking original to your home’s style.
Let’s dive into the seven DIY decor ways to refresh your home’s look for any season. As you read through each idea, follow what resonates with you. And please know, this isn’t something you can get right or wrong because decorating/refreshing is subjective, just like art.
7 DIY Decor Ideas To Refresh Your Home
Idea #1: Declutter Your Space
A Cheap Idea For DIY Home Decor.
Before adding new DIY seasonal refreshers to your home, take a quick walk through each room to see if an item has overstayed its welcome. Again, this isn’t an organizational post, but sometimes we have knick-knacks sitting around our home that no longer resonate with us.
These items take up space and can make the energy in a room feel cluttered. Marie Kondo’s method stresses the importance of letting go of things that no longer bring joy to the home. If you have any items lying around that make you feel stagnant when you look at them, maybe it’s time to drop them at Goodwill or give them a DIY refresh.
Kondo’s philosophy places great importance on being mindful, introspective, and forward-looking when accessing the items we have placed throughout our home. Sometimes just changing out an old picture is enough to transform the mood of a room.
Idea #2: The BEST Fake Flowers And How To Make Them Look Real
DIY Home Decor Accessories.
This is probably the easiest DIY refresh you can place in your home, and it only costs $10! Peonies are beautiful flowers, but if you’ve ever purchased them, you know they can sometimes start wilting after one day, which means money down the drain. Even trying the hydrangea hack revival (which can be a hit or miss) wasn’t working.
However, these faux peonies (pictured above) are legit and will add a classy touch to any coffee table or corner table in your home without anyone realizing they’re fake. While the flowers look exactly like the real deal, the green leaves attached to the flowers are a phony giveaway, but there’s an easy DIY solution to resolve this!
Faux Flower Peony Hack
First, cut off the fake green leaves attached to the flowers before arranging them in a vase. Secondly, head out to the backyard, cut some greenery, and add one or two stems to the peony arrangement. Even fruit tree branches will do! Basically, whatever foliage is available will add an organic pop and undoubtedly make the peonies look REAL.
Next, pat yourself on the back for accomplishing this $10 DIY decor flower hack because Pottery Barn sells fake peony arrangements for $199!
Purchase Faux Peony Flowers on AMAZON.
Idea #3: DIY Gold Frames
Consider visiting the Dollar Tree if you need some budget-friendly picture frames. It doesn’t matter how cheap they look because this DIY home decor hack can make anything look high-end.
Transform any old/Dollar Tree picture frames using gold rub ‘n buff! This stuff is addicting, fun, and easy to use, and the transformation is unbelievable. Gold and bronze accents are still the THING, so if you have any wooden or metal picture frames you want to update, this is the way!
BTW, designer gold picture frames can sell for $125, while a tube of gold rub ‘n buff will ONLY cost around $10. It can easily be applied using your finger, a cloth, or even a makeup brush. Michaels is currently sold out of the popular gold leaf tone, but Amazon sells the same product, and you can find the link below.
Why Not Just Use Gold Spray Paint?
Gold Rub ‘n buff is better for small to medium items and adds more dimension and color variety than the “smooth and cheaper” look a can of gold spray paint provides.
A home DIY decor (refresh) goal is to bring back life to an old item you were ready to toss! And again, pat yourself on the back for saving the green stuff with this DIY idea. NO ONE wants to spend a ton on a picture frame. Instead, invest your money in more important items that shape the home’s style.
Purchase Gold Leaf Rub ‘n Buff from AMAZON.
Idea #4: Rug Layering
DIY Home Decor Ideas For The Living Room.
Rug layering is super easy and consists of adding a rug on top of an existing rug. It’s a great DIY way to transform the look of any room! Plus, there are many budget-friendly rugs to choose from that look expensive. Because the carpet on top is always smaller than the main rug, it’s easy to keep costs low.
The main rug (pictured above) is an 8′ x 10′ Abaca rug from Williams Sonoma. It’s definitely on the pricier side ($1,499), but the smaller layered rug on top is a 5′ x 7′ from Amazon and only costs $149! In addition, you can find some beautiful rugs for layering at a great price from Rugs USA, Amazon, Overstock, and Wayfair. If you read the reviews and choose your color rug wisely, you can’t go wrong.
Why Would I Want To Add A Rug Layer?
Aesthetically it adds a touch of sophistication to any room, and if you want to add a pop of color, this is another excellent reason. Also, if you have stained spots on your main (more expensive) rug, adding a fresh new rug can cover those areas.
Rug Layering Rules Of Thumb
The rug placed on top is usually smaller than the main rug. Be sure to place the second rug on top of the main rug at either a diagonal (overlapping) or directly on top. The goal of rug layering is to give the room an open, fresh feel. If the rug makes the room look smaller and busier, it’s probably not positioned correctly, or the pattern/color of the rug needs to be switched.
Also, don’t underestimate the effects of doormat rug layering! It is so IN and will add a lot of curb appeal to any home.
Purchase the White Charcoal Moroccan-style Rug (pictured above) from AMAZON.
Purchase the Abaca rug from WILLIAMS SONOMA.
Purchase a black and white doormat layering rug from AMAZON.
Idea #5: DIY Glass Vase Painting
DIY Crafts For Home Decor.
Glass vase painting, aka color blocking, is trending in the design world, and it’s an easy DIY project with low supply costs. If you have an old glass vase (or vases) taking up shelf space, adding a color block to the bottom and some fresh or faux flowers can brighten up any space in the home.
Serena & Lily and Pottery Barn sell glass-painted vases for close to $200, so this DIY home refresh is a win!
DIY Craft Supplies:
- A glass vase or vases of your choice
- Spray paint (Any color will do! The most popular color trends for glass vase painting are gold, white, and black).
- Frog tape or painter’s tape.
Protect the top part of the vase or vases by securely placing frog tape to protect the area you don’t want painted. Begin spray painting (outside) with sweeping motions back and forth. FYI, spray paint drys fast, and you may need to add three or four coats. Let the vases dry at least two hours before removing the tape.
See my step-by-step article here for DIY glass vase painting. Pictured below is a larger glass vase I bought from Target and painted. This glass vase by Threshold only costs $10!
Purchase Krylon FUSION ALL-IN-ONE Matte White Spray Paint & Primer from LOWES.
Purchase Frog Tape from AMAZON.
Purchase a Square Vase from MICHAELS.
Purchase Larger Vase from TARGET.
Purchase Dollar Tree Vases from the DOLLAR TREE.
Idea #6: Trash Can Flower Pot
Easy DIY Home Decor.
This is a gorgeous centerpiece idea for a table or any home area that can handle some height. I originally bought this metal planter vase as a trash can, but it’s too beautiful, and it seemed wrong not to show it off as a central focal point.
Add a potted Azalea plant, and it adds the perfect pop of gold and a fresh organic vibe to any room. The trash can/planter pot costs $30 from Target, and its measurements are 9.6′ x 9.6′. It already has 24 five-star reviews, so grab it while you can because this GOLD TREND isn’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future.
Purchase this Gold Planter Pot at TARGET.
Purchase an Azalea Potted Plant at LOWES.
Idea #7: Pillow Pop
Modern DIY Home Decor.
Adding a new pillow or two to an existing couch or chair is a great decor idea to refresh the home! If you want to add a chic pop of color to your couch, this is also a perfect way to keep up with current design trends.
Velvet is a popular and opulent fabric. Instead of investing in a velvet couch or chair, adding a velvet pillow can keep your home looking current.
Stick with neutral tones and powdery shades such as beige, gray, and blush. Blues and earthy tones are also making a comeback.
DIY Pillow Hack
Before you think about giving away your old pillows, STOP! Most pillows, especially down or down alternative pillows, can be used as inserts for new pillow covers. If the pillows you currently have on your couch are perfect in size and chop well, keep them for an easy DIY refresh.
Remove the current pillow cover and discard, but keep the pillow insert. Next, head over to Amazon and shop for a pillow cover that suits your home’s style. The tag on the pillow insert will tell you the size of the pillow.
If you need a good (choppable) pillow insert, you can buy pillows from HomeGoods and remove the pillow covers, or Amazon sells pillow inserts in all sizes. Experts suggest the pillow inserts be two inches larger than the pillow covers. For example, if you have a 20 x 20 pillow insert, you should buy an 18 x 18 pillow cover.
Purchase pillow inserts from AMAZON.
Shop pillow covers on AMAZON.
Purchase velvet pillow covers on AMAZON.
*BONUS* Purchase a GORGEOUS knitted throw on AMAZON.
Final Thoughts On 7 DIY Decor Ideas To Refresh Your Home
Refreshing your home with budget-friendly DIY decor ideas will keep the energy flowing and the mood light and fun. Homes are special sanctuaries where we relax, entertain, and make special memories. Hopefully, these 7 DIY decor ideas gave you a few new perspectives and money-saving ideas on ways to REFRESH your home for any season.
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Love this! We just started decluttering. I still need to try the vase painting. We just got a couple vases for Easter, maybe this weekend we will find the time.