Adding Beauty
Without Breaking Your Budget

When the budget gets tight, one of the first things I’m tempted to cut is beauty. It feels frivolous, expendable. “After all,” I tell myself, “It’s more important to pay the mortgage than paint a room, right?” Yet, something in me doesn’t agree. I know this because whenever I’ve tried to live as if beauty didn't matter, my life quickly becomes sterile, flat and cold.

The truth is: Beauty energizes us. In its playful, humble way, it recharges our spirits for those less-than-beautiful tasks ahead. Life has plenty of those, so take a few minutes to invest in beautifying your life. Read through my Budget Beauty list. It’s ideas range from absolutely free to . .
well, dirt cheap! Plus, it’s designed for people with a limited sense of creativity (because these days, your brain power is probably needed elsewhere.)

Budget Beauty Ideas

2. Wash the windows.
Nothing decorates a room better than sunshine.

3. Shop at a county flea market.
It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon with a friend and the later in the day you stay, the more willing sellers are to unload their products at budget prices. Barter away! You’re saving them the trouble of repacking their truck.

4. Check out framed art from a local library.
Not every town does this, but the ones that do, let you have a picture for a month or two absolutely free. One of my friends renewed her art so frequently, I was shocked when I learned she didn’t actually own it.

5. Use your own back yard.
I learned this from a friend who had beautiful flower arrangements at her open house. Now I always buy the low-budget flower arrangements from my grocery store and cut my own twigs and branches to add height and texture. (It’s especially nice at Christmas to scent your whole house by using the greens from the back side of your tree.)

6. De-clutter a room.
Look at a room as if for the first time and get rid of any old, worn out items that no longer represent your new life. Your journey will be easier with a lighter load.

7. Check for free paint.
Paint stores make mistakes. Just last week I picked up 2 gallons of paint that they mixed in the wrong base. They only charged me a penny a piece! Most stores sell their “wrong” colors dirt cheap. It doesn’t hurt to ask if you can see them. Someone else’s mistake may be your budget beauty.

8. Make a trip to Goodwill, or a second-hand store.
You might find a new basket, candle holder, trash can, or magazine rack. The next time you run into Target, check the clearance items for accessories.

9. Use fabric remnants.
Most sewing stores have gobs to of remnants that are big enough to use as table runners. My friend cuts out a huge square, puts it diagonally on her table, and just fringes the edges. No sewing involved!

10. Buy open stock items.
While that incomplete plate set may not look right on your table, it could add a splash of color in a plate rack on your wall.

11. Add or get rid of a throw rug.
I rolled up all my rugs when we were potty training our puppy. I liked the clean look so much, I still haven’t brought them back. If you need to add one, you can usually find great deals at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Meijer, or Marshall’s. I got a Christmas rug at Lowe‘s (in January) for $2! By the way, did you know Lowe’s also stocks ready-made Waverly valences?

12. Consider small touches.
A new accent pillow, candles, lamp shade, silk flower arrangement, even drawer or door handles, can change the whole feel of a room without breaking your budget.

13. Arm yourself with spray paint.
I LOVE spray paint! I’ve redone wrought iron furniture, a kitchen light fixture, a side table, even a picture frame with it. One friend completely changed her bathroom by spray painting all her fixtures to look like hammered pewter: outlet covers, vent, curtain rod, doorknob, and light. Oh what power a $5.00 can of paint wields!

14. Buy refugee crafts.
Many churches who sponsor refugees also sell their handmade crafts. They’re usually incredibly well done, inexpensive, and add a special international flare. Plus, you get the extra bonus of helping people who need it a lot more than you.

15. Recover seat cushions.
Many dining room chairs and rockers don’t even require any sewing. Just flip the seat over and unscrew it to replace the fabric. If you DO sew, with a little modification, sheets are a wonderful source for making shower curtains, pillow cases, (rather than buying those expensive packaged ones) and table cloths. Even gathered on a tension rod, sheets can double as a closet door in a small bedroom or mudroom.

You don’t have to live without beauty just because you're on a budget.