5 Budget Friendly Bedroom Makeover Ideas

She sat in her budget friendly bedroom, sinking into the worn mattress, looking up at the ceiling. Thought bubbles cascading through her mind as her limbs grew heavy.  The darkness of night seeping into the room, but alas she couldn’t sleep. Finances were tough, and the cost of living was affecting them both. With three hungry kitty mouths to feed, and a ravenous partner, money was tight. Particularly for A, who found that money differed from month to month. So, she was no stranger to living on a shoe-string budget. Hustling to make ends meet. She was grateful that she had a roof over her head, and a loving colourful home. Yet, she couldn’t help but wish that she was more financially stable. Still, as a self-described budget Queen, her clever hacks helped her home look more expensive than it actually was. From her bustling wardrobe with affordable clothes, to cost-effective meals, her lifestyle was ‘cheap’.

Knowing how to stretch the budget each month was becoming more natural to them both. Though they had their worries, they had each other, and were thankful for it. A’s philosophy was that you didn’t need to spend a fortune to have a good life, and she stood by that sentiment. It was a mantra that they followed often. A happy life, was a good life. Their bedroom was a prime example of that. Cheaply decorated, but in a style that reflected them both. Affordable, colourful, and inspired by all things nature. Cascading green plants that evoked tranquility and warmth, succulents in minature pots. Spiky Cacti enveloped in prickles, fresh flowers in a vase smelling sweetly. It was the little decor touches that made all the difference. Sure, things like furniture were a little more. Yet, even then they upscaled it to make it affordable. Sometimes all it took was a lick of paint to make a room come alive, but A had more creative ideas.

After all, a bedroom was a sanctuary. A place of peace, contemplation, yet fun too. A room caressed by the snuggles of darkness. A bed simmering in golden light when morning hit. A safe space, a welcome escape. Divided from all other rooms in the house. If any room should be stress-free, it should be their spacious loft bedroom. So when it came to decorating, A knew that she could transform it into the budget-friendly oasis that they both deserved. Thinking outside the box came naturally to them, and with the help of A’s extremely practical partner, they were able to create a DIY worthy bedroom. The three felines agreed, yawning stretched out on the current duvet favourite. Emblazoned with cartoon fruit in a bold green print, almost comical.

Night was falling, and the ideas were forming. A bedroom transformed for the coziness of autumn, with a cheap and cheerful twist. She would shop her home, for a budget friendly bedroom refresh, collecting trinkets as she went. Embracing what she had to hand, without spending a dime. Lacing dried pressed flowers into a scrapbook, framing it on her bedroom wall. Lavender, peonies and rainbow roses too. In a frame spray painted in gilted gold. The light from the street lamps peeked through their blinds, illuminating the ceiling with artificial stars. A once forgotten stall turned into a comforting nightstand. A new bed, luxe at budget prices. The bedroom fantasy was being weaved, with limitless freedom. There was just one rule; all decor had to be affordable. From decluttering the bedroom, to framing special memories, here were 5 budget friendly bedroom decor ideas that wouldn’t break the bank.

Declutter Your Bedroom To Maximize Storage Space 

As A looked forlonly at the pile of never ending clothes on her bedroom floor, she vowed to herself to make a change. Though A regularly donated clothes, and unwanted goods from their house regularly, she found it hard to let go of more. After all, growing up with very little meant that she was determined to hold on as long as she could. Some might say she was a hoarder, and that was true. She held onto material things, like she held onto memories good and bad. Every week she would donate food into the foodbank, and had a clothing clear out once a month. But somehow her home was still overflowing with junk. Her bedroom was no exception. Clothing carefully ordered by colour, in heaving, bustling wardrobes. Donation bags filled to the brim.

It was time for a summer refresh; she would not only donate clothes to charity and friends as she always did. But she would also try and sell clothes, shoes, bags, and unused bedroom decor to bring space back into the room. After all, they both needed the money. Though A was hesitant at first, D convinced her to sell her ‘higher value clothes’ that she no longer used. It seemed strange given that the last time she tried to sell something was 5 years ago. But it was worth a shot. And so they listed everything from clothes to bedroom decor online. Vinted, Depop and EBay too. Placing everything into seperate bags in a special place, waiting for its new forever home. It was a way of creating a budget friendly bedroom, without spending a single penny. She knew she was doing the right thing. Precious pieces recent and past, some held onto for more than 15 years. It was time to make space for something new. She was a hoarder at heart, but even hoarders needed to make changes.

Invest In An Affordable Bed

Though she liked to keep costs at a minimum, if there was one thing she would reccomend it was a ‘comfortable bed’. Granted, beds were not the cheapest of buys. But she knew where to find budget friendly Ottoman beds. Beds where dreams were made, enveloped in caressed kisses. Made of soft wispy clouds, listening to lilting melodies. Splitting apart the darkness, drowning in the sweetness. A good night’s sleep at last, head resting on plump pillows. Engulfed in hazy thoughts, watching the world around her float by. Yet, the average double bed was around £380-£580. There was no way she could afford that. Let alone an Ottoman Bed that averaged between £499-1,000+. Yet, by a flash of genius she’d uncovered cheaper beds, from £229 on sale.

But was all the fuss with Ottoman beds anyway? With the comfort and style of a regular box spring, it had the bonus of secret storage. Given A’s tendency to hoard, having a bed that could store some of their duvets, pillows and extra accessories would come in handy. Living in a one bedroom flat (however spacious) with three kitties meant that space was limited. An Ottoman would allow them to organize their budget friendly bedroom in a way where everything was accessible. In all shapes and sizes, and every colour imaginable, this was the future of budget-living. Aesthetically pleasing to look at and practical without taking up too much space, it was perfect. Was there a downside? Nope.

Shop Your Home For Quirky Accessories

When it came to a bedroom shakeup, there was no greater decor choice than their own home. Full of eclectic clothes, furniture, and accessories, why should they spend money to decorate their bedroom? Basic household items became bedroom gold; a spare dish rack, transformed into a hat stand. Her mantlepiece was drowning under the weight of all her hats, crowns and tiaras. This way, she could take her smallest hats and place them on the rack. With its rose gold finish it made a contrast to the bright primary colours. Lime green and London bus red. Pumpkin orange and cobalt blue. A plethora of colours now neatly organized. The mantlepiece breathed a sigh of relief. Though it still had hats large and small, it looked less cluttered.

Speaking of up-cycling, small baskets lay around the house, half-forgotten. Well no more. There were uses beyond its original intent. A small basket bag transformed into a handbag. Spritzed with a matte finish spray paint in a beautiful shade of apple green. Faux flowers left over from a previous university costume stuck onto ice-lolly sticks, as a functional lid. But what did this have to do with her bedroom I hear you ask? It would take place on her stool-nightstand, and double up as a bedroom ‘self-care kit’. Filled with essential oils like lavender and patchouli that she would spritz in her room. A pair of cozy fluffy socks when the weather was cold. A stress-ball when she was feeling anxious. A journal and a pen that helped her record her nightime adventures, good and bed. For anyone that didn’t have a budget-friendly bedroom self-care kit, she highly reccomended it.

Go Green With Tranquil Plants

One of her favourite affordable ways to decorate their bedroom, was with the addition of plants. Although decorative objects could be expensive, green plants weren’t. It was about choosing the right plants that were cheap, pet-safe and long-lasting. Not only would it add personality to their sleep space, but it would radiate colour and light. As an anxious person, she lost count of the days lost over poor sleep, panic attacks, and agitation. She often found it hard to concentrate, and stay focused. Yet, there were three things that helped calm her down. That felt like collecting patches of poetry, that came together as a song. The purr of three contented mittens, a gentle reminder of love and rest. A cats paw on the chest, softly snoring, as your body grows sleepy too. A world surrounded by nature, a new leaf unfolding to meet the world. A dozen blooms levitating in freshly poured water, safe from the gathering winds outside. The third? Being bathed in sunlight, that she could almost touch. Speckled with hope, and newly surfaced memories.

But what plants had the trifecta: affordable, pet-safe, and long-lasting? There were three that she swore by;  Haworthia Succulents, the infamous Spider-Plant, and Strings of Hearts. Haworthias were what she called the Goddess of the plant world. Placed in old large mermaid print mug that she no longer used. Filled with dry soil, before Haworthia was lovingly placed. Nestled near the window as the loft bedroom was flooded with light. Watered every two weeks or so, a calming influence on them all. Small yet mighty, the cats were iniqisitive. Similar to the aloe succulents, the Haworthia was low-maintenance. She loved the fleshy, smooth and round-tipped translucent patterned leaves that looked like tiny watermelons. It was whimsical, dormant in winter, a little shy. Bursting with life in the summer months. Occasionally, there were flowers, at the height of their growing season.Ranging in colour from white, pink-white to green. The price? Averaging between £4 and £10, it can live up to 50 years!

The other two were just as humble. The Spider Plant with over-spilling leaves, etched with white lines. Only watering when the top two inches of soil felt dry. Bathed in medium light. An indoor purifer that would absorb chemicals in homes. Removing 95% of toxins from the air around them in 24 hours. Averaging from £5-£30 (depending on size), the Spider could live from 20-50 years. Likewise, the Strings of Hearts Plant was non-toxic, easy to look after and averaged between £5-20. In summer, it would even bear pink, tubular flowers that were mesmerizing to look at.

Harness The Power Of Dried Flowers 

Flowers made her happy. There she said it. She wasn’t soppy, neither did she like them for romantic reasons. She didn’t expect a bouquet for her birthday, or to be surprised for flowers. In fact, she often used flowers as props for photoshoots, whether that be a flower crown, or as a posing tool. Granted, after use, she would put them in a vase, and let them live out their natural life. But what happened to the flowers after they wizened, mottled and decayed? Waste not, want not, that was A’s motto. She was all about up-cycling, repurposing and keeping her home cheap. She would preserve the flowers, in a scrapbook. Placing the flowers face down on a piece of paper, and closing a book. After 10 days, she would remove her fully dried flowers and turn it into a memento. A scrapbook filled with memories. Photos adorned with dried flowers as decorations on each page.

But what did this have to do with her bedroom? It doubled up as heartwarming decor too. A reminder of loved ones, and happier memories all in one place. That wasn’t the only use for dried flowers. A had an gallery wall with art prints, and paintings. Could dried flowers be the next addition?  Like the scrapbook pressing method, she’d use the dried flowers to make memories. A flower from a trip abroad, a flower from a leftover shoot. A flower from a self-care date. All positive memories that had space to come alive again. Lasting on average between 2-3 years, the art was a welcome addition to a budget-friendly bedroom conditioned by nature.

Build Your Own Wardrobes With IKEA

A never considered herself to be practical or ‘hands on’. She was creative, had imaginative ideas but often struggled with the practical aspects. As for D, her partner, he was a great ‘handyman’ as he called himself. He had built most of the furniture in their home, including their wardrobes. With the help of IKEA, they were able to create their dream furniture, for cheaper. After all, A wanted a large mirror wardrobe, which would have cost around £1,000+. Yet by building it themselves, they were able to create mirrored large wardrobes with cupboard space, for less than £300. Granted, even the £300 was an investment for them. Yet at the same time, it was far cheaper than they would find elsewhere.  Filled with a rainbow of clothes; one wardrobe home to her formal ballgowns and dresses. A shelf-above with bags and accessories. The other wardrobe with ‘new pieces’, a shoot cupboard if you will. Of course, they had chests of drawers, and smaller cupboards, as well as a coat cupboard, his closet, and a shoe cupboard. Yet the mirrored wardrobes were undoubtably the highlight.

They saved money by building their own, but more importantly it had personality. It was a reflection of them. Wardrobes that didn’t just store clothes. Closets that weren’t just pretty to look at. Often, they would do workouts in the bedroom. Whether that was yoga, HIT workout or dance routines, the mirrored doors helped them keep track of their progress. More importantly, the youngest cat loved to join in! Curled up on a yoga mat, wreaking havoc, it was the cute distraction that they needed to stay motivated.

Find A Bargain At A Charity Shop 

Last but not least, was one of A’s favourite cheap hacks. Thrifting at a charity shop wasn’t just for ‘clothes’. She had found lamps, curtains, faux flowers and even bedding in charity shops before. A charity shop was a great way to give back, up-cycle, and refresh their bedroom at a budget price. While she wasn’t fussy about which charity shop she went to, she did have a soft spot for animals and mental health advocacy. Charity shops like MIND and PDSA, were two charities that she personally supported. A treasure trove of delights, she had found cheap and cheerful bedroom accessories that didn’t cost the bank.

From new bedding, to pillows, a nightstand lamp, and faux sunflowers it brought joy to their bedroom. There were even online charity shops like OXFAM who had everything from vintage rugs, to handmade blankets and cushions and throws. Granted Oxfam tended to be more expensive than other charity shops, but nevertheless she had found some good bargains in there. However, she reccomended to ‘thrift with caution’. It was important to stay focused and know what you were shopping for. Otherwise, you could spend a lot more than you planned to. When A thrifted,  she went with a category in mind, and took it from there. For example that might be new bedding, storage capacities, or even furniture. In turn, you could also donate unused furniture to pay it forward. A great way of giving back, while reinventing your bedroom style.

*Disclaimer 

Please note this is a collaborative post but all thoughts are my own and are not affected by monetary compensation.