Decorating On a Budget

Window treatments can make or break your home, as well as your budget if you’re not careful. However, no one can deny that getting the right window treatments is essential — they provide privacy, insulation, sound control, and light control. At Budget Blinds of Tempe and Central Phoenix, we understand how difficult it can be to find the right window treatments that fit within your budget. That’s why we’re putting out our ultimate guide for how to decorate your entire home on a budget. 

Refine Your Wishlist

Make a wish list and let your inner interior designer run free with it. Once you’ve made it and listed everything, set it down for a few days and let the ideas stew. This will let you think over everything, from placements to knicknacks. 

Pick your wishlist back up in a few days and read it over again. But this time, grab a new piece of paper and make two columns: immediate needs, and future wants. Divide everything onto your list into these two categories to make your budgeting a lot easier on you. If there’s one thing we’ve found homeowners often forget, it’s that you have all the time you need to make your home perfect. You don’t need to decorate on a budget one time — you can spread it out over as many years as it takes. 

Our final bit of advice for your wishlist is to have fun with it. Don’t get too caught up in the numbers and don’t let it become a chore. If you’re not having fun, put it away for another day. This is all about decorating your home and making it match you. If it’s not fun, then it’s not worth it. 

Figure Out Your Budget

Once everything on your wishlist is divided, you can start crunching some numbers and taking measurements of what you need. When it comes to window treatments, the larger the window (or the more windows you need to cover), the more expensive it will be. We recommend measuring each window you need to cover and writing down the location of said window and how big it is. This will help once you’re ready to pick out your window treatments! 

Once you have that, it’s important to know what type of window treatment you want and how much each of them cost. That’s where we come in. We offer free design consultations, where you can ask about all of our window treatments, from wood shutters and Roman shades to aluminum blinds and drapery. 

Finally, stick to your budget as much as you can. There are times where you should splurge, but we firmly believe that your financial security is what is the most important. For example, if you have your heart set on wood blinds, but aren’t sure if you can afford them, we have less expensive alternatives we can show you. Faux wood blinds, bamboo blinds, and woven wood shades achieve the same look, but are more budget friendly.  

Unexpected Expenses 

When you’re making your budget, always factor in about 10-15% of emergency or unexpected costs. You never know what you could uncover or what labor could cost. When you’re decorating on a budget, this is essential to making sure you don’t go over it. 

Compare your Budget and Your Wishlist

This should go without saying, but once you have all of the information and pricing you need, go back to your wishlist one final time. You may have to prioritize some items over others and switch some of the “immediate needs” into the “future wants” column, and vice versa. This is not a bad thing, so don’t be discouraged! This step is to make sure you have an iron-clad plan so you don’t spend a cent more than you need to. 

It also helps you factor in some of the cost-savings alternatives that you’ve while researching. For example, maybe swap out that chic colorful wallpaper for an eye-popping paint color, and then add DIY stencils to the wall instead of hiring someone to do it for you. 

Consider DIY and Thrifting 

If you’re thinking about just doing a bunch of small things to your home, remember that the cost of them adds up quickly. Think about ways to save money, such as thrifting, and DIY projects, to help keep cost low. You may surprise yourself with how much you can save and you may pick up a new skill in the process! 

This includes finding knick knacks and painting them yourself, restoring an older dresser with sandpaper, a new stain (or fresh paint), and new drawer knobs, or replacing sinks yourself. There are plenty of easy tutorials online and maybe cost-effective options you can pursue to save you money. 

We don’t recommend doing this with your window treatments though. A professional should make and install those to prevent any damage to your home and ensure your safety. 

Get Expert Help From Budget Blinds

There is one more thing: custom designs that are fitted just right to your home are always worth the money. At Budget Blinds of Tempe and Central Phoenix, our owner James does most of the installations himself to ensure they’re the right fit and that it’s done right. You won’t find this same level of dedication anywhere else. 

We also offer a free design consultation to help you find the right window treatment for both your style and your budget. Give us a call today!