I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to change up my home décor — whether it be to change with the seasons, for an upcoming holiday, or just an overall update. Constant change, though, can get expensive. So to keep the cost low while also keeping my inner decorating diva satisfied, I’ve come up with my top 25 decorating ideas for under $5. (See also: 25 Great Gifts for $5 or Less)
Great Hang-Ups
Using some items you probably already have around the house and a few inexpensive dollar-store items can yield some spectacular wall art. Try these ideas to spruce up the walls.
1. Floating Invisible Bookshelf
Use old books and some L-brackets to create a floating shelf for vases or, well, other books.
2. Cork Wreath
I’ve covered this one before in 10 Ways to Reuse Common Household Items, but wreaths are easy DIY decorations that yield maximum style for minimum cost. All you need are wine corks and a foam wreath from a craft store. Or, as an alternative, try this ultra-cute paper wreath.
3. Garland
Use holiday cards or some of your favorite photos, some ribbon, and clothespins to create a decorative garland.
4. Plates or Records
Hang visually interesting plates or several vinyl records on your wall using adhesive disc plate hangers.
Keep It Natural
The beauty of using natural materials to decorate your home is that the materials are free and plentiful! Try collecting some items from nature and pairing them with inexpensive items to change up your decor.
5. Pinecone Centerpiece
Fill three jars, vases, or hurricanes with pinecones in the winter. Arrange in the center of your table for a beautiful, seasonal centerpiece.
6. Shell Bookends
Pick up two large shells on your next beach vacation (if you’re lucky enough to take one!) to use as beachy bookends. Tun, whelk, or conch (yes, I know they’re rare) work best for this.
7. Seashell Soap Dish
Make a simple soap dish a piece of art by affixing a large clam or scallop shell (the dish portion) to a smaller shell (the base).
8. Natural Wall Art
Make a statement wall hanging by suspending a piece of driftwood or birch branch from the wall. Screw drywall screws into the wood, wrap picture hanging wire around the screws, and suspend from wall hooks.
9. Dried Grass Centerpiece
Fill an assortment of vases or glasses with dried grass purchased from your local craft store. Tie each bundle with a ribbon and arrange vases on a mantle or use several down the center of a dining table.
Picture This
I love using picture frames to decorate the walls in my home, and I often pick up inexpensive frames from garage sales or the dollar store. You don't need to put just family photos in your frames, though — try thinking outside the box with some of these ideas.
10. Letter Art
In recent years, it has become popular to make art out of a series of photos of objects that look like letters of the alphabet, spelling out a word or name. Try snapping your own series to spell out your last name and proudly displaying the results on your wall. Print the photos inexpensively using Shutterfly or Snapfish.
11. Earring Organizer
Similar to the shadowbox idea above, use a picture frame (minus the glass) to display earrings as artwork. Stick flat-head pushpins into the back of the frame and use those to string picture wire or fishing wire horizontally across. Hang the frame and then hang earrings from the wire.
12. Word Art
I thought a gift I received from a friend years ago was ingenious as well as inexpensive. She simply printed off the definition of the word “Grace,” highlighted and bolded the word, and framed it for me. Try doing the same with a meaningful word or phrase, like “peace,” “believe,” or one of your favorite quotes. Or, as an alternative, frame one of the pages of a favorite book (I would frame the first page of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, for example).
13. Shadowbox
Pick up a cheap photo frame from a dollar store or thrift store and toss the glass. Hang the picture on your wall and use it to frame something with some texture to add visual interest to an otherwise dull wall. Try framing dried flowers or some meaningful mementos from a trip, like a few photos, plane tickets, and cardboard coasters from a bar or restaurant you visited.
14. Wallpaper Art
Frame a wallpaper sample or fabric remnant. Try framing multiple pieces of the same pattern, with patterns facing different directions in each frame.
15. Good Fortune, Good Art
Ever get a fortune in your fortune cookie that you think is incredibly clever or speaks to you? Try framing the tiny scrap of paper. Putting a mat and frame around such a small object creates a more dramatic effect.
What do you all think? Any ideas you’re going to try here, or any decorating ideas for under $5 you’d add to the list? Share your thoughts in the comments.