It’s possible to decorate your home on a budget and one of the easiest ways to do that is DIY. I’ll show you 9 incredible and thrifty DIY projects that will save you tons of cash. There’s something for all skill levels from simple craft DIYs to budget-friendly room renovations.
You don’t have to know how to do it all. And you don’t have to be an expert at crafts or woodworking to have successful DIY projects. It’s scary sometimes to branch out and try to make something yourself instead of buying or hiring out. But if you are trying to save money on home decor, DIY projects can help you meet your goals.
9 Thrifty DIY Projects That Will Save You Money
Just because you might be in hardcore saving mode or living a frugal lifestyle doesn’t mean you never get to do anything to update your house or make anything again. You just need to adapt and think outside the box.
DIY Lights
These lights are part of our budget-friendly master bedroom makeover. When you start changing up rooms, it can get out of control and completely blow your budget if you aren’t careful. You have to decide where to spend your money carefully.
For our project, we were adding in a DIY Shiplap wall and painting the walls so that was the majority of our budget. I needed new lighting but I couldn’t afford the wall sconces I wanted.
Because I already had scrap wood, glue, bulbs, screws, and stain already on hand, the only supplies I had to buy were the cage lights and cord kits. I made two lights for less than $40. Chances are if you DIY, you’ve got most of the supplies stashed too! See the full tutorial on the DIY Industrial Farmhouse Lighting here!
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Now, this is not a one day DIY for sure, but the cost savings are in the thousands. I would’ve paid someone at least $4000 to paint my cabinets (that’s the going rate around here – this could vary widely depending on where you live).
Four grand was never gonna happen. I’m pretty confident in my painting skills, but this was definitely one that made me nervous. Honestly though, if you can paint, you can do this. It takes time and patience and your house will be a total shit show for a few weeks, but it’s worth it.
It cost me $100 to paint all of my kitchen cabinets. I’d say a savings of $3900 is worth it. Check out my guide to painting kitchen cabinets here and the full reveal of my $100 kitchen makeover here.
$3 Wreath
I promised some super easy and cheap DIYs to include all skill levels and it doesn’t get any easier than this $3 wreath. This wreath came about out of a mix of laziness and saving money. Around my house, we are all about decorating for Halloween. We love all things spooky and creepy.
So when it comes to traditional Fall decorating, I’m kinda lazy. I save it up for Halloween. I wanted something to dress up my mantel until the skeletons could make an appearance and this $3 wreath fit the bill in more ways than one.
Simple dollar store supplies, five minutes, and done. It doesn’t get any easier than that. See the post about my $3 wreath and a simple neutral fall mantel here.
Terra Cotta Pot Makeover
This is another example of a super cheap DIY that makes a big impact. This started as a plain old terra cotta pot I had sitting in my garage. You can find these at junk or thrift stores or you can buy them new for a few bucks at any garden store.
Craft paint, faux greenery, an old burlap ribbon from some other project, and craft letters turned it into the cutest little pot. And it can’t die because it’s fake!
You can choose any design or just draw haphazard lines like I did and it goes with any decor. Check out the transformation of the terra cotta pot here.
DIY Farmhouse Table
Full disclaimer on this table – It’s a thrifty DIY project if you own a few tools already. If you have to go out and buy every single thing to make it, then it’s not likely to save you any money. I have a Kreg Jig and the other tools we used to make it, so I just had to buy the lumber and legs.
But. Don’t let it stop you if you are considering getting into building some of your own furniture. The Kreg Jig is one of the handiest tools I’ve ever owned and it’s a lifesaver if you want to join boards together like on this table.
We built this table for about $135 and it’s time consuming but hundreds of dollars cheaper than buying a new table. You can see all the details, materials, and instructions for building your own table here.
Dresser Makeover
Furniture makeovers top my list of thrifty DIY projects. Furniture is crazy expensive if you want to buy quality stuff. But, if you take some time to look at online yard sales or thrift stores, you can score major deals on furniture that just need a makeover.
This dresser happened to belong to a friend and she didn’t have the room or a need for it anymore. It was in fantastic shape and well cared for over the years. All it took was a few supplies to turn this dated dresser into a stunning beauty.
This one is one of the favorites I’ve painted over the years because I love the look of some of the natural wood showing. You can see all the before and afters of this dresser makeover here.
DIY Bead Garland
Another inexpensive DIY project you can make and customize any way you like is this DIY Bead Garland. You can find all the supplies online or at any craft/hobby store. It only takes a little bit of time to have your own bead garland.
Change up the color of the thread, paint the beads, make it different sizes with different sized beads, or any other variation you like. You can see how to make your own DIY Bead Garland here.
Planters Made From Trash Cans
I love planting flowers, but planters can get out of control when it comes to prices. I just can’t justify spending $50 on a large planter if I’m on a budget. So I made my own from cheap trash cans. These are plastic trash cans from IKEA that were a few bucks each.
I think I spent $4 on a can of spray paint and these planters turned out so pretty. I’ll see how long they stand up to this Georgia heat, but I could make several of these for what I’d spend on a planter this size at a garden store. You can see how to make your own planters and lots of cool garden ideas here.
DIY Floral Hoop Wreath
This is another thrifty and frugal DIY Project I made for our bedroom makeover. I wanted something simple above our bed, plus I was out of money for decor. I’ve seen these DIY hoop wreaths all over and they’re a super cheap way to get something large on the wall without lots of money.
The hoops are available in a large variety of sizes at craft or hobby stores and you can add greenery or faux flowers to match your style. See all the DIY Wreath details here.
Are you inspired to make some of your own thrifty DIY Projects?
You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of doing. And once you see the cost difference, you’ll be hooked. There is definitely some trial and error involved, but thrifty DIY projects allow you to stay on a budget and save money. And you’ll be proud of making something yourself!
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