How to Decorate with Things You Already Have

Want to give your home a fresh new look without spending a fortune? Before you head to the store, try shopping your own home!

I find that once February rolls around, or honestly, once I've had enough of the dreary winter weather, I start craving a little change. I want things to feel brighter, fresher, and a bit more cheerful.

The good news is that you probably already have plenty of things around your home that can help you create that fresh feeling. Sometimes you don't need new stuff, you just need to look at the stuff you already own a little differently.

Here are some easy ways to decorate with things you already have and give your space a refresh without spending much (or anything at all).

1. Get Creative with Spray Paint

Never underestimate what a can of spray paint can do!

An old vase, picture frame, lamp base, planter, basket, or small decorative item can look completely different with a fresh coat of paint.

Choose a colour that works with your current decor, or go with a classic neutral like white, black, or a soft beige. You may be surprised by how different an old item can look after a simple makeover.

Just make sure the item and paint are compatible and use spray paint safely according to the product directions.

2. Bring the Outdoors In

Nature is one of the best, and cheapest, ways to decorate your home.

Look around your yard for interesting branches that can be arranged in a large vase. Add fresh greenery to small vases or jars, or use seasonal flowers to add a little colour to a room.

You can also use things like pinecones, interesting stones, or other natural objects as decorative accents.

A simple branch in a pretty vase can make much more of a statement than you might expect!

3. Rearrange Your Furniture

Before buying anything new, try moving your furniture around.

Move a chair from one room into another. Try your side table beside the sofa instead of the bed. Switch the direction of your furniture or create a new conversation area.

You might find that your existing furniture works perfectly in a different arrangement. And the best part? It costs absolutely nothing!

4. Shop Your House

This is one of my favourite ways to decorate on a budget.

Walk through your home and look at your belongings with fresh eyes. Could the vase in your bedroom work in the living room? Could the basket in the bathroom hold blankets? Could a piece of artwork from one room look better somewhere else?

Move decorative items between rooms and see what happens.

Sometimes something feels "old" simply because we've been looking at it in the same spot for years.

5. Get Crafty with Fabric

Have fabric scraps, old curtains, scarves, tablecloths, or clothing that you're no longer using? You might be able to turn them into simple decorative pieces.

Use fabric to make a table runner, pillow cover, placemats, bunting, or even a small piece of wall art.

You don't need to be an expert sewer, either. There are plenty of simple projects that require very little fabric or sewing. Fabric glue might even work!

6. Give Your Picture Frames a New Job

Have a collection of picture frames sitting around that aren't being used? Put them to work!

Frame family photos, children's artwork, scrapbook paper, pretty fabric scraps, postcards, calendars, or even pages from an old book.

You can also group several frames together to create an inexpensive gallery wall.

Don't worry if the frames don't match perfectly. A collection of different frames can actually make a display feel more interesting.

7. Use Old Things in New Ways

One of the easiest ways to decorate without spending money is to stop thinking about things only for their original purpose.

An old mason jar can become a vase, bathroom storage container, or pencil holder. A wooden crate can hold magazines, blankets, or toys. A pretty bowl can become a catch-all for keys and other little items. An old tray can organize perfumes, candles, or coffee supplies.

Look at what you already own and ask yourself: "What else could I use this for?"

8. Decorate with Books

Books can be beautiful decor all on their own.

Stack a few books on a coffee table or side table and place a vase, candle, or small decorative object on top. You can also use books to add height to displays or create little groupings on shelves.

If you have old books that are no longer useful to you, there are plenty of creative craft projects you can make with them, too.

9. Display Your Kids' Artwork

Kids create an endless supply of free artwork!

Instead of putting everything on the fridge, choose a few favourite pieces and display them around your home. Frame artwork, create a rotating gallery wall, hang drawings from clips, or turn colourful pieces into homemade banners. You could even laminate particularly sturdy artwork and use it as placemats.

It's inexpensive decor, and much more meaningful than something you picked up at a store.

10. Rearrange Your Shelves

Sometimes your shelves don't need new decor. They just need a new arrangement.

Take everything off a bookshelf, hutch, or display shelf and start from scratch. Group similar items together, mix different heights, add books for dimension, and leave some empty space.

You'll be amazed at how different the same collection of objects can look when rearranged.

11. Make a New Gallery Wall

Take a look through the artwork, prints, calendars, postcards, children's artwork, and photographs you already have.

Choose a collection that works together and create a new gallery wall. You don't necessarily need matching frames. In fact, mixing frames can give the display more personality.

And if you already have a gallery wall, try rearranging the pieces into a completely different configuration.

12. Switch Out Your Textiles

You don't need to buy an entirely new set of decor to make a room feel different.

Move throw blankets and pillows between rooms. Bring out a tablecloth you haven't used in a while. Fold a colourful blanket over the arm of a chair.

Even small changes to textiles can make a room feel refreshed.

13. Create a Decorative Tray

Do you have an unused serving tray hiding in a cupboard? Pull it out and turn it into a little decorative display.

Add a candle, vase, small plant, favourite book, or another decorative item you already own.

Trays are especially useful because they make a collection of random objects look intentional and organized.

14. Make a Simple Centrepiece

You don't need an expensive floral arrangement to create a pretty table centrepiece.

Try filling a bowl with pinecones, fruit, ornaments, or other seasonal items you already have. A vase filled with branches can also make a beautiful centrepiece. Even a few candles grouped together on a tray can create a simple focal point.

15. Move Your Decor Around Seasonally

One of my favourite ways to make my home feel different without buying anything is to rotate what I already own.

Pack away some of your decor for a few months and bring out things you've forgotten about.

When you see those pieces again, they can feel almost new!

You don't need a huge collection of seasonal decor, either. Simply rotating pillows, blankets, artwork, vases, and small decorative pieces can make a big difference.

Before You Buy Anything, Shop Your Home

The next time you feel like your home needs a refresh, resist the urge to immediately start shopping.

Instead, take a walk through your house.

Open the cupboards. Look in storage bins. Check the basement. Look at your bookshelves and closets. You might already have everything you need to create the change you're craving.

Decorating doesn't always mean buying something new. Sometimes the best way to refresh your home is simply to use what you already have in a new way.

And if you're trying to save money, that's a pretty great decorating strategy!

How do you decorate your home on a budget? Do you have a favourite way to refresh a room without buying anything new?