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These are the best tips I found for decorating a guest bedroom on a budget. Let’s face it, most of us don’t have a million dollars in the bank. We struggle with the desire to make our homes feel luxurious and beautiful but always end up having to pay the bills instead.
Just like you, I’m working on a budget, but I want my house to resemble those gorgeous Pinterest boards and posts. That’s why I created this post to be used as a guide to style your guest bedroom, or any other bedroom you want, without bringing your bank account to tears.
Check out the tips below…
Tip #1 – Finding a $1,900.00 headboard for UNDER $200.00…
Yes… you read that right. I was able to find a headboard that looked VERY SIMILAR to the one I wanted but for MUCH cheaper!
I’m a sucker for gorgeous hand-carved wood pieces and fell in love with a beautiful white queen-sized bed with a hand-carved headboard for my guest bedroom. The only problem was that it was $1,939.99 for the bed…
Obviously, my eyes are much bigger than my wallet. So, what’s the solution? YOU MUST THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX when you’re on a budget!
I was doing one of my favorite things, taking a “me time stroll” through the beautiful land of HomeGoods, and God blessed me with the best Lightbulb of an idea EVER! I saw a gorgeous hand-carved folding screen that was big enough to be queen-sized (maybe even King sized) and the price made me sing! I paid $169.00 for this gorgeous piece, and it looks better than the almost $2000.00 bed I wanted to cry over.
The best part is since we’re a military family and we move a lot, this piece can have multiple functions for future homes too. The point is, that using unconventional pieces for other purposes can really pay off!
So, remember the following when in the market for a new bedroom piece or any other home piece for that matter…
- Your possibilities are endless when you open your mind to new ideas.
- You can use different pieces for different things.
- Try using a Large Privacy screen, Large piece of artwork, or wall furnishings instead of buying the expensive bed.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things!
Tip #2 – Bedding, Bedding, Bedding!
So again, you found yourself on a tight budget… I get it. But bedding doesn’t have to break your bank either. I know you want that plush expensive-looking comforter but you’re playing with an “I’ve got student loans” type of budget. The good news is… so do I, and we can work with that kind of budget.
The bedding pictured I found at HomeGoods for about 59.99 and it looks stunning! The trick is what you don’t see. Under this beautiful white comforter is a plain feather-down comforter that makes the bedding that much more plush. I had my down comforter as another blanket for when guests come to visit so it was perfect to have as an under layer to add some more height to the bedding. I’ve linked a feather-down comforter I found on Amazon here.
Small tricks like that can change the entire look of the bed. Plus if you find a comforter that you love but seems a little thin, adding an underlayer can always solve that problem.
Simple is best when decorating a guest bedroom on a budget…
Another way to save money when decorating a guest bedroom on a budget is to be okay with choosing something more simple. Sometimes the more basic a bed set is the better because it will allow you to be more bold when choosing pillows. Here is a beautiful comforter set I found on Amazon that would look great with so many different styles!
To save even more money on the bed for your guest room without skimping on the comfort is to actually purchase a firm mattress and then add a nice mattress topper. My husband and I got our firm queen mattress on sale for about $250.00 and then I purchased a memory foam topper for about $80.00. Let’s just say all of our guests love that bed. I can’t tell you how many times people will ask me where we bought the mattress because it was so comfortable.
By doing it this way it also gives the best of both worlds, it’s firm with a comfortable feeling that provides for a supportive comfortable good night’s rest. I linked a nice mattress topper here for your reference.
Tip #3 – Pillow Talk…
Ahhhh pillows… they’re like the sprinkles to your ice cream, they just make it look better!
Unfortunately… they can be expensive as all heck too! As we’ve discussed earlier, my eyes tend to be bigger than my wallet, and of course, I fall in love with pillows that are the same price as a weekly grocery bill! Lucky for you, I have a couple of solutions for your pillow talk problems…
The first budget-friendly tip for pillows that my Mom taught me (you know it’s got to be good… duhhh moms know everything!) is to shop the kid’s section. YES, THE KIDS SECTION! When decorating a guest bedroom on a budget, anything goes… Just like clothes and shoes, kids’ bedding tends to be cheaper too! (Spoiler Alert… The brown pom pom pillows pictured on my guest bed are from the kid’s section.)
The second budget-friendly tip is to buy pillow covers. This can be used in a couple of different ways. You can either find a cheaper insert for your MUCH CHEAPER pillow cover, or you can revamp a pillow you already own by putting a new cover over it.
I’ve linked my blue textured pillows pictured above for you to check out.
Remember, pillows can really change the setting of a room and can help to provide that luxurious cozy feeling you’re desiring. Another way to save is to find the cheapest pillow. It doesn’t matter if it’s ugly, cute, or whatever it looks like. You can use that as an insert instead. It doesn’t have to be a traditional pillow insert it just has to fit the cover!
Tip #4 – Treat your guests like first-class…
I don’t know about you but I love the idea of walking into a cute little treat basket after a day of traveling. So the thought of adding an esthetically pleasing guest room basket got me excited! Plus, it’s a fun little touch when decorating a guest bedroom on a budget. It just makes the space that much more inviting!
This is an optional decor piece but it’s nice for guests when they come to stay with you. The basket doesn’t have to be huge and can include a variety of things from snacks to travel essentials.
This basket can also be great for your guests who get late-night cravings but don’t want to rummage through your kitchen or ask for a treat. It adds a nice little welcoming touch to any guest experience.
Some things you can choose to include are…
- Wash Cloths
- Water Bottles
- Travel Sized Shampoo and Conditioner
- Travel Sized Lotion
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hair Ties
- Candy Bars / Treats
- Tylenol
- Makeup Remover Wipes
- Small Bottle of Contact Solution
Here are some baskets that you can use for either storage purposes or a cute guest treat basket!
Tip #5 – Shop your own house when decorating a guest bedroom on a budget!
If we’re being honest here… shopping your own house is a great place to start ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A BUDGET. There are plenty of things that I have in one room, and then get another idea, and it gets moved to another. The best part about it, IT’S FREE… you already own it!
Another plus of this method is that you don’t overcrowd your spaces. I’m sure you have certain pieces that you love but have put away. Now would be the time to pull them out and see what you can do with them!
Pieces like decor trays, vases, wall art, or other similar items can be easily moved from room to room. Or you can even repurpose items too. For example, I made my wedding bouquet from faux flowers. Instead of ditching them after I was done, I repurposed them and now have them in a jeweled vase in my home office.
Thoughts…
The main takeaway is that decor doesn’t have to be terribly expensive to feel luxurious. You can choose to splurge in some areas and hold back in others. It’s about getting creative and finding pieces that bring your space to life without feeling buyer’s remorse because you got the first piece you saw.
Don’t rush into purchasing the first item that fits your esthetic. Take time to research, look around, and weigh all the possibilities. Trust me your wallet will thank you!
If you got this far, comment below some other ideas you might have for budget-friendly decor. As always, I’d love to hear your feedback if you try any of these tips! Plus, let me know if you have any specific home decor requests you like to see!
If you liked this post make sure you check out my others…
11 Tips on Packing for A Military Move
10 Home Life Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind
The Best Quotes for Comparison to Change Your Mindset
7 comments
Awesome blog, Nikki! All FANTASTIC ideas – that headboard is to die for and so unique! Shopping in the kids section is also brilliant! My tip, last week, I popped into my local Salvation Army. There are so many brand new home items and if not new, many look brand new because they were in someone’s rarely used guest room! And sometimes you find that piece you can repurpose by painting, glue-gunning, etc. And if you screw it up, you aren’t out much money. I do have one other non-traditional idea that sounds kind of weird and undesirable, but here it goes – garbage picking. There are no other nice words for it, but I’m shocked at what some people throw to the curb especially if you drive through more exclusive neighborhoods on garbage day! Why people don’t donate or sell on Marketplace (another tip – I think I’m up to 3 now – lots of great finds on Marketplace) is beyond me. I’ve rescued many thing from the trash. Sometimes I use them and sometimes I clean them up and sell them on Marketplace, so I have more spending money for Home Goods (I am also addicted to that place)! Keep up the great work! I love all your posts!
This was all amazing stuff!! I’m glad you liked it! And you’re definitely right, sometimes garbage picking is great! Especially when living on a military base! I found an entire king sized bed that was brand new with tags still on it once! You just have to be willing to hunt for it! And YES SPRAY PAINT IS MY BEST FRIEND!
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