Budget Decorating: Transform a Room for Under 100 Dollars

You do not need an interior designer or a furniture store credit card to transform a room. Here are changes that make the biggest visual impact for the least money.

Paint One Accent Wall (30 dollars)

A single wall in a bold color changes the entire feel of a room. Dark green, navy blue, or warm terracotta are currently popular and pair well with most furniture. A gallon of paint and a roller is all you need.

Rearrange Your Furniture (Free)

Pull furniture away from walls. Angle a sofa. Create conversation groupings. Most rooms look better with furniture floating rather than pushed against every wall. This costs nothing and takes an hour.

Add Plants (20 dollars)

Three plants can transform a sterile room into a living space. A pothos for the shelf, a snake plant for the corner, and a small succulent for the desk. All three are nearly impossible to kill.

Upgrade Your Lighting (25 dollars)

Replace overhead lighting with table lamps or floor lamps. Warm-toned bulbs at twenty-seven hundred Kelvin create a cozy atmosphere. A simple paper lantern pendant costs five dollars and looks surprisingly elegant.

Frame Something (20 dollars)

A framed print, a page from a vintage book, or even a piece of fabric in a frame. Three frames in a row make a gallery wall. Dollar stores sell frames that look fine once hung.

Replace Throw Pillows (Free to 15 dollars)

New pillow covers change the entire mood of a couch. Buy them on sale or sew them from fabric remnants. Two or three coordinating covers cost less than eating out once.