In turning a home on a small budget, there should be no need to look further than some of the better-known interior designers in New York. New York City-based designers are notorious for blending opulent designs that can be implemented with affordable sage designs. No matter how many square feet to redesign—from your living room to your bedroom—here are 10 tips on affordable home decorating endorsed by NYC’s top designers.
Five Ways to Lend Riches Feel to Your Household Without Spending Much Money
Draping your space with fabrics such as pillowcases, cushion covers, and throws are some of the cheapest ways you can enhance your space. NYC designers are encouraging people to layer different textures so that they get the richness to their room. “One way how you can give a faux effect of luxury is through fabrics. Another tip provided by one of the most popular designers is layering, which means that using velvet pillows on top of the more affordable cotton throw cushions will not only look luxurious but will also cost less financially.
Experiment and match differently shaped, colored, and textured cushion covers like velvet, linen, or faux fur ones. This technique enhances an elegant touch without making many expensive changes.
You should buy statement curtains to make any space look better.
Curtains are make-or-break in a room, and in NYC, designers know that affordable yet fabulous curtains set the scene. There is nothing quite like good curtains; picking the right curtain makes a huge difference in the atmosphere of the room. Translated, he says, floor-length curtains in neutral colors or small prints look posh, if not as luxurious as bespoke curtains, but at a fraction of the cost. A recent survey conducted by the National Home Furnishings Association revealed that 62% of homeowners are using better window treatments to give a more refined appearance.

Do not buy the custom routes but get ready-made curtains or even chic DIY projects. Below the pictures, white or beige linen curtains are perfect for making the room lighter and adding that NYC clean-shaven look.
Borrow Personality from Table Runners and Napkins and Bring It into Dining Areas
A stylish table runner is the simplest and cheapest method of giving a face-lift to your dining area. To the designers, a table runner not only gives the dining room an overall look, but you can coordinate your napkins as well. For designer Joanna Gaines, ‘A table runner in a bold color or with a unique pattern brings attitude to a dining table without the need for much investment’.
Another place you might save money is to opt for fabric napkins instead of disposable ones which are not only fashionable but also environmentally friendly. Introduce metallic elements at the table, for example, having a napkin with a gold edge will add some New York chic to your home.
Transform Your Walls with Affordable Art Prints
Instead of going for the real deal, NYC designers advise incorporating relatively cheap prints or even homemade ones into the interior. ‘Carpentry activity like framing art prints or creating your paintings is a good idea of giving personality to a place and at a low cost’, designer Leanne Ford. Art prints depict the advantage of changing such prints from one season and the other, thus providing the best curb appeal around the year.
To get quality prints in different styles, one needs to search for Internet-based shops, such as (Etsy or Walmart) that offer affordable pieces. Gallery walls are another simple and more popular trend that aims at using several cheap frames applied to themed walls.

Lamp shades can be bold to give your lighting an entirely new look Go with Lamp Shades to Rejuvenate Your Lighting.
Rarely can a homeowner be stuck between trying to find a solution to revamp their home without having to spend a lot of money and time, and that is why refreshing your lampshades is a perfect example of a minor change that can make a huge difference in your home. NYC interior designers make lampshades as focal points so a new table lamp can transform a room even if the owner won’t be injecting much capital. Lampshade can also give a new look to an old lamp, according to the designer of HGTV, David Bromstad.
You can change the furnishing of the living room or bedroom lampshades with modern styles that allow for impacting enhancements. From geometric prints to fabric-covered shades in neutral colors, this is how you can get that New York City feel at a great price.
It is also possible to integrate Vintage or Thrifted elements into the interior for character and Charm.
Because New York City has uniqueness and richness, New York City has many stores that sell second-hand clothes and antiques. Combining these discoveries with your interior design can quickly bring personality to your home without having to spend much.
“When it comes to another recommendation, do not underestimate the great possibilities of purchasing the unified and eternal things in the thrift stores. “Cute furniture or cute decor how about a little character for the furniture or decoration items is much more interesting and attractive than those machine-made items you see everywhere,” suggests Sara Story, designer.
Check fabric stores for tableware and lights or quilts or blankets you wish to use for the rooms as focal points. Add a couple of pieces of authentic vintage to the equation and you have an environment that is both ‘tastemaker approved,’ and already partially furnished, budget be damned.
Quilts and Blankets: Cozy Yet Stylish
Who doesn’t love the feeling of a soft quilt or blanket placed over their couch or bed? When it comes to living orders in houses, New Yorkers know that even a tiny splash of color in the form of a good quality quilt adds warmth to a living area. So what are the decor strategies for embracing this year’s most popular color? According to interior designer Kelly Wearstler Wicker, “A throw blanket in a luxurious fabric or a quilt in a bold pattern will complete the welcoming and chic appearance of your room.”
Depending on whether you’re going for an old-world quilt look or a more contemporary throw, these add a touch of curated style to the bedroom or living room for a pretty small investment that screams NYC.

Revamp your furniture by giving old planks a brand-new look with a new shade of paint
One of the best advice NYC designers have for those involved in redecorating is to try repurposing your furniture. Everything around your house deserves a new look at times, and you can always try painting or varnishing your furniture. To mimic the trendy look of a shiplap accent wall, which shingles up vertically, this is one of the best, cheapest DIY hacks that can give a space an entirely new feel, according to designer Emily Henderson.
The idea of painting various furnishing including a coffee table, side tables, or even dresser drawers makes them transform. If you are aiming for an elegant, muted look choose mostly pastel shades while the dynamic and deep look can be achieved with intense colors.
Time to Change Those Tossed Around Your Living Room
One thing I like about throw cushions is the fact that they can be changed to the current trend or season. For NYC’s designers, this is a quick and steady solution for refreshing the looks of living spaces without necessarily having to buy most items. “Throw cushions are an easy and cost-effective change to an area and bring in seasonal elements,” notes Amber Lewis.
Whether it is winter and you want to put velvet-like type cushions or summer and flowers-like cushion covers, this piece of furniture can change your living or bedroom.
Do not Consider Scenting as an Afterthought.
Sometimes a perfect place for change can be on the backdrop of our proverbial noses – a budget-friendly decor hack. Interior designer Nate Berkus: ‘Whether it’s scented candles, oils or a simple potpourri, it certainly can alter the entire feel of that area in a matter of minutes’ 87% of people say that smell directly influences their attitude to the space.
Put a candle next to your favorite scent or make your potpourri for that added scent and aesthetics that brings that extra feel of home that doesn’t cost much.
The verdict
Do You know these 10 budget-friendly home decor hacks? Here is how to give your home that designer look without actually having to break the bank. Whatever your project, maybe changing couch cushions, replacing lampshades, or adding layers of textiles, the tips provided below will assist you in decorating your home with style and on a budget. Remember when it comes to redesigning our home the biggest impacts can be made with tiny changes, which these NYC designers know all too well. With the help of these simple, yet effective recommendations, you’ll be able to get your dream house to look like a million bucks without actually spending that much.
Using soft furnishings like pillowcases, cushion sets, and blankets is one of the simplest and most cost-effective methods of changing the appearance of a home. These are incredibly cheap and any of these can redesign a house in a jiffy. Other areas that may need changing are curtains; you may need new front curtains or just change the color, or lamp shades – changing these would be a big improvement without having to spend a lot of money. Such details bring in the much-needed elegance and class to your room and you can also do these easily to incorporate the periods or culture.
FAQs
1. Can I update my living room decor without buying new furniture?
Absolutely! Getting a new look for your living room does not always have to involve getting new furniture. Rather, incorporate the use of painting or refinishing existing furniture into our living spaces as a primary strategy for the efficient utilization of space. Sometimes just changing the throw pillows, getting a new quilt or even a cute tablecloth can do the magic. They are all cheap and efficient approaches to revamping your living room without necessarily involving a lot of money.
2. What kind of textiles should I choose to add a touch of luxury to a budget?
If you want to replicate the feeling of opulence but don’t necessarily have the budget for it, invest in sensational touches – plush fabrics such as velvet for the contours of the cushions, linen for the curtains, and faux fur for the ones you use to throw across the décor. I also love these materials as they make any room look classy the moment they are incorporated into it. It is possible to use complementing fabrics and prints for instance using velvet cushion and a cotton throw produces the desired luxurious look but it’s affordable.
3. Are there any affordable sources for finding stylish home decor items in NYC?
Yes, New York City is famous for thrift stores, vintage shops, and great online sites like Etsy and Society6 that offer awesome and affordable home decor accessories. One can rather often find special pieces that may be used to fill up the space and bring out its character and do not have to cost a lot of money: one can shop second-hand or even visit local flea markets. Do not neglect to visit stores that sell discounted items for quality decorative items such as clearing sales or outlets.