Decorating your home beautifully doesn’t have to cost thousands. Whether you rent, own, or are styling your first apartment, the right DIY home decor ideas on a budget can completely transform a room without overspending. Many lists online show pretty photos, but they rarely explain what the project will cost or whether it’s realistic for your skill level.This guide goes beyond general inspiration. Below, you’ll find a curated list of budget-friendly DIY home decor projects with three budget categories, three difficulty levels, and explanations of why each project is worth trying.

For an even more personalized experience, you can use the DIY Project Finder below to filter projects based on your skill level and budget.

DIY Project Finder: Filter by Budget + Skill Level

DIY Home Decor Ideas on a Budget

Painted Mason Jar Vases

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Beginner

Painted mason jar vases are one of the easiest and most affordable DIY home decor ideas on a budget. They require very few materials and make a surprisingly big visual impact. They are perfect for small spaces, renters, and anyone decorating with limited funds. By changing the paint colors or finishes, these jars can match any style, from simple modern looks to bold seasonal color palettes.

You can find everything you need for painted mason jar vases at thrift stores, discount craft aisles, or dollar stores, making this one of the most affordable DIY home decor projects. Most people can complete this project for a very low total cost since jars are often reused from home and paint is inexpensive in small quantities.

Thrifted Frame Gallery Wall

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Beginner

A gallery wall brings personality into a home, but new frames can be expensive. Using thrifted frames keeps this project truly budget-friendly. A little spray paint, wood stain, or a creative layout can turn mismatched frames into a cohesive display that looks curated and intentional.

Thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales offer frames at extremely affordable prices, allowing you to create a full gallery wall for a low overall project cost. Even if you decide to unify the frames with spray paint or stain, the total price remains very budget friendly.

DIY Floating Shelves

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Intermediate

Floating shelves offer both style and functionality, making them one of the most popular DIY home decor ideas on a budget. They work beautifully in kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and bedrooms. You can refresh the look each season with different styling pieces such as greenery, florals, candles, or books.

Lumber retailers, home improvement stores, and online marketplaces are the best places to source materials for floating shelves. With basic boards and simple brackets, this entire project typically falls in a low overall cost range, especially if you shop from value lumber sections or buy unfinished wood.

Wood Centerpiece Box

Budget: Medium | Skill Level: Intermediate

This wooden centerpiece box looks like it came from an expensive boutique, yet it is simple and affordable to create. It instantly completes a dining table, coffee table, or kitchen island. You can fill it with candles, greenery, faux florals, citrus, succulents, or seasonal items, making it a versatile decor piece all year long.

Pine boards and basic wood supplies are very inexpensive, especially when purchased from scrap bins or offcut sections at hardware stores. This keeps the total price for a wooden centerpiece box in a medium overall cost range, offering a higher end look without high end spending.

Custom Upholstered Storage Bench

Budget: Medium | Skill Level: Advanced

This project is ideal for anyone wanting a furniture piece that adds both comfort and function. A custom upholstered storage bench brings warmth and style to bedrooms, entryways, or reading nooks. You can choose any fabric to suit your space, allowing the piece to feel completely personalized.

Repurposing a used bench frame from thrift stores or online listings keeps this project affordable, while fabric remnants and padding help reduce the material cost even further. Most people complete this project in a medium overall cost range, depending on the fabric they choose.

Wood Ladder Blanket Rack

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Intermediate

A DIY wooden ladder blanket rack is one of those projects that gives you maximum style and function without a big price tag. For just a few dollars in materials, you can create a piece that looks high-end and adds a warm, cozy touch to your living space. It is an excellent way to store and display blankets, throws, or even towels without taking up much room, making it ideal for small homes or apartments. The ladder leans neatly against the wall, adds height to your decor, and instantly makes your space feel more stylish.

Hardware stores sell budget friendly wood strips and basic tools that make this project a great option for inexpensive home decor. Whether you buy new boards or repurpose an old ladder, the total cost usually falls in a low project cost range.

DIY Stenciled Accent Wall

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Intermediate

A stenciled accent wall gives the bold, custom appearance of wallpaper without the commitment or the expense. This project transforms a plain room into a visual focal point using paint and reusable stencils. Whether you prefer geometric patterns, florals, or minimalist designs, stenciling allows you to personalize your home far more affordably than peel-and-stick wallpaper. It’s perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, reading nooks, or entryways, and the final result looks impressively professional.

Reusable stencils and small paint samples make accent wall projects surprisingly affordable. Even with rollers or brushes, the overall project typically lands in a low total cost range, especially compared to the high price of wallpaper or professional installations.

Rope-Wrapped Decorative Vases

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Beginner

Rope wrapped vases deliver a warm, coastal style that works beautifully in living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. You can recycle jars or bottles and wrap them with rope or yarn to create stylish, textured pieces. Natural rope feels perfect for summer, while darker or softer fibers add cozy character in cooler seasons.

Discount stores and thrift shops offer rope and recycled glassware at very accessible prices. Because this project uses inexpensive materials and simple tools, the total cost remains in a low cost range, even when making multiple vases.

Board and Batten Accent Wall

Budget: High | Skill Level: Advanced

Board and batten instantly elevates a room by adding architectural structure and depth. This advanced DIY project transforms plain walls into high-end design features that look custom-built. It’s ideal for entryways, dining rooms, and bedrooms. While more labor-intensive, the materials remain affordable. The final result gives your home a designer, craftsman-style feel without a contractor-level cost.

The cost of board and batten depends on how large your wall is, but using common lumber helps keep the materials budget friendly. Overall, this project typically falls within a high cost range due to the quantity of wood needed, but it remains far more affordable than hiring a contractor.

Herringbone Wood Coffee Table

Budget: High | Skill Level: Advanced

A herringbone-patterned wood surface adds texture and luxury to a coffee table. This advanced project involves arranging wood pieces in a geometric herringbone design and applying stain for a rich, high-end appearance. Whether you’re building the table from scratch or updating a thrift find, the result looks like a boutique piece that would cost hundreds in-store. It’s perfect for those wanting to add a standout furniture piece to their living room.

Using a secondhand table base and budget friendly wood strips reduces the expense significantly. Most people complete a herringbone table in a high total project cost range, though still much lower than buying a high end furniture piece.

DIY Painted Terracotta Pots

Budget: Low | Skill Level: Beginner

Terracotta pots are cheap, durable, and easy to personalize with paint. This project is ideal for plant lovers who want coordinated décor without paying high prices for designer planters. You can create boho patterns, minimalist solid colors, color-blocked designs, or seasonal motifs. These pots brighten windowsills, patios, desks, or shelves, and look store-bought when styled thoughtfully.

Terracotta pots, paint, and sealant are all inexpensive and widely available at craft stores, hardware stores, and discount retailers. Even when making multiple pots, the total project usually stays in a low overall cost range, making it a popular DIY for beginners on a budget.

Best Places to Find Cheap Materials for DIY Decor

When it comes to decorating your home on a budget, where you shop for materials can make all the difference. Thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales are some of the best places to score affordable décor pieces, frames, jars, and furniture that can easily be refreshed with a little creativity. Dollar stores and craft store clearance aisles are great for inexpensive paint, rope, brushes, and seasonal accents. Home improvement stores often have discounted scrap wood sections filled with perfectly usable materials for a fraction of the cost. And of course, repurposing items you already own, such as old jars, leftover paint, unused fabric, or furniture you no longer love, is one of the most budget friendly approaches of all. With a little imagination and a willingness to reuse what you have, you can create beautiful home decor without breaking the bank!