Small Space, Small Budget, Big Creativity

Sometimes, my life feels like that of a traveling gypsy. No seriously. I've moved about 8 times in the last few years and I'm pretty sure I'm leaving out a few....those would be the ones with the bat-shiz crazy roommates that I like to pretend never happened ;)

Every time I move, its obviously a new room with a new layout and I find myself re-modeling! If I'm trying to pull out the positives of moving so often, I would say that this gives me a new layout of a bedroom to work with! New floor textures (I've had everything from hardwood, carpet, linoleum flooring and yes....dare I say it...parquet flooring. eek!), freshly painted walls and yes, new ways to figure out how to cram my gazillion clothes into an itty-bitty closet. That's where the magic comes in to play.

Seeing as how I'm a seasoned renter with multiple roommates, this means that I don't get to have an entire home to decorate. I can't make the home my own BUT, I can however, make my room my own. And so I do! My room is where I spend my time dragging my lazy bottom out of bed before slapping on a coat of make-up for work. Where I sit and journal my latest man crushes and friend drama. My bed is where I watch my guilty pleasure reality TV shows (cough, The Bachelor, cough) while over a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. My room is where I gab and cry to my girlfriends on speaker phone about how I'm terrified to be turning 30 this year and "will prince charming ever get off his lazy butt and come?!" I mean, his tardiness is something he and I will be discussing when he finally arrives. With all that said, my room is my sanctuary. When I enter my double doors, I enter into my space, my zone, my world apart from the chaos that's behind those 4 walls. It's my chance to escape from work e-mails, the latest family trauma and to just be in my thoughts. My Sanctuary.

I have a style. It's called no clothes on the floor, lol. Everything has to be put away and out of my sight. If I see one sock peeking out from underneath my bed...well, let's just say I have a hate relationship with wondering single socks (one of my many issues). Being a single woman on a single income, I have a very strict budget. Every thing that I used to decorate my room was either from a Goodwill or lower discounted department stores such as TjMaxx and Marshall's. A small space and small budget means that I have to get very creative. I've had to learn how to maximize the space while still keeping a few things in mind.

1.) Don't make it look too crowded! 2.) Only ONE big item in the room

3.) Storage, storage, storage!

4.) Keep things light and airy

5.) Everything must flow!

Now, there are things that I wish I could add like a tufted couch with Victorian arm rests, an elegant headboard, a desk, etc. but that will just have to go in the design of the next place! Once you can find your key items like a bed frame, a tv hutch, a desk or whatever they may be, the fun starts with all the little nic-nacs, wall art and decor! Because this is such a small space, I wanted to focus all the artwork on ONE wall. It helps that my room has vaulted ceilings but if you can keep your focal point to one area, when your guest walk in, their little feet will float them straight to that wall, forgetting that sock peeking out from underneath your bed. They will have no time to judge you :) Other things to keep in mind...don't limit yourself. Be creative! I found a moose table-top decor and I placed it on my dresser where I use the horns to hold my bangles and watches! I used old suitcases and stacked them to use as a table. For bed side tables, there wasn't any space for actual tables so I took some leather organizing buckets I had collecting dust in my closet, turned them upside down and viola! Side tables! Use what you have and be creative. Also take note that by hanging curtains a few inches above the top of the window frame, makes your room look taller. Every space is different. Work with what you have and don't be discouraged by the square footage!

Here are some of the items and places that I got for KILLER deals:

1.) Metal bed frame - $15 on Craigslist (please always take someone with you! #strangerdanger)

2.) Curtain Panels - $24 red tag sale for BOTH at TjMaxx. Normally $80!

3.) "Bed Side Tables" - $10 for both at Marshall's 4.) Table Top Moose Head - $4.99 at Ross

5.) Wall Moose Head - $12.99 at Marshall's 6.) Comforter Set - $60 after a $20 off coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond. Came with 3 decor pillows!

7.) Bed Side Lamps - $29.99 each at TjMaxx 8.) 5 Drawer Dresser - $19.99 at Goodwill (no, seriously)

9.) Gold Mirror - $19.99 at Ross (these go for a TON anywhere else)

10.) Old Luggage - One inherited from my Great Grandmother and one from the goodwill for $10

11.) Paris Painting - $49.99 at TjMaxx 12.) TV Hutch - FREE! Someone was throwing it out at my apartment complex. INSANE!!!! 13.) Gold Bird Necklace Holder - $3 at Salvation Army

14.) Vintage Phone - $9.99 at Goodwill (and yes, it totally works!)

15.) Frames - Anywhere from $.49 cents to $1 at the goodwill and other various thrift stores. The more miss-match, the better! Inside are a mixture of photo's I've taken, darling printables off of Pinterest or letters from loved ones.

I hope that you are pumped and excited to decorate your small space! Remember to make it your own sanctuary!

#budget #homedecor #decor