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The very essence of a bohemian lifestyle tends to go pretty firmly against big-brand commercialism, but if you’re more about the style and less about the ideals—and also looking for some cheap(ish) ways to round out your aesthetic—IKEA is, quite surprisingly, a great place to hunt. The brand’s minimal Swedish vibes might make you think eclectic decor is not to be found in the blue-and-yellow corridors of the retailer, but that’s where you’d be wrong.

When I moved to a small town and first encountered an Aldi, I did not understand it. There was, like, one employee working? And you had to pay a quarter for a cart (you get back the quarter, but still, good to know beforehand in case you don’t normally have change on you)? After a couple more visits, however, I was in love, and Aldi is now my favorite grocery store. It’s chock-full of incredibly low-priced food, wine and beyond, and the selection changes constantly.

The backsplash has a huge impact on the look and feel of your kitchen, which makes it even more of a pity that so many rentals have such ugly ones. But the good news is that, even if you’re renting, you don’t have to content yourself with what you’ve got. Here are nine good-looking, affordable, and totally temporary ways to transform your ugly (or maybe just boring) backsplash.

I once heard a designer (whose name I cannot remember) say something that stuck with me. The exact phrasing escapes me, but the gist was that you should be investing your money in the items that you touch daily. The closer to your skin, the more you should consider spending. It makes total sense, as these are the things in your home you likely use more than anything. And sheets are one of those items.

Sure, there’s the requisite nativity scene, the ornaments that have been passed down from your great-grandparents, and the Griswold family inspired display of twinkling lights outside. But sometimes all you need is a trip to the grocery store to deck out your house for the holidays (especially if you’ve been procrastinating putting anything up!).

If you live in New York, you don’t need another reminder of how outrageously expensive this city is. But while rent, down payments on a house and living costs are undeniably high, Manhattan and its boroughs attempt to make it up to us by being rich in plenty of 100% free-to-enjoy art, culture and design. From art museums, to craft fairs, to gallery openings, this is how starving artists (and designers!) save in the city.

Working within a budget and trying to find affordable wall art? Don't overlook this one common thrift store bargain.

I recently faced the dilemma of finding a pretty rug for my living room that didn’t cost a fortune. As I scoured the web, I found many had way too many shades of brown to count or resembled something thrown over a fence at a roadside sale. But I persevered and have handpicked a selection of pretty and affordable area rugs (all around 5′ x 8′) that won’t break the bank.

Nothing beats the real deal, but when your wallet hasn’t quite caught up to your great taste, there are ways to get the look without going ridiculously over budget. Lookalikes abound, but not everyone is in the “ok with it” camp. For those who are, we offer up the following scenario: The second you win the lotto, you’ll be on board to pony up for the originals, but until that day comes, we might find you lounging on these knock-offs of classic beauties.

Clean lines keep it chic, and deep seats and comfy cushions make it a really livable sofa for real people’s real homes. Oh, and the affordable price tag is a pretty great feature, too. The IKEA SÖDERHAMN sofa line has been on the market for a couple years now, and that means designers and dwellers have had ample time to take the piece home and show us myriad ways to style it.

It's a versatile workhorse you can use almost anywhere.

The LACK wall shelf is a much more versatile piece than you might think. By twisting and turning and stacking it, you can put this $49 shelf to work in your home in myriad ways.

You’re getting older, and your secondhand furniture is, too. While you may feel like you’re outgrowing your taste, don’t make a knee-jerk reaction and drop major bucks to redecorate your whole house with more grown-up gear (you know, the kind you don’t have to assemble yourself). There’s a secret to looking expensive on the cheap: Restraint. Don’t replace everything. Just replace one thing.

Even if your home is full of lovely things, you might, occasionally, feel the urge for newness. It’s only human to crave a little variety. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s time to buy new things. You can get the feeling of a new home, without buying anything at all, by mixing up the things you already have. Here are seven ways to do just that. 1. Pull your furniture away from the wall.

I did it. Probably everyone you know has done it. But if you’re reading this, and you’re currently working on decorating your first apartment (or home), you can avoid making this classic blunder. The biggest mistake most first-time decorators makes is: buying too much stuff all at once. It’s easy to imagine, when you find yourself in a brand-new, completely empty, apartment or home that you need to fill every nook and cranny right away.

Spontaneous as they might look, there are guidelines for putting together a well-styled gallery wall. Arranging frames around an invisible horizontal line guarantees a great layout. And, to get a punchy kick of style, trying working in a unusual frame (or three) with an eye-catching shape, color or texture. In the midst of your simple and chic thin black or white frames, find a way to work in a bold or unique frame like these below.

A couple of months back, I gathered some tips from the pros for ways to round off an unfinished room. It seemed to hit a chord with our readers, leading to many commenters weighing in on their favorite piece of advice or offering up their own tips that have worked for them. Since we’re focusing on reining in our budgets this month, lets see what insightful pointers the masters can offer up when it comes to bargain decorating! From Emily Henderson: Love something? Buy just one.

The mix and match dining set is a great look. It can be seen across many different interior styles — Scandinavian, modern, bohemian, eclectic, etc. It does, however, take a bit of thought and planning to pull it off, because you can’t just order one up from the store. In many cases it’s also a very budget friendly option, because you can use either dated, thrifted or random chairs you have around to create a look.

We live hard in living rooms. It’s where we entertain, relax in the evenings, watch TV, and do countless other activities each day. Yet when we get sick of our surroundings and need something different, it’s tough to make big changes in the context of our busy lives and small budgets. That’s when small, cheap tweaks come in handy… Here are eight small ways to switch it up at home, on a budget: 1.

Sometimes you feel like your home needs a refresh, but you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money. These are my 10 go-to tricks, whether I’m preparing for company, getting things photo shoot ready, or just feel the need for a little pick me up without spending much money. 1. Bring the outdoors in with houseplants. A little green can go a long ways towards bringing life into your space. Choose something low maintenance, like a succulent, if you have a less than green thumb. 2.

Go homemade! Not only can you get exactly the look you want, but it makes gift giving more personal. Here are thirty fabulous homemade holiday gift wrap ideas to make the people on your holiday list feel extra special without breaking the bank. 1. Foil Baking Gift Wrap: Hey Look 2. Raid Your Craft Stash Gift Wrap: A Lovely Lark 3. Polka Dot & Yarn Gift Wrap: Cotton & Flax 4. Neon Bow Gift Wrap: How About Orange 5. Pom Pom Gift Wrap: Katie’s Pencil Box 6.

Today, I’m sharing some great insider info found in our comments section. Drew wrote: I worked for IKEA for four years—one as a kitchen planner, three as an interior designer. If you buy an IKEA kitchen, specifically the Akurum fitted line that the rest of the world outside the US calls Faktum, you can get a great product. The question is what’s your time worth to you?

I live in a one bedroom apartment with no pull-out couch, so whenever guests come to stay, either they or I usually end up sleeping on my inflatable air mattress. Due to these adventures, I have collected a list of tips and tricks to make the night more bearable (and perhaps even comfortable) if you’re sleeping on an inflatable.See below for my list, and of course add your own.1. If you haven’t yet purchased an inflatable mattress and are planning to, splurge and get the double.

I was talking to a friend who’s about to decorate her first home. She asked me if there was anything I wish I’d known when I went to decorate my first place that would have saved me time or money. There are a few things…1. Buy your big pieces of furniture secondhand: This is not just about saving money, it’s also about how your style will change as you learn what you like and don’t like.