Home decor on a budget - Top 15 tips

"Home is where the heart is".Your home, whether it be a house, apartment, duplex or any other sort of dwelling should be a positive reflection of you and your family.  However, it's easy to carried away when it's time to decorate, and spend way more than you need to.

Fortunately, a well decorated and comfortable home can be more about creativity, and less about your budget. We have complied a list of helpful tips to make your home all your own without pulling out a loan.

1. Use what you have- Think before tossing out glass bottles and jars. Old wine soy sauce, and pasta sauce jars make surprisingly original and classy vases and jars, and even salt & pepper shakers. Be creative, and think twice before tossing away old food and beverage jars. One of my favorite vases is a bottle of Mexican soda pop.
2. Frame it- Turn an otherwise bland poster into a eccentric and unique work of art by framing it. You can find cheap frames for under $3.00 at most variety stores. Coordinate it with your decor scheme by painting them with either acrylic or spray paint.
3. Flowers, Flowers, Flowers-  Flowers have an uncanny ability to light up, and give a great mood to any room. Pick up a few false blooms at a discount store like Big Lots (some dollar stores carry them too), and arrange them throughout your home. Bonus: No time consuming watering and clean up.
4. Use a calendar- Stay organized and remember important dates. Find 'em for under $2.00.
5. Change the walls- Changing the walls has a huge impact, but painting or a full wallpaper job is a hassle, and can be pricey. Get the same effect by using border wallpaper instead.
6. Score some free furniture & housewares- Browse Craiglist's free section (under "FOR SALE") for appliances, furniture, housewares and other things. You can fix up anything old with a little fabric, paint, and creativity.
7. Use couch covers- Avoid spending a big chunk of change on a new sofa, or reupholestry and give your couch a new look by using a couch cover.
8. Dig around the house- Chances are, you have kitschy things like vintage lisence plates, or old coke bottles packed up somewhere. Proudly show them off on display.
9. Like new nightstand- Nightstand a little outdated? Grab a few yards of fabric that coordinate with the rest of the decor scheme and place it over the nightstand. Top with a sheet of glass, and voila! Brand new, customized furniture.
10. Board it up!- Hang an inexpensive cork bulletin board in the kitchen, or other high-traffic area of the home. Post grocery lists, important bills, reminders, movie tickets, favorite photos and other fun memories.
11. Be original, get it secondhand- Shop at thrift stores for used furniture, framed artwork, mirrors, and other home accents. Creativity is key here. I picked up an old chest at Goodwill for $15, and it looks great at the end of my bed.
12. Step outside- Venture outdoors for completely free accents. Some pebbles or little rocks would look great in a vase with silk flowers. Try putting shells in a unique jar, or an intriguing above a sofa, dining set, or bed.
13.  Stock up on candles- You really can't go wrong with candles around. Invest in a few higher-end, and nice candles, and arrange them with inexpensive candles from the dollar store, and tiny tea candles.
14. Discount housewares- If you look in the right places, you can score a brand-new luxury bedding set, or interesting table centerpiece on the cheap. Try the "housewares" section at Ross, T.J. Maxx, or Big lots. For online shopping, try Overstock.com and save up to 80% on high quality like memory foam pillows, patio sets, wine racks, duvet covers and more.
15. Renew a room- When trying to brighten up a dull room, replace cheaper items like lamps and curtain sets instead of high-priced sofas, bed frames, and dining room tables. The right peices will bring the room back to life.