If you’ve ever scrolled through Pinterest, fallen in love with a $980 lamp, and thought “sure… let me just sell a kidney real quick,” then welcome: you’re in the right place. It´s easy to feel like your home is not fancy enough or pinterest-worthy enough when you see all the polished homes on social media.
But a cute home doesnt have to be necessarily super expensive. I actually have a YouTube Video on my channel, where I explain how I managed to furnish our 220m2 house with less than 4.000€ – just by buying thrifted items and doing house decor myself.
Because aesthetic ≠ expensive.
So Moneymalism isn’t about buying cheap. It’s about being intentional and clever.
And honestly? Most homes don’t need more things – we all have enough! We just need better ideas about how to make more out of what we already have!
So let´s get creative! Here are 20 home decor and rearrangement ideas that cost little to nothing, look expensive, and give your space that “I have my life together” vibe without blowing your budget, so you´ll have more to fill up on your investments. Sometimes you don´t need to leave the house for the fresh dopamine kick because all you need to scratch the itch is already in your home.
1. Move your furniture
We are starting off with the classic: Before you buy anything new, start to rearrange. New layout = new energy. Sometimes your sofa is just in the wrong relationship with your window or you can put a picture frame somewhere else. Voilá – feels like a new home! Pro Tip: Give Gemini or ChatGPT a picture of your room and ask it to rearrange it – you will be surprised by how good that works!
2. Shop in your own cabinets
Take items from other rooms and play interior designer for a day. Or search through your cabinets: You´ll find candles you forgot about, bowls you never used, vases you could use as a pencil holder…. You’ll be shocked at the treasures you already own and what you can repurpose! It´s more or less like idea Nr. 1 but just with rearranging decor instead of furniture.
3. Style with Books
My favorite minimalist looking interior hack is books. Stack them, layer them, use them to add height. I love to put a nice coffee table book under a vase to give it more „frame“. Coffe book tables can be found for cheap in thrift stores. I never payed more than 10$ each second hand. You could also make a new night stand just out of stacked books. Bonus: people will think you actually read!
4. Add a basket for immediate coziness
You probably already have a basket in your home. Put a blanket in it and some books or – depending on the season, some pumpkins or apples. Instant “Pinterest rustic chic”-vibe for only a couple of dollars. Our thrift store also has baskets for a couple of dollars max and they really add a natural, cozy vibe to your home for less.
5. Swap Out Art You Already Have
Put new prints in old frames. Print your own quotes. Or flip a calendar page and frame that! Nobody will know. You could also just cut out family pictures from your old yearly calendars and put them in a frame. Cheap wall art with character, we love that!
6. Declutter (Yes, this is decor)
A tidy room is the cheapest glow-up. Most spaces don’t need more decor; they need less chaos. There is the saying that your mental state shows in the cleanliness of your room and vice versa. And it´s true! A light and bright room will easily brighten your mood and will make your home feel more luxurious and spacious. Plus: You are not just getting a cheap interior glow up but also a free workout!
7. Bring in Nature
Branches, leaves, flowers – all free! Has not really a lot to do with interior decor, but we didn´t spend a single dollar on our wedding flowers, because we only used greenery from our own yard or from the woods. Nothing creates the “Scandinavian minimalism“ vibe faster than some pine tree branches from your neighborhood.
8. Create a Coffee Table Tray
Grab any tray or cutting board you own, add a candle and a book and maybe some greens (see previous tip). Congratulations: you can now make influencer worthy photos!
9. Add Texture With Blankets
Drape them over sofas, beds, chairs. It screams “I have taste” without spending money.
10. Clean Your Light Fixtures
99% of homes are dim because dust is stealing your joy. Clean them and immediately feel the power of free “new lighting.”
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11. Flip Your Rugs
Rugs are reversible more often than you think. Just move a rug from another room or change it´s placement. Boom: new style.
12. Switch Your Throw Pillows Around
Turn them, swap rooms, mix cases. Tiny changes = weirdly big impact.
13. Repurpose Jars as Decor
Candle jars, pasta jars, jam jars – all cute once cleaned. Use for flowers, cotton pads, spices, whatever. I actually use a lot of old „Weck“ preserve glasses from my grandma as storage glasses for my dried goods like rice, grains and nuts.
14. Group Items in Threes
You can make almost anything look intentional if it’s in a cluster of three. Or if you don´t have three similar items of the same kind maybe try to „frame it“ with a basket, a plate, a bowl… Something that gives your pieces a frame to live in. You´ll be surpirsed by how much of a difference this small change is going to make! Magic? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. And costs 0$!
15. Rehang Your Curtains Higher
Mount them closer to the ceiling for the illusion of taller walls. Maybe you have seen those beautiful Instagram interior videos where the curtains are moving in the wind? This is the look we are going for! Cost: $0. Impact: “Did you renovate?”
16. DIY a Minimalist Print
You don´t have to spend a fortune on modern Art or expensive Etsy posters. One black marker, some good ideas, maybe some templates from the internet and a good youtube tutorial + paper = art. LineArt for example is super easy to recreate and looks stylish, minimalist-ish and can be super individual. And let’s be honest: half of modern art is vibes anyway. An alternative, if you are absolutely and 100% no artsy person – try Canva! You can easily design and create your own wallart with digital templates and their digital assets. From cute cartoons to watercolor art – you´ll find something totally for free that you like! Guaranteed!
17. Rotate Seasonal Items
When I put my Christmas Decor out I always feel like I moved to a new space. And the dopamine hits even more than after a shopping trip. So put some old decor away. Bring other things out. Feels fresh. Costs nothing (unless you buy new stuff of course).
18. Use Mirrors Smartly
Move a mirror to face natural light. Instant brightness. Instant “bigger room” effect.
19. Style With Everyday Objects
A bowl of lemons, a beautiful mug, your favorite hat… decor doesn’t need to be decor.
20. Do what YOU like
Moneymalism rule:
If you don’t love it, it’s not decor, it’s clutter.
It´s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different interior styles and influencer recommendations online. I can only speak for myself: I have Pinterest-boards with 7 different interior styles on them and I have to admit that realistically my home will never look exactly like one of those pictures and that´s okay!
Remove what doesn’t spark joy or serve a purpose. Bring n what you really love – no matter if it fits the latest interior aesthetic. Your home deserves breathing room and a little bit personality and your own magic. The most stylish and cozy homes are built with creativity, character pieces and over time, not with credit cards. Your home doesn’t need a bigger budget, it needs better intention (or maybe finally a little bit attention and TLC at all?). Cheap decor isn’t about being frugal; it’s about being resourceful.
You want to learn more about how to be more intentional with your money and how to retire early? Don´t forget to subscribe my YouTube Channel and / or my Pinterst-Channel!
