Sometimes it can feel like military life isn’t made for embracing home decorating trends. Regular Military moves make incorporating trendy looks difficult, and managing a military budget that includes money for affordable home decor refreshes often feels unattainable.
If home decorating brings you happiness, how can you overcome these design challenges while showcasing your unique personal style? It's all about curating the looks you love, whether they’re trending or not, and utilizing multiple resources for inspiration.
Pinterest and Instagram are go-to outlets, of course, but you can also find inspiration while shopping at your favorite vintage and big box stores. It's also a good idea to follow your favorite designer’s social channels to see what they're up to. Think outside the box a little, snap photos of stylish decor that catches your eye in unique places, like hotel lobbies or historic libraries.
Learn Your Home Decorating Personality
If you’re not sure what your home decorating style is, that’s okay! Home decor likes and dislikes change over time. When we first started military life, Martha Stewart was everything in the home decorating world, and my decor choices reflected her influence. Some of her suggestions stick with me today, although I've moved away from many of her go-to design tricks.
Years later, I have a better hold on the themes and materials I gravitate toward. One way I honed my style was by recognizing the elements I repeatedly used, regardless of the house we lived in. I always incorporate natural elements into my decorating, such as baskets of all sorts, ranging from woven reed baskets to antique tobacco baskets. I also prefer neutral paint and furniture that I add personality to with colorful rugs, printed bedspreads, and lively artwork.
Take note of what elements you repeatedly lean toward, as these are the basis of your style. They could include a dedicated color palette, a specific style, such as Mid-Century Modern, or a particular “feel,” like light and airy.
Your Decorating Personality on a Budget
It's tempting to embrace current decorating trends that you love, and it's okay to splurge on a few pieces here and there when your budget allows. But for most of us, affordable home decor is the way to go. Unfortunately, when hunting for economical treasures, patience and time-consuming perseverance are key.
You’re probably familiar with these free and low-cost outlets, but if it's been a while, you might want to see their new features and updated inventory. The trick is to stay tuned in if you’re looking for specifics, and set an alert if possible. Popular items like name-brand coffee tables move fast.
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
- Nextdoor
- Freecycle
- Buy Nothing Group
- On Base and Local Thrift Stores
Quick and Easy Tips for Decorating Military Housing shares affordable home decor ideas to boost your home’s appeal.
Your Top Question Answered: How to Decorate My Home?
1. Always Shop Your House First
You cannot start any thrifty home makeover without first shopping your own house. It's time to dig out unopened boxes in the attic and garage and reimagine items that you’ve forgotten about.
I have an entire guest room's worth of bedding and decor that’s been boxed in the attic for four years. The gray and white twin gingham duvet covers could easily convert to curtains, and the Scandinavian pillow covers definitely deserve more face time in a living space.
When decorating on a budget, it's not just about finding unused treasures; it's also time to think about how to repurpose furniture, rugs, and decor items in areas where you haven’t showcased them yet. Who’s to say that a classic clothing armoire isn’t a storage-friendly addition in a large entryway? Or that a dresser isn’t the ideal TV stand in the living room?
I’m currently using a vintage desk painted in a striking shade of Napoleonic blue as a vanity/dressing table. It's topped with a dark wooden-framed mirror I sourced from a local Buy Nothing group.
Photo by Truecreatives from TrueCreatives via Canva.com
2. Next, Pool Your Neighbors' Resources
Military families, especially the spouse charged with converting yet another dingy rental house into a comfy home, are notoriously resourceful. Resourcefulness is a skill that easily translates into refreshing your home with your friends' unwanted home goods.
It’s natural to gather friends to swap home items during PCS season because everyone is purging, but hosting a swap during the boring weeks of winter is a fun social activity that could inspire a whole new look for your home. Plus, if you volunteer to take the left-behind items to your on-base thrift shop, you could be the first to see new deliveries that day.
One of my favorite reimagined wall decorations is a pair of natural-fiber, woven plate chargers that a friend of mine was ditching during a move-out clean. Their shape and material are timeless, so they work well in a variety of settings throughout multiple houses.
Home Decorating Tips for Every Room is the perfect starting point to bring your vision to life.
3. Shop With an Alternative View
When you’re browsing your favorite online or in-person stores, always take a second look at something that catches your eye, especially if it's on sale or clearance. The item’s original purpose might not be something you need, but a secondary purpose could hit the mark.
For example, I came across a well-priced Smith & Hawken basket-weave 5 x 7' outdoor rug. I didn’t need an outdoor rug, but the ugly kitchen vinyl flooring begged for camouflage. The neutral and durable rug is the perfect way to hide the outdated faux tiles. It vacuums well, and once a season, I take it outside and scrub with soap and water.
4. Personality in the Details
The details you highlight in your home show off your personality. One of the most fun ways to express your style is to find nooks, niches, and small spaces to showcase the items you love. The space can be small and unexpected, like a colorful, painted interior of a bookcase or shelving unit, or more obvious, such as an awkward corner in the house converted into a reading nook.
Have you considered adding charm to the tiny inch of stone countertop that meets the kitchen walls? It’s the perfect ledge for framed artwork, such as photography or graphic prints. Mix up the sizes of the frames for more eye-catching interest. Or if you have a collection you love, like I do (vintage wooden cutting boards), layer them horizontally and vertically on the edge as space allows.
Using items you already have—reimagined, repurposed, or repositioned—guarantees that you’ll have a home filled with an affordable home decor style that reflects you, no matter where the military sends you. It's fun to keep up with the latest trends and see how they incorporate with your current designs, but it's also inspiring to get creative and add personality to items you already own.
