Hi There!
We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. For this month’s edition, we will cover all things affordable. A lot of our blogs include beautifully curated spaces usually featured in Architectural Digest and usually about $50,000 worth of decor in each room. We know that AD, while very fun and inspiring to look at, isn’t the most realistic source for interior design ideas. Similarly to this, Vogue has been at the forefront of fashion phenomenons and iconic looks, but we can’t compare our styles to this 24/7 or we might drown in a big green pull of jealousy. Coming from a full time college student with about $114 to her name (the truth is scary), this blog hits home for me. We will begin our 2 part blog series with affordable decor because balling on a budget has never looked so good.
Young, Dumb, and Broke:
You did it! You just graduated from school or maybe you’re moving to a new city to continue grad school/med school/etc. Either way, this is such an exciting time in your life that usually includes a relocation of some sort. You’re going to want this space to feel young and fun — like you! You’ve got all ambition and gumption in this world, but the one thing you may be lacking is money. Have no fear: PorchLight is here. Okay, cheesy… but I had to. Every girl dreams of that Cary Bradshaw moment when you place the perfect blooming vase of flowers on an organized bookshelf at the end of a long moving day only to pan out to your finished and all-moved-in oasis. Hah. One thing I learned about moving my older sisters into their apartments is that this vision is a scam. Fully moving into a space can takes months if not a year. It also, might be more expensive than you thought. Facebook market place will be your best friend, but if you don’t want to take the second-hand route, here are some other ideas:
Colorfully Eclectic
This decor is for whoever spends hours in Anthropologie. I see you, girl. If you like a lot fo color in your space paired with some fun, unique pieces, this aesthetic is for you. Now, Anthropologie is great — but we’re going to focus on other places to find similar things for a quarter of the price. A lot of retailers these days are picking up on what makes eclectic and young home stores so successful and implementing it into their inventory. For example, Overstock.com is saturated with colorful and quirky items for under $100. Etsy, ah Etsy, we have praised you once and we’ll do it again. If you really want your space to be different, you’re going to have to sift through some sites like these. Plus, you’re supporting small businesses and freelance artists!
Items courtesy of Wold Market, Anthropologie, Etsy, Overstock
French Chic
This decor has an expensive feel to it and a lot of the times and expensive price tag as well. If you are aiming for minimalist, dainty, chic, thrifted china for jewelry dishes, mugs, and cocktail glasses are the way to go. As for bedding, mirrors, and other accents — we’ve got you covered. Like we said, you want expensive but in-expensive. I hate to break it to all the girls that spend hundreds of dollars on a dish to hold their perfumes, but no one will be able to tell the Amazon dupe from the real thing. If you’re young and just starting out, you don’t need the finest crystals to feel like the real deal. You already are! Here are some less pricey options to give you that perfectly Parisian feel.
Items Courtesy of: Amazon, H&M Home, Walmart
Cozy Vintage
This aesthetic is for the girls who would light a fire in their fireplace all year round just for the vibes. This decor is filled with warm browns and deep greens to give the perfect balance of dark but not too heavy. This aesthetic is giving “Vermont cabin.” You really want to play with certain materials to achieve this. For example, leathers and furs go perfectly in this space. As for kitchenware, these H&M plates give the perfect diner feel without falling into the cheugy bin. Here are some affordable ideas:
Items courtesy of: H&M Home, Chandler 4 Corners, Amazon, and Etsy
Mid Century Modern Model
This style is all about color blocking and pops of oranges, blues, and yellows. This style will keep you on your toes, but won’t break the bank. You will be able to really your modern dream with a 70’s undertone. Ah, rugs… a big purchase for a big statement. Places like Target, World Market, and Home Goods are going to be your best bet for this: they’ve got an easy and affordable system down pat. As for quirky decor, the wide web is your oyster. This style is super popular right now, as it balances out warm and cool tones very evenly. You know what else will be even? Your bank statements after shopping on some of these affordable websites:
Items courtesy of: Nordstrom Home, Amazon, SOHO Home
Well folks, there you have it! We hope by compiling a blog all about affordable decor, this makes you less overwhelmed when making a move. Shameless plug: check our shoppable boards on our website to purchase items like these with a click of a button! These boards provide some inspo and quick access to your next decor additions. Lastly, check back next month for our 2nd part of this two part series all about affordable fashion!