Whether you’re living in a dorm, sharing a house, or renting an apartment, decorating your first home can be both exciting and overwhelming. This is especially true when you’re dreaming of digs that don’t just reflect your personal style but also look great online.

So if you’re looking for ideas to create a Pinterest-worthy home on a puny budget, we’ve got some terrific tips for you!

Focus on the Essentials First

Whether you’re designing your home to be a superstar standout on Pinterest or Instagram, or you just want to create a comfortable space for you and your friends to be, the first order of business is to focus on the essentials.

Odds are you’re setting up your first home on a pretty tight budget, and that’s okay. You’ve got time. So start by making a list of the most urgent necessities, such as the furniture essentials: a bed, a nightstand, a wardrobe, a dining set, and perhaps a cosy sofa and armchair to start.

This may not seem like much, to be sure, but if you choose your items carefully, even these basics can stand out both in person and in pictures!

For example, if you choose a crisp white sofa and chairs, then you can easily (and affordably) trick them out with accents, such as throw pillows and blankets. Best of all, because these accents are often so budget-friendly, you can replace them with the seasons — or whenever the mood strikes!

Get Rid of the Clutter

No matter how lovely your furniture and accents may be, if your home is awash in clutter, that’s all the camera is going to capture.

So before you start snapping away, you need to get your declutter on, but don’t just start tossing items into the trash! Your decluttering project can be a great way not only to create a beautiful house but also to help create a more beautiful world by recycling and repurposing usable items.

For instance, you can donate items you no longer need or want to charity. If you’re looking for some quick cash, you could also try selling the unwanted items online or at a local consignment store. The key is to get them out of your home without cluttering up the environment in the process.

Find Your Style and Theme

One of the best ways to create a Pinterest-worthy home is to make sure your design choices make sense. If your decor is a chaotic hodgepodge of styles, all your audience will see is visual noise and confusion. Instead, you should decide on your preferred style and theme before you start decorating.

Are you more of a shabby chic person? Or do you like the simplicity and clean lines of the industrial style? If you’re not sure, then do a bit of research. Get on Pinterest and related sites and see which images sing to you. While you’re at it, pay attention to the world around you. Which colours and textures are you most drawn to? Which of your friends’ and family members’ homes do you feel most comfortable in? Which rooms make you feel happy and at ease?

Once you’ve figured out which style is the most “you,” you can start selecting staple pieces and accents that align with it!

Unleash the Power of Illumination

If you’re looking to create some awe-inspiring visuals, we’ve got good news. You don’t have to break the bank to make Pinterest magic. In fact, you can design a stunning room, with videos and photos to prove it, with just a few inexpensive mirrors or some well-positioned candles.

A mirror placed opposite a window, for example, can make the room look twice as large. Best of all, if you have a beautiful view, then a mirror can bring that landscape right into your home.

Similarly, the right candles can lend an air of intimacy and ambience to the room. The play of light and shadows created by the candlelight will soften the image, making it feel more inviting for viewers. You can also use candles to advance a design theme.

Taper candles, for instance, add romance, while pillar candles suggest modern elegance. You can even add a lighted oil lamp or two if you’re wanting to add an Old World feel to your decor photos.

The Takeaway

No matter what the future may hold, there’s something special about your first home. So if you’re excited about creating a space that doesn’t just suit you and make you feel at home but that also looks great online, then there are some steps you can follow. With a bit of strategy, you can cultivate a truly Pinterest-worthy space without going bankrupt. The key is to find your style, select a theme, and focus first on essentials and a few well-chosen (and affordable) accents. You can then enhance your look with a bit of illumination magic, using mirrors and candles to create the atmosphere of your dreams.