From purchasing scratchy, ridiculously priced throw pillows that always end up on the floor to browsing the Target decor aisle only to find it’s filled with boring landscape paintings, decorating your apartment can be difficult and expensive. However, with the help of a pair of scissors and some printer ink, making your home match your Pinterest board is now easier than ever. Here are four tips on affordably designing the aesthetically pleasing home of your dreams.

Create your own posters 

Oftentimes, we adorn our walls with snapshots of the media that has shaped us: posters. Unfortunately, poster shopping can be both daunting and difficult, as commercially sold posters are often overpriced and reflect limited interests. To combat this, I recommend designing and printing your own posters, a task way easier than it sounds. 

First, search the internet for images and designs of your favorite movies, bands or books. Then, go to the Walgreens Photo website, click on “Document Printing” under the “Same Day” tab and upload your saved images (make sure they are in the correct file format). Here, you select the poster’s size (8.5” x 11” or 8.5” x 14”) and paper type (standard or professional), with the designed poster costing around 80 cents. Your poster can then be mailed to your home or picked up at your local Walgreens. 

Pro Tip: Try using Canva, a free and easy-to-use design website, to graphically design a few of your posters!

Display everything 

One of the most daunting parts of decorating an apartment is filling the seemingly endless empty wall space. However, one easy and free way to do this is by displaying everything and anything! Want to jazz up your kitchen? Display all your spices on a shelf instead of shoving them in a drawer. Want to make your living room feel a little more cozy and a lot more “you”? Try lining up your favorite books on a shelf, thrifting a cheap box to show off your vinyl collection or hanging up the postcards you have received from friends. Soon enough, you’ll find your once-blank canvas radiates comfort and creativity.

Pro Tip: Repurpose a few old mason jars and fill them with markers, pens or office supplies to jazz up your desk!

Scissors are your best friend – get creative! 

Everybody owns a pair of scissors they keep in the junk drawer – time to use them! Collages are inexpensive forms of decor that are easy to make and add so much character to a wall or bulletin board. Grab a piece of paper, scavenge a few magazines or old books and look for any images or words that speak to you. Cut them out, arrange them to your liking and add stickers or drawings in the process. Now, you have a unique new piece of wall decor guaranteed to spice up any space.

Pro Tip: Look up collages on Pinterest to get some inspiration. There are thousands of examples that fit every aesthetic and mood!

Thrift a few staple pieces

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to “do-it-yourself” for all of your decor, especially with decorative pieces that are not for your walls. However, I’ve found that it is entirely possible to find inexpensive staple pieces that don’t break the bank or attack your aesthetic vision. My best tip is to look at thrift stores or Goodwill for pieces like lamps, pottery, nightstands and coffee tables. These stores often have way more selections than you’d initially think and have vintage pieces you cannot typically find at Target or Walmart. Regardless of whether your dream apartment has a modern feel, boho vibe or retro look, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the pieces from various decades and lifestyles. 

Pro Tip: Set a budget before going shopping to ensure you don’t spend more than you’re comfortable with. You can always return to thrift stores a week or two in the future when they will have more items available. 

Interior design doesn’t have to be mind- or bank-breaking. Conversely, it can be a great way to put away your phone, focus on what is in front of you, and get those creative juices flowing. Good luck, best wishes and happy decorating!