Paper airplanes, paper light sabers, paper snowflakes, paper finger claws. Those creations come from the imagination of my son. And to my child, every single one is precious and cannot be discarded. So, where do these works of art (and all the other school papers) go??

Groaning inwardly as I stare at my plain yet cluttered living room, I dream. I dream of a cottage-style living room design. Think soft colors, unique pieces meshing together, and a sit-and-stay-awhile vibe. The kind of room featured in a Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The same kind of room that we (I) think is too expensive for my budget, nor do we (I) have the sophistication to pull off. Certainly not with paper airplanes littering every seat and zooming past ears.

For most of us, however, we have a budget to follow, school art to show off or store, and minimal time for seasonal decorating.

So, if I can’t afford or have the vision to style my place, then it’s time to call in the experts! These four women are dear friends of mine and have a personal and home style that I greatly admire. Paying them to make my home cozy has crossed my mind more than once! Their advice in this interview is easy, timely, and will help anyone trying to make their home feel cozy.

Read on for useful ideas and use what works for you! Note: The responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

1. How do you manage decorating your home while on a budget?

Vanessa: Decorating on a budget can be tough. I try to spend money on the items that will get the heaviest use - like the sofa, mattress, or dining set - and spend less on smaller seasonal decor. Also, I am always on the lookout for a good deal and refuse to pay full price for anything, especially if I could recreate a look myself. Shopping at thrift stores, HomeGoods, or on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to save money. Plus, you never know what you will find that will inspire you! If you're crafty, a Cricut is a great tool for embellishing inexpensive, plain items like glass jars, wooden signs, or coffee mugs.

Dana: For me, achieving the look I want while staying on budget takes a lot of patience and a little research. If I find something I absolutely love but it's out of my price range (which is almost always the case!), I'll wait for a sale rather than buying it right away.

A perfect example is my dining room table. Once my daughter was old enough that I felt reasonably confident she wouldn't destroy it (looking at you, Rubber Cement Incident of 2019), I decided it was time to upgrade. I had my heart set on a dining set from Crate & Barrel, but the price tag was a little hard to swallow.

So, I waited. I knew that around Thanksgiving and the holiday season, furniture stores tend to run some of their best promotions on dining sets. Sure enough, Crate & Barrel offered 20% off all dining furniture, plus an additional 20% back in rewards for using their store credit card.

I purchased the table during the sale, and then used the reward dollars I earned to buy the chairs. In the end, I got the dining set I loved for significantly less than I would have paid if I'd rushed to buy it. Patience paid off. Win!

Melanie: I love to go to thrift stores and antique shops! Super fun! Lots of unique pieces for a great deal! FB Marketplace is also an awesome place to find one-of-a-kind pieces.

Celeste: I do not focus on following decorating trends. Instead, I choose items that I genuinely like and that feel right for the space. Updating or trading out furniture and décor can become expensive, so I often refinish secondhand pieces that are free or inexpensive. I have changed out pieces several times over the years, and I would probably do it even more often if my budget allowed. Refinishing, repurposing, and waiting for the right find helps me make my home feel more personal without overspending.

2. What are your top 3 tips for decorating and making your home look cozy?

Vanessa: I've found adding a variety of textures to any room will make it feel cozier. Think fluffy blankets and cable-knit throw pillows on a chic leather couch - doesn't that sound inviting?

Candles add both scent and light to enhance a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Add a throw rug to spaces with hard floors. Make sure to buy one big enough so that every piece of furniture can touch it (at least a little bit). This will create a feeling of togetherness and unity.

Dana: Houseplants are one of my favorite ways to spruce up a space. They're affordable, come in so many varieties, and add life and character to a room. I'm also a big fan of candles because they create a warm, cozy, and inviting atmosphere without costing a lot.

And pillows, too! How could I forget those? They're a relatively inexpensive way to instantly make a space feel more comfortable and welcoming. A few well-chosen throw pillows can completely change the look and feel of a room.

Melanie: Blankets, pillows, lighting

Celeste: 1. Keep it simple, especially if your home already feels crowded. Choose furniture that is practical, durable, and does not overwhelm the room. For example, wood furniture is easier to maintain than fabric in a kitchen, and leather may be more practical than fabric seating in a living room. 2. Shop estate sales and secondhand sources. They can be great places to find solid, unique pieces with more character than many new items. 3. Plan before buying. Know your room measurements and the purpose of the space. Think about how many people you want to seat when family and friends visit, how the room will be used, and whether the piece will truly fit and function well.

3. Do you "upcycle" and if so, how?

Vanessa: See question #1! One of my favorite second-hand purchases is glass jars. They wash up easily and provide a more visually appealing way to store anything from crackers to laundry pods! Also, shallow boxes from jewelry or cell phones make great drawer organizers.

Dana: Absolutely! I find many of my decor pieces at resale shops, thrift stores, and garage sales. I also enjoy repurposing items and incorporating pieces that have been handed down from my parents. Not only does it save money, but it adds character and sentimental value to my home.

Some of my favorite furniture pieces have actually been things other people threw away. I've rescued several items from the curb or trash, then refinished and restored them to look brand new. It's amazing what people get rid of, and with a little time and effort, you can turn discarded furniture into something beautiful and unique.

Melanie: I like to upcycle furniture by having it refinished by my cousin, who does it super cheap for me.

Celeste: Yes, I upcycle and shop secondhand whenever I can. I browse Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, garage sales, thrift stores, and an event called Hippie Christmas (in Madison, WI). I may refinish a piece of furniture, give it a new purpose, or trade out something I no longer need for something that works better in my home. My best advice is to know what you are looking for before you shop so that you do not bring home more clutter or buy something just because it is inexpensive.

4. How do you handle the endless school artwork and paperwork, if you have kids?

Vanessa: Honestly, most of it goes in the trash right away. (Don't tell my 6-year-old.) I'll acknowledge his hard work and tuck it away for a day or two, then into the bin it goes. But masterpieces he's especially proud of go into an accordion file box. Each grade has its own folder. By limiting the amount of art to how much fits in the file, we only keep the really special ones.

Dana: Toss it! Just kidding.

When my daughter was little, I found myself wanting to keep every single thing she made. Over time, though, I realized that just wasn't realistic in a 1,000-square-foot home with very limited storage space.

Now, I save the pieces that are truly special or the projects she put a lot of time and effort into. I keep them neatly organized in storage bins, and I've given myself a strict limit of two bins for her artwork. Once they're full, something has to go before anything new can be added. It helps me be intentional about what I keep, and it ensures that the items we save are the ones that really hold special memories. So my advice is: choose wisely!

Melanie: N/A for me, but I’ve seen a trend where moms are having digital and physical collages made of their kids' artwork and schoolwork.

Celeste: I keep a cabinet for school artwork and papers, especially from the early grades when children tend to bring home the most projects. I display some artwork temporarily, usually on our sliding glass patio door or a few select pieces on cabinets. A few special pieces have been professionally framed; I've used Michael’s, or I use inexpensive frames with glass and slip the artwork inside. Before letting go of items that may not last over time, I take photos and make a photo album. I clean out the cabinet as needed, whether that is monthly, yearly, or whenever it starts to feel too full. This lets me save meaningful memories without having to keep every single paper.

5. If you decorate for Halloween, how do you get into the Halloween spirit?

Vanessa: Halloween is my favorite holiday. Something about celebrating the morbid and macabre makes me appreciate the normalcy of everyday life that much more.

My dad and I would get really into the spooky spirit when I was growing up, and it reminds me of him. Anyway, to manage my obsession with all things fall, I limit Halloween to October only.

I look for Halloween-themed decor that is simple, witty, or else really speaks to me. For example, my dad and I watched and re-watched "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and I found the most perfect wooden sign with that phrase on it.

Also, I try not to mix color palettes or themes in the same area of my home since Halloween decor can vary from purple, green, and orange sparkly Jack-o'-lanterns to black, dead, and/or bloody things. If I want to use both themes, I will separate them via the natural separations in my home (foyer, living room, dining room, etc.).

Dana: When it comes to Halloween decorating, I let my daughter take the lead. She's incredibly creative and absolutely loves Halloween, so I try not to overthink it. There's no need to buy new decorations every year. We repurpose what we already have and, with a little imagination and a few craft supplies (thank you, Michaels!), create something fun together.

For us, decorating is more about the experience than the end result. Nothing needs to be perfect; Embrace the process, get creative, and have fun with it!

Melanie: I am a crazy Halloween decorator! It’s my favorite holiday. So besides all the decor, I love to get into the spirit of spooky season by watching lots of spooky shows and movies and eating tons of candy!!!!

Celeste: I keep my Halloween decorations in one box and make an afternoon of taking them out a few weeks before Halloween. It becomes a simple family tradition and helps make the house feel festive without creating too much work or clutter. I do not feel obligated to use every decoration every year. If I want something new, I can trade out or donate older items, but I try to keep everything within the capacity of that one box. The homemade Halloween items my children make are always the first things I use because they make the decorating feel more personal, memorable, and fun for them.

I love these ideas. Pillows can be easily traded out and typically are budget-friendly. Plus, who else is always cold and will use a blanket (even over the summer)? No one else? Only me? I believe you can never have enough blankets. And while seasonal decorating is not my favorite event, involving children can make it more fun and give them control and a job. Those are a few of the ideas I am borrowing for my own space.

I hope these suggestions and perspectives help make your home cozy, cut down on clutter, and keep Halloween and other seasonal holidays fun and stress‑free for everyone.

Follow me, Kimmecurates, on Pinterest for my home decorating ideas, tips, and tricks!

Connect

Find simple inspiration and everyday support here.

© 2025. All rights reserved.