Real Life Decorating: Ideas From Our House Tours That Cost Next to Nothing

Apartment Therapy house tours are a treasure trove of inspiration and decorating ideas. They are real-life examples of what people do with their spaces—often without a lot of money, but with tons of creativity. Here are some of our favorites from years past….

Above, Jove’s dining room walls are covered in pages from art books. The art is displayed in chronological order, so it starts on one side with primitive cave drawings and concludes with modern art.

Theo painted a simple white line to frame his bed, instead of a headboard. You could also easily create a renter-friendly version of this with wide washi tape.

The wall above Catherine and Lionel’s bed is decorated with a quartet of scarves, none of which are framed. It still looks homey and colorful. Another idea to try is a similar installation with pieces of fabric that you have on hand and love (with the edges finished so things don’t get scraggly) or wallpaper scraps cut to size.

A white bulletin board in Jennifer’s dining room is a great backdrop for a rotating gallery of children’s art. Kids see their work displayed proudly and parents get inexpensive decor.

Claire and Luke solved two problems when they hung a guitar in their living room. Every day objects make for great art, and the wall is a good place for storage.

By painting one small wall a shocking pink, Bernadette made a huge statement in her all-white bathroom.

Re-edited from a post originally published 1.23.16-NT