Avoid the Single Splurge Mistake: How to Finish a Room While Decorating on a Budget

Decorating a room can feel like a huge undertaking, especially when you're working on a budget. Many of us start with a big vision and start shopping for one key piece we’re ready to invest in—whether it's a statement sofa or the perfect dining table.

But what often happens is the finishing touches end up costing more than we thought, and the room ends up feeling incomplete, we feel frustrated!

The good news? It doesn't have to be that way, and in this blog we'll walk you through how to avoid the one splurge mistake. Listen in, and I'll share my process for creating affordable, beautiful spaces that work for your life and budget.

Neutral Patterned Play Room, Balm Interiors Project

Quick Overview

The One Splurge Mistake

Let’s Try That Again: How to Plan a Room Under Budget

See It in Action: My Process for Affordable Design

What to Spend and Save On

Question and Answer

This Room Cost Under $1500

The One Splurge Mistake

You Want to Establish Your Space and Start Shopping for Furniture

You’ve got a vision for your room. Maybe it’s your living room or bedroom you've been hating for years. You want to do it right and you start getting ads for a big statement piece—an "investment piece" you think to yourself. It’s the foundation for the whole room, and you’re excited to invest in something you can build on.

But here’s what sometimes happens: you finally get around to purchasing and spend 80% of your budget on the one big piece, hoping it will set the foundation for your whole room. But even with the fanciest sofa still needs all the other layers that make a room feel cozy and elevated — curtains, rugs, art, plants. These are the touches that truly make it feel like home.

The Hidden Costs of One Splurge

What you didn’t anticipate is the cost of everything else. 20% of your budget sounded like enough when you were talking to the guy at the West Elm store, but...

The finishing touches you need—like those cozy throws, side tables, lighting, or artwork—end up adding up quickly!

Suddenly, you’re out of budget, and your room feels incomplete. It’s not as welcoming or cohesive as you envisioned, and you’re left wondering why it doesn’t look like the Pinterest boards that inspired you.

You want a rewind. Or you feel like you're not good at decorating. Or you vow to never try it again.

This room cost under $1000

Let’s Try That Again: How to Plan a Room and Decorating On a Budget

What if, instead of sinking your whole budget into one splurge, you worked with a decorator who could complete your entire room for the same price as that one piece? That’s where eDesign (n. online interior design) comes in.

I help clients in the U.S. avoid budget traps and plan rooms that feel finished and cohesive for less than they'd spend on the West Elm sofa. If this sounds interesting, I have a free budget calculator to give you an idea of which stores to shop along the way (e.g. thrift stores to Target to West Elm) based on your whole-space budget. Check it out to get an idea of what's possible in your budget, or what you'd like to save toward.

If you're a budget girlie (my favorites), here’s a reality check:

By balancing investment pieces with budget-friendly finds, second-hand treasures, and a little DIY, I help you get the room you want—without the sticker shock.

This room cost $200

See It in Action: My Process for Affordable Design and Decorating on a Budget

Here’s how I help clients create beautiful rooms on their budget

1. Create a Flexible Plan: We design a room plan tailored to your style, goals, and budget and on your timeline (you don’t have to buy everything at once). My approach breaks this process down into manageable phases, so you can implement the design at your own pace—whether that’s in a few months or over a year.

2. Creative Material Use: I’m all about making your space feel unique and one-of-a-kind without bleeding your bank account. This means using second-hand pieces, hacking off-the-rack items to look custom, and adding storied touches where there's highest return on investment. You’ll get a room that feels custom without the custom price tag.

3. Help that Feels Helpful: You are so busy, and designing a room can easily become extremely overwhelming. My goal is to take that stress off your plate. During our work together, you have final approvals but I'm here to help you understand how to think about each decision in the context of your design. And the Design Plan documents offer phased planning support to tackle your room one step at a time. No rush, no overwhelm.

   
   

I help busy women, especially those of you in major life transitions—whether it's new motherhood, new career, newly married, or moving again—to make informed, always-in-context decisions to build a timeless, personal, and beautiful home. I get that this process takes time, and I’m here to support you along the way.

At the end of six weeks, you'll have a room that fits your life and style, all while sticking to a budget. You won’t be left with a half-finished room, and you won’t feel overwhelmed by the process.

Get Started

Ready to transform your space without blowing your budget? Comment below, or click below to schedule a call with me. I love working together with you guys to create a home you love—one creative, doable decision at a time.

SCHEDULE A CALL

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QUESTION AND ANSWER

Q1: What are some affordable ways to finish a room without going over budget?

The best way to finish a room affordably is to plan your budget carefully. Have a clear idea of how much you want to spend on each part of the room—affordable furniture, rugs, lighting, decor—before you start buying anything. This way, you’ll know early on if you need to adjust for a big-ticket item like a budget-friendly sofa, leaving room for essential touches like a fantastic rug and quality lighting.

Even if your budget seems small, having a plan allows you to get creative within each category. For example, you might scale back on spending for one piece so you can allocate more for another. And remember, there’s no rush—taking your time to decorate on a budget is a great way to stretch your funds and avoid impulse buys.

Q2: How can I create a cohesive room design under $1500?

Purposeful thrifting is key! Visit thrift stores or garage sales with a clear list of what you need—like specific furniture dimensions or pillow sizes—and a flexible color scheme in mind. This helps you avoid buying items that won’t fit or match your room.

By focusing on second-hand furniture that fits your plan, you can mix and match pieces that work together, keeping your space cohesive while staying within your $1500 room budget. It’s all about patience and sticking to your vision while allowing room for a few surprises.

Q3: What to spend and save on in my living room?

This depends on your priorities! Some of my clients choose to thrift living room furniture so they can splurge on textiles like rugs and drapes. Others prefer to thrift art and lighting so they have more room in the budget for an upholstered sofa that can handle family life.

Think about what matters most to you. Do you want high-quality textiles, or is durable furniture the priority? Once you decide, we can create a plan that works for your budget, focusing on saving in some areas so you can invest in the pieces that will bring you the most joy and functionality.