How I decide what’s worth splurging on (and what isn’t)
Cozy DIY Home
DIY Home Decor on a Budget
Want to create a beautiful & cozy home? I share weekly budget-friendly DIY decor ideas to inspire you to create a home you love.
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Saturday’s Dollar Tree video was all about creating designer-looking pieces for way less, but there’s a bigger reason those projects work so well.
They fit into how I actually budget for decorating.
When I’m planning a room, I don’t try to save everywhere or splurge everywhere. I follow a simple priority system that keeps things feeling elevated without blowing the budget.
Here’s the budget framework I use (and teach inside The Cozy Formula):
I spend the most on furniture and major anchor pieces like beds, sofas, dining tables, dressers. These pieces get used every single day and shape how a room functions.
I spend a moderate amount on textiles like rugs, bedding, curtains, pillows, throws. These are what make a space feel cozy and layered, but they’re easier to swap over time.
And I save the most on accessories and decor like trays, vases, candle holders, art, baskets, seasonal accents.
A cordless lamp I made from Dollar Tree finds
That’s exactly where Dollar Tree DIYs shine. (And IKEA hacks! And thrift flips!)
Those pieces are mostly decorative. When they’re styled well and mixed with higher-quality anchors, they don’t need to be expensive to look intentional or designer.
That’s why the Dollar Tree projects in Saturday’s video work! They’re playing the right role in the room.
If you want to re-watch that video with this lens (or catch it if you missed it), it’s here:
Before you go, here’s one of my current favourite Amazon finds that fits perfectly into this high/low approach:
👉 Upholstered Bed Frame We bought this stunning upholstered bed frame last year, and it’s a great example of something I’m happy to spend a little more on because it gets used constantly and has held up beautifully. Because it has a simple, transitional (modern meets traditional) look, it'll look wonderful in our bedroom for years to come.
You can find it here (commissions earned) → geni.us/BL9B7LW
Once you understand where to save and where to invest, decorating gets a lot less stressful, and your home starts to feel pulled together instead of pieced together. Hope this helps inspire your next home project!