If, like me, your bedroom looks like it belongs to a teenager even though you graduated high school many moons ago, it may be time to do a little updating! Don’t worry, I’ll give you a few tips on how to do it without going broke! Read on for my favorite budget-friendly tips on redecorating your bedroom and bringing it into the modern age!

If, like me, your bedroom looks like it belongs to a teenager even though you graduated high school many moons ago, it may be time to do a little updating! Don't worry, I'll give you a few tips on how to do it without going broke! Read on for my favorite budget-friendly tips on redecorating your bedroom and bringing it into the modern age!

My bedroom doesn’t exactly scream “an adult sleeps here!” Between the mismatched modular shelves containing my favorite souvenirs lining my dressers to the unframed artwork covering my walls, it kind of looks like a 13-year-old girl designed it. While I love everything in it, there’s no doubt that it needs a little updating to bring it into the 21st century!

I am slowly working on making it more serene and, well, adult. I don’t have a lot of extra money right now, so I have to find budget-friendly ways to redecorate. By budget-friendly, I mean the entire thing has to cost less than a couple hundred bucks.

Here’s what I’m doing to make my bedroom a bit more modern on a budget!

How to redecorate & update your bedroom on a tight budget

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1. Start with your bed!

It’s called a bedroom for a reason! If you update just one thing, make it your bed. If you think about it, you spend a third of your life sleeping, so your bed should be something that brings you comfort, peace, and joy.

If you have room in your budget, start by upgrading your mattress. I have the Serta Perfect Sleeper. It’s ideal for people with chronic pain because it’s plush yet firm and hugs all the right spots. My mom has the super comfy memory foam Ghost Bed. Even after 3 years of dogs sleeping on it with my mom, it’s still like new.

5 Ways to Update Your Bedroom Without Going Broke

Whether you buy a new mattress or stick with your current one, you’ll definitely want to update your sheets! I love my new set from California Design Den! They’re ethically made in India with 100% Long Staple Pure Cotton. I don’t really know what that means, but I do know that they’re very comfortable and stylish.

Think “upscale hotel bed sheets” minus thousands of strangers sleeping on them. The Sateen weave gives them a crisp modern look, and they’re extensively tested to make sure they’re free of harmful chemicals as well as things like pilling and shrinking. The Queen size set flawlessly fits my deep-pocket mattress, without bunching up or coming loose at the corners.

I have the Smoked Pearl, which is like a dark grey. I opted for that color because it goes with anything and because my dog sleeps with me, so I needed something that wouldn’t look grungy after two washings.

California Design Den sheets come in every size from twin to California King, and they’be backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. With over 2,500 reviews on Amazon and a 4+ rating, they must be doing something right!  Check them out here!

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While you’re updating your bedding, don’t forget to grab yourself a new comforter or duvet cover! I am a fan of stripes because they make a small room look larger. I designed the above duvet covers myself for Redbubble. They aren’t anything fancy because I’m not a graphic artist, but I like them! Sometimes simple is better!

2. Take advantage of extra storage space in style

Since my room is relatively small, I added modular storage (like wood cubes) on top of my dressers. The problem is that they’re all mismatched (some white, some different shades of brown) and look kind of ugly, which stinks because they display some of my most prized possessions (things made by my son, souvenirs from trips, and my dog’s ashes).

My goal is to get new modular storage that all matches and creates more of a unified look. I have older dressers, made probably back in the 50s, so they are strong and sturdy. In fact, one of the dressers came with the house because it was just too heavy to move! That opens up my options a lot more than if I had cheaper particle wood dressers.

5 Ways to Update Your Bedroom Without Going Broke

I am thinking of using ClosetMaid Cubeicals to get the look I want. These look good flipped on their side and match my furniture. I can stack two on top of each other and add a ton of display storage while still creating an updated and unified look.

3. Opt for double duty storage

I am absolutely in love with my new Maxwell Drawer Floor Lamp from Brightech! The 3-in-1 lamp includes four shelves, 3 drawers, and a pretty lamp at the top.

Another idea: go for doubly duty storage. I am absolutely in love with my new Maxwell Drawer Floor Lamp from Brightech! The 3-in-1 lamp includes four shelves, 3 drawers, and a pretty lamp at the top.

I am absolutely in love with my new Maxwell Drawer Floor Lamp from Brightech! The 3-in-1 lamp includes four shelves, 3 drawers, and a pretty lamp at the top.

A few things that I love about it:

  • The base is about a foot by a foot, so it doesn’t take up much real estate in your room. I fit it into a small space between the edge of my closet and my dresser.
  • The shelves are just right for showing off some of my favorite things, like souvenirs from our cruise and a cool artisan mug that my sister-in-law gave her bridesmaids.
  • The drawers are perfect for holding my remotes and other random little things that I constantly lost in my room.
  • A Japanese style off-white shade softens the light from the included LED bulb (with a 20-year life span!), creating a soothing effect.
  • It was easier t assemble than I thought it would be. The hardest part was the top, and only because I’m short. I had to stand on a chair to reach.

I am absolutely in love with my new Maxwell Drawer Floor Lamp from Brightech! The 3-in-1 lamp includes four shelves, 3 drawers, and a pretty lamp at the top.

If you don’t love this one, they have other great storage lamps! Check out the Brightech store to see more!

4. Frame unique art work!

One of the things that I do love about my room is that it’s a celebration of my son’s childhood. I admit that I got a little overzealous in that celebration when I covered nearly an entire wall in his artwork from preschool through middle school!

Coastal Scoop Matted Picture Frame5 Ways to Update Your Bedroom Without Going Broke

My goal is to narrow down my selections to a few pieces, then put them in matching frames. Since the artwork is so diverse, matching frames will help pull them all together. Christmas Tree Shops has some great options that are super budget-friendly. I like the Coastal Scoop Matted Picture Frame because it comes in two sizes, and I can either leave the matting for smaller pieces of art, or take it out for larger works.

5. Let the light in (but not at night)

Like your bedding, the right curtains can go a long way to updating a drab or unsophisticated bedroom. Right now, I have fun teal blackout curtains on my windows. The problem? They were super cheap and, despite the name, do very little to black out the incredibly bright porch light that one of my neighbors leaves on all night long.

Indigo Mountains Window Curtain by Spacefrogdesigns5 Ways to Update Your Bedroom Without Going Broke

I found some awesome curtains on Society6 that I’m just dying to have. These are my favorite, but they’re a bit out of my price range right now. I’ll most likely go with these turquoise blackout curtains from Amazon, since they are super budget-friendly.

If you combine all of these ideas, the entire room would cost less than about $500 to redo (not including a new mattress). Just about every site has coupon codes and sales (I use Dealspotr to find reliable codes), so you could probably pull it off for even less.

The end result: a bedroom that feels peaceful, serene, and uniquely you! Remember, you’re spending 33% of your life in that room (more, if you factor in time spent reading, getting dressed, putting away laundry, etc). It should be a place of joy, not of anxiety!

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Just to recap, here are the products mentioned above in one spot (so you don’t have to scroll back up):