Do you have $15,000 lying around for home renovations?
That’s the latest average cost, revealed by Houzz’s annual U.S Home Report.
Let’s face it. You don’t have that kind of cash, and neither do millions of American homeowners.
What you do have is creativity, resourcefulness, and ninja bargaining skills.
Taking on your interior walls is a big project.
You need a lot more tricks up your sleeve if you want to give your home a makeover for less.
Check out these cheap wall cover ideas for thrifty and stylish homeowners.
1. Shabby Chic and Affordable
If you love the vintage look without the hefty price tag, try shabby chic wall coverings.
You can find lots of shabby chic inspiration on Pinterest, HGTV, Country Living, and Elle Decor.
Shabby chic wall coverings include floral wallpaper, hanging crochet tapestries, and wall decor panels made from reclaimed wood.
This popular style works great with pastel paint and wall designs.
You can find a lot of great deals on shabby chic wall coverings and decor.
Start with online promo codes, new customer discounts, and online clearance sections.
See if your local home improvement store is running any in-store deals on the weekends.
2. The Natural Beauty of Plants
Indoor plants improve health, but they’re also smart wall covering alternatives.
Instead of buying wall paint or wall decor, invest in a few more house plants instead.
Line them up in front of a blank wall, and let them grow into natural wall coverings!
Indoor house trees work best as alternative wall coverings.
See if your local nursery has any of these plants in stock:
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Calamondin Orange Tree
- Parlor Palm
- Weeping Fig
- Guiana Chestnut
- Umbrella Tree
- Yucca
These indoor trees also leave cool shadows on the wall, which adds to the wall covering effect.
You can also add hooks to the ceiling and hang gorgeous hanging plants in front of your wall.
Remember to take care of your indoor trees. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend more money on wall coverings.
3. Paint Your Walls for Less
Don’t have the money for a house painter? No worries!
You can totally paint your walls yourself, even if you’ve never done it before.
Start with a YouTube tutorial.
You’ll be surprised by how helpful YouTube tutorials are, and you don’t have to pay to watch.
You can learn the proper way to brush paint onto any surface.
Discover cheap and easy ways to make designs. Learn what primer is and why you need it.
At the very least, you’ll need the following tools: step stool, ladder, primer, house paint, paint trays, painter’s drop cloths, paint rollers, paint stirring sticks, painter’s tape, and a basic set of house paint brushes.
You’ll also need plenty of rags, but those don’t cost a dime.
Just rip up some old clothes you don’t want, and you’re good to go.
4. Make High-Impact Designs with Tape
DIY house painting is an excellent skill to have. It can help you create more low-cost wall coverings for your home.
Keep watching more YouTube videos to hone your house painting skills.
One of the best painting tools to know is painter’s tape.
Painter’s tape is the secret behind creating “professional” wall designs for less.
Once you learn how to paint a wall, you’ll be creating eye-popping designs in no time.
Painter’s tape creates perfectly straight lines, edges, and angles.
It sticks to the wall with ease and leaves no sticky residue behind. It also doesn’t rip the paint from off your walls.
There are endless design possibilities with painter’s tape.
Create pastel pink pinstripes for your shabby chic wall.
Turn your wall into a pop-art inspired masterpiece with bold geometric designs.
5. Make Your Own Wall Treatments
Now that you’re a DIY house painting pro, why not try your hand at wall treatments?
There are plenty of affordable wall treatments that you can execute yourself.
Wall treatments add another dimension to your wall coverings.
You can add depth and character through ridges, waves, spirals, and grainy surfaces.
Blend treatments together to create a unique look for your home too.
If you’re new to DIY wall treatments, start with drywall.
The most common drywall texture is the “orange peel” look because it resembles the texture of an orange peel.
The “Knock-Down” look is another popular texture for walls.
6. Cheap Wall Cover Ideas with Fabric
You can get a lot of inspiration for cheap wall coverings from college students.
One of their best DIY decor tips is tapestries.
College students are masters at the fine art of cheap tapestries.
You’re likely to find at least one hanging in their off-campus homes.
Students usually find tapestries at local swap meets, bargain stores, cheap big-box retailers, and their moms’ basements.
Never discount the value of a good hand-me-down.
You never know when it will come in handy.
7. Use a Film Projector
Who’s ready for movie night?
One of the most overlooked, but most cleaver, wall covering ideas is a simple film projector.
Just one investment can go a long way.
Not only can you project (and watch) your favorite movies on your walls, but you can also project designs to create interior decor for the home.
This technique is becoming more popular with homeowners, especially those who host parties.
8. Create a Mural
Murals stand out because they tell a story. They’re more than just wall coverings.
They’re real conversation starters!
Creating a mural for your home is a fun project to do with friends and family.
Plus, no one has to be a professional artist to create a beautiful mural.
There are sponge shapes, stencils, easy-to-hold paintbrushes, spray guns, and all sorts of supplies for creating eye-catching murals.
If you want to trace a picture for your mural, use your film projector to project an image on the wall first.
Create Beautiful Wall Coverings for Less
Don’t go into debt over your home renovations. Be resourceful! There’s endless inspiration for cheap wall cover ideas.
Use these tips as a starter guide for your DIY wall project, and check back often to discover more resources for savvy and creative homeowners.