When John’s younger sister Carrie asked us to refresh her new Philadelphia apartment on a tight budget, we were excited to help. A little furniture rearrangement and thoughtful accessorizing can do wonders for a large, blank room. Here’s how we completed a fast and fabulous four-hour makeover for $200.
Carrie’s large white room functions as living room, dining area, and kitchen all in one, so it needed to be flexible, practical, and visually cohesive. Carrie is a stylish 22-year-old who likes a pop of color, so we introduced pattern, texture, and color to make the space feel open and inviting. One of the biggest challenges was finding the right furniture layout. When we arrived, the sofa was angled toward the TV, which created a less welcoming entry because you faced the back of the couch as you walked in:
After a bit of brainstorming—and with John running a $6 cable extension to move the TV hookup across the room—we reoriented the seating so the sofa sits centered beneath Carrie’s large picture windows. Now the entry feels open and balanced; instead of seeing the back of the couch, visitors are invited into the room:
With the layout solved, we inventoried accessories that would complete the look—curtains, a few baskets, a storage ottoman, and some wall art—and headed to Ikea with our $200 budget. A few hours later we returned with everything on the list and a little cash left. We got straight to work hanging $15 patterned floor-length curtains to frame the city view and keep the room feeling airy. The subtle green-and-black stripes add color and texture and coordinate with the small teardrop vases Carrie had already mounted between the windows.
The dining zone was an easy fix: a $10 cow-print from Ikea in matching tones, a simple frame, and a quick declutter made the area feel polished. We also tidied and organized the kitchen to free up counter space and create a cleaner, more functional workspace.
Every detail was considered, from colorful M&Ms in a dish to curated reading material, so the playful palette carries through the room. We also added smart storage solutions—the wicker baskets tucked under the side tables and an ottoman with hidden storage keep clutter out of sight while remaining accessible:
As you can see, thoughtful rearranging and purposeful accessories can dramatically change a room’s look and feel. We completed Carrie’s refresh in about four hours and left her space cozier and more functional—ready for exploring Philly with family. For transparency, here’s the itemized cost breakdown so you can see we stayed under budget.
Carrie’s Cost Breakdown:
- 25-foot cable extension cord (allowed us to move the TV): $6
- Ikea cow print for the dining area: $10
- Black Ikea Ribba frame for the cow print: $23
- Patterned floor-length curtain panels (set of two): $14.99
- Black Ikea curtain rod: $9.99
- White Ektorp Bromma ottoman with hidden storage: $100
- Two rattan baskets for under the side tables: $34 (for two)
- M&Ms for a pop of color (and snack): $1.29
GRAND TOTAL: $199.27
What do you think of Carrie’s refreshed Philly apartment? Have any simple, affordable decorating tips for transforming a space on a budget? Share your ideas and inspiration.