Moving into a new place can be exhausting. Not only are there a billion things to do, but there's also the question of equipping yourself with the bare essentials to make it habitable. However, a new home is also a fresh start, the beginning of a new chapter, and for many, the harbinger of good things to come. The process of furnishing it need not be very harrowing. It can be made enjoyable by taking your time and planning it step by step. When decorating a new home, it's tempting to use your credit card and buy everything in sight. However, doing this will simply result in impulse buying and may even raise your chances of ruining your credit rating. Instead, you could visit stores to identify pieces that you like, but stave off buying too much at once. When buying furniture piece by piece, you can bring a unique touch to your home by creating a blend of styles that showcase your taste and personality. You can also organize your ideas by creating a checklist for the same. It's understandable to be stretched to your financial limit when you've bought a new home. If you add the cost of home decorating to that, the numbers go pretty high. Following are some tips if you're looking to decorate your home on a budget. Essentials Versus Luxuries When you're on a tight budget, you may want to rank furniture items in order of importance. What you need immediately as opposed to what you can do without for a while. For instance, you may be able to do without a bed for a bit, but a mattress or a couch would probably feature on an essential list. It all depends on an individual's priorities. Hence, the list varies greatly from person to person. Identify these must-haves and get them promptly. Remember, fewer the items you can live with, the better are your chances of saving up for nicer pieces later. Garage Sales/Second Hand Stores You may be surprised at the treasures you come across at yard sales and second hand stores, so don't simply dismiss this option. However, it will need patience. You may have to go through several garage sales before you find a piece that truly appeals to you. It's also easy to get attracted to bargains when you're on a budget, so try to make out whether you are attracted to the price or the product. If it's the former, don't buy it. Deals are great, but when you're looking for furniture pieces, it's better to buy one that you really like as opposed to one that's low-priced. You can also refurbish an old piece of furniture to give it a new lease of life, saving you a bit in the bargain. Use Accessories Accessories can be a boon to someone furnishing a new home on a budget. They can add color and style to a given space at a fraction of the cost of a piece of furniture. Rugs, throws, cushions, and knickknacks can completely transform a room, and the best part is that you can change these according to your mood. When moving into a new home, some planning and visualization needs to be done before you begin to decorate and furnish the place. Simply purchasing new items without giving a thought to how they will look can make your house look disorganized, mismatched, and cluttered. Given below are some tips for the same. Make a Floor Plan It helps to a great degree if you can visualize your room before you start with your purchases. Allocating space to pieces that will be in the room, like a sofa in the living room or a desk in your study, will save you from purchasing a piece of furniture that's too big or too small. Issuing a mental space to what you buy will also prevent cluttering, so make sure that you take measurements with a tape measure, draw diagrams, take notes, and write down the dimensions. A floor plan might open up newer and better ways to place your furniture when you put down your ideas. Identify a Style When looking for home decorating ideas, keep in mind that you're setting up for the long haul. So don't be afraid to deviate from the current trends and identify your own style. Read and do your research on home decorating tips so that you feel prepared and have a plan of action. It's always best to decorate a new home in a way that appeals to you personally, since it is you that's going to be spending the most time in it. Get Creative There's no place like your own home for unleashing your creative side, and no better place to showcase it. It may be difficult to do this if you're living with others, or if either you or they are unsure about experimenting. Hence, choose a small space and make it your own. If you have kids, discuss ideas for their rooms with them, and encourage them to be creative as well. Take your time to look through magazines and periodicals for ideas on interior decorating. Finally and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Don't let the multitude of options bewilder you, or the enormity of the task at hand overwhelm you. Furnishing your new abode can be as exhilarating as you choose to make it.