Moving out of your parents' house and getting your own place is a liberating experience that feels pretty damn amazing...
...until you realize how much being an independent adult actually costs.
Yep, if you're young, fabulous and drowning in student loans, you'll quickly discover furnishing an apartment can do a lot of damage to your bank account.
No really, I'm not kidding. Home decor does not come cheap these days.
When I moved into my first apartment, I naively waltzed into the Pottery Barn on the end of my block, found the perfect couch and almost passed out from shock when I realized I could barely afford a few pathetic throw pillows, let alone an entire living room set.
I mean, seriously, thank goodness for cheap Ikea furniture -- otherwise, we'd all be f*cked.
If you're looking for ways to spruce up your new space, don't worry: You can deck your apartment out in dope-ass decor and still stay within your budget.
You just have to fake it 'til you make it by channeling your inner Martha Stewart and making DIY versions of all those stylish, overpriced home accents.
Take a look at the pictures below to see some budget-friendly DIY decorating ideas.
You can spruce up your space with a do-it-yourself dreamcatcher...
Coat your chairs in confetti...
Bring your floor to life with a boho design...
Turn some boring rocks into plants you'll never have to water...
...or take your headboard to the next level with some colorful tassels.
You can't go wrong with a DIY desk organizer...
A lovely lampshade...
A book-stacked nightstand...
A floral chandelier...
A wooden wall sign...
Some wine cork magnets...
A magnetic makeup board...
A gorgeous gemstone jewelry holder...
A pineapple mason jar plant...
...or a hanging hammock chair that looks cozy AF.
Just look at this fun mug holder...
This fuzzy bouquet of flowers…
These stunning geometric shelves...
This clever place to keep your keys...
This fairy-light photo wall...
This plant-studded shutter...
These adorable pillows…
This painted globe...
...and this dreamy dresser.
Seriously, who knew a bunch of sh*tty cinder blocks could look so chic?
Check out the video below and see the five stages we all go through when we try to budget our money. Ca-ching!
