Every room makeover guide I’ve ever read starts with “paint the walls!”, which is great advice unless you’re renting and your landlord has made it very clear that the beige stays. Or unless you just don’t want to spend a whole weekend with a roller.
This guide is for everyone else. Everything here works in rented spaces, costs real-world money (not “budget” that somehow totals €500), and can be done in a single weekend. I’ve broken it down with actual costs so you can see exactly where the money goes.
The €100 Budget Breakdown
Here’s how I’d split the budget for maximum impact:
| Category | Budget | What It Gets You |
|---|---|---|
| Textiles | €30–35 | New cushion covers, a throw, maybe a rug |
| Lighting | €15–20 | One new lamp or fairy lights |
| Wall art/décor | €15–20 | Prints, frames, mirrors |
| Plants | €10–15 | 2–3 small houseplants in simple pots |
| Small details | €10–15 | Candles, new hardware, organisational bits |
| Total | €80–105 |
Notice I didn’t include furniture. You’re not buying a new sofa for €100. But you can make the existing one feel brand new, and that’s the trick.
Step 1: Declutter Ruthlessly (Free)
Before you spend a cent, take everything out of the room that doesn’t need to be there. I mean everything: random items on shelves, the stack of magazines from 2023, throw pillows you don’t actually like, anything decorative that you’ve stopped seeing.
This step costs nothing and makes the biggest visual difference. A room with less stuff in it automatically feels fresher, bigger, and more intentional.
Marie’s rule: if you haven’t noticed an object in the last month, it doesn’t belong on display. Put it in a drawer, donate it, or let it go.
Step 2: Textiles First (€30-35)
Swapping soft furnishings is the fastest way to change how a room feels. My go-to moves:
Cushion Covers (€3-5 each)
Buy 3-4 new covers in a cohesive colour palette. Stores like H&M Home, IKEA, and Primark have solid options under €5. Pick two in a base colour and one or two with texture (linen, ribbed knit, velvet).
A Throw Blanket (€10-15)
Draped over a sofa arm or the foot of a bed, a throw adds instant warmth. Stick with neutral tones (cream, oatmeal, soft grey) so it works with whatever’s already in the room.
A Small Rug or Runner (€10-15)
If your floor situation is grim (looking at you, laminate), a jute or cotton rug anchors the space. IKEA’s LOHALS range is jute, affordable, and looks great in most settings.
Step 3: Lighting Changes Everything (€15-20)
Bad lighting makes even nice rooms feel depressing. Good news: fixing it is cheap.
- Add a warm-toned table lamp or floor lamp: Skip overhead lighting entirely if you can; multiple soft light sources always look better than one harsh ceiling light.
- LED fairy lights (the warm white kind, not the multicolour party kind) draped along a shelf or around a mirror create atmosphere for about €8.
- Swap bulb colour temperature. If your lamps have cool white bulbs (the bluish ones), replace them with warm white (2700K). It’s a €3 change that transforms the mood of the entire room.
Step 4: Wall Décor on a Budget (€15-20)
You don’t need original art. You need things on the wall that make the room feel finished.
Free or Nearly Free Options
- Print photographs or art from free sites like Unsplash and frame them in cheap frames
- Create a gallery wall using postcards, magazine pages, or pages torn from old books
- Hang a fabric tapestry or scarf as a wall hanging (use washi tape if you can’t drill)
Worth Spending On
- One good print in a proper frame. A single 30×40cm framed print acts as a focal point and makes the whole room look more polished. Budget €10-12 for the frame.
- A mirror. If the room is small or dark, a mirror opposite a window doubles the light. Charity shops always have mirrors; I found my current one for €5.
Step 5: Plants (€10-15)
I won’t pretend to be a plant expert; I’ve killed more than I’ve kept alive. But even I can manage these:
- Pothos — nearly impossible to kill, trails beautifully off a shelf
- Snake plant — tolerates low light and irregular watering (a.k.a. forgetting it exists)
- Succulents — small, cheap, and happy on a windowsill
Buy them in plain terracotta or white ceramic pots. Skip the novelty pots shaped like animals. (Yes, they’re cute. No, they don’t make a room look better.)
Step 6: The Small Details (€10-15)
These are the finishing touches that make a room feel considered rather than random:
- A scented candle or two — placed on a tray or book stack, they add warmth even when unlit
- Matching hangers — if you’ve got an open wardrobe or clothes rack, swapping mismatched plastic hangers for uniform wooden ones looks absurdly better (buy in bulk online)
- Drawer/cabinet hardware — new knobs can make a piece of furniture feel entirely different
The Result
By the time you’ve worked through all six steps, you’ve spent roughly €80-100 and the room looks completely transformed. No painting, no furniture purchases, no landlord negotiations. Just thoughtful, affordable changes that work with what you already have.
For more ideas on building creative spaces, check out my post on setting up a craft studio on any budget. And for the design principles behind these choices, my roundup of minimalist décor trends for 2026 explains why warm tones and natural textures are dominating right now.