Friday Five: 5 Must Haves Under $50 for a Stylish Home

There’s no formula for creating a perfectly decorated home. Interior decorating is more of an art, less of a math problem. Thank god, right? But if I had to give you my 5 must have items for a stylish home (and examples of each), this is what they’d be.

I briefly mentioned this in my post on how to style a bookshelf (step 2, gather all the pretty things) but thought it would be a lot easier for you guys if I broke it down. Any time I’m trying to style a space, I incorporate these 5 must haves into it to take it to the next level of chic. You have to play around with the items to figure out what looks right. I’ll often put something somewhere and leave it for a few days while I figure out if I like it there. Come back, maybe rearrange, and then repeat. But I always have these 5 items on hand to dress up something in my home instantly.

1. Candles

If you haven’t noticed, candles are in almost every single home post. There is something about them that is so girly in the best, most non-in-your-face way. Plus they double as a fragrance boost. Whatever your scent is, they are an incredible decor item and are affordable enough so that you can constantly replace and try new ones throughout the year. Here are some of my favorites!

2. Pretty Books

A book with a pretty cover not only educates you (on whatever its contents are) but can serve as a decor item too. There’s a reason “coffee table books” are a thing. Something with an enticing cover and pretty pictures to look through can make your space seem like you spent hours designing a space when in reality it was 30 seconds. I use books to stack, give dimension, and bring in color. For example, I put this large Valentino book under a lamp in our guest bedroom to make it look a little less bare. I brought in color to our neutral living room with this bookshelf!

3. Neutral Knick Knacks

I’m usually not a fan of knick knacks. However, if they are small and tasteful, I’m all in. That also usually means they are white, gold, or silver. I personally love basic shapes like bursts, circles, or any prismatic object. Although this white and pink pineapple was definitely one of my most beloved recent additions. It makes a statement while not being too obvious.

4. Vase

I might even go so far as to say a vase filled with flowers but a vase alone can really do the trick. Geometric shapes, eye catching colors, and different metallics make vases more than just a vessel to hold water for your plants.

5. Jewelry Tray

The benefit of using jewelry trays to decorate is that they can also be functional. Jewelry is, naturally, very pretty so it immediately brings the sparkle to whatever you’re trying to decorate. Of course, you have to select what’s on the tray with a little more effort but it’s worth it in the end. The bonus is that it makes it incredibly easy to grab that jewelry when you’re headed out the door in the morning. No need to dig through the jewelry box!

If you’re looking to redesign your space, keep these 5 items in mind! Whether you’re looking to do a complete rehaul or you just feel like your room needs something, the answer might be above! I love that all of these items are affordable (under $50) too so it’s a stress free decision. I don’t know about you but if the item is over $50, I’ll spend days if not weeks researching and going back and forth!

At the end of the day, all of these smaller items serve to elevate your home’s design. They keep the eye (whether yours or your guest’s) interested in your space as it examines all of the details. Once you have an arsenal of these “pretty things” as I called them, play around with how to place them in your home. You’ll figure out what you like! And remember, if you don’t like it as is, you can always change it!