Insider Tips on Affordable Home Accessories

via HGTV.com

Wonder how the experts outfit their homes? HGTV magazine asked their network's design stars to share their secrets on styling a home on a budget.

From the kitchen to the hall, the designers share their favorite affordable home items. And their sources may surprise you. Target, Urban Outfitters, and IKEA, all make the list thanks to their low prices.

Click here to flip through the slideshow and find your new favorite pieces for less.

5 ways to make your patio feel like a paradise--without breaking the bank

Everyone wants a party-ready patio, but big updates can be expensive. How can you achieve the “wow-factor” on a tight budget? Don't worry, HGTV is here to help with five ways to dress up your deck without dropping the big bucks.


Light it up
Paper lanterns lend a festive touch, yet are cheap to buy. Dollar Tree has several options, each for the low price of $1. You can string them together or hang them independently to create exactly the look you want.

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Curtain Call
Surround your patio in linen or sheer curtains for a cozy, upscale feel. Tie them back if you're entertaining or draw them if you want a bit of privacy. Curtains can also add a bit of warmth as the nights get cooler. You can find sheer outdoor curtains at Target for around $20.





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DIY masterpiece

Make your own mosaic to add some life to your porch. You can use this method to decorate table tops and flowerpots or to incorporate some color into stairs. Coordinate your furniture and develop a whole new color scheme around your creation.

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Shop in your own home

Repurpose your old furniture as patio furniture! A mattress and bedframe (or crib!) can easily become your new backyard daybed and old coffee tables can find a new life complementing your current patio chairs.



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Cozy Carpets

Warm up your space by adding an area rug. It will help your space feel more luxurious, while protecting bare feet! Browse affordable options in a variety of sizes at Target.



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Where to Find Affordable Furniture

Furnishing a home can be incredibly expensive. Shop at the below stores to keep your costs as low as possible:

Target and Walmart. Both Target and Walmart are great places to go when searching for affordable furniture. The benefit of these stores lies not only in their prices, but also in their prevalence throughout the U.S. This allows customers to see furniture first hand before buying it. It also makes for more convenient returns should one be necessary. Note that you will likely have to assemble furniture you buy from these stores.

IKEA. IKEA offers services that you won't find at Target or Walmart, such as delivery (starting at $59) and assembly (starting at $79), without charging substantially-high base prices. Also, its furniture selection is greater than Target's and Walmart's. 

Amazon.com. Amazon makes it easy to compare furniture based on price and customer reviews. Combine this with the free and quick shipping offered by Amazon Prime, and Amazon is definitely one of your most convenient options. 

Overstock.com and Wayfair.com Overstock.com and Wayfair.com have extensive online inventories, making these your go-to sites if you want to exhaust your options. They also have home decor, bed and bath products, and kitchenware. Frequently offering coupons and free shipping on top of already affordable prices, both sites are attractive options. 

Best Buy. Best Buy offers competitive prices on home essentials such as televisions, and often runs sales that make its prices better than those found online. Best Buy show rooms let you try out different electronics for yourself. The company also offers Geek Squad Protection Plans for some products (for an added expense) that covers your devise if something were to happen to it. College students are eligible for exclusive deals simply by entering their email addresses.

Home Goods. Home Goods sells furniture and home decor, and is able to offer low prices because it mostly sells items with minor defects (often unnoticeable). The store can be compared to Pottery Barn but for a fraction of the price! One perk of buying furniture from Home Goods is that is comes pre-assembled.

Finally, you can find great deals on used furniture on Craiglsist. Craigslist is especially useful for big ticket items such as sofas and dining room tables, which will be fairly expensive new even at the lowest-priced stores.