You know, as hard as you work and as much money as you spend toward your home mortgage or paying rent on an apartment each month, it makes sense to go that one extra step to turn your house into a home by buying good quality cheap art that will cover up any bare walls you might have. With just a little planning, you will be surprised at how little you’ll have to spend.

One strategy you can use is to call ahead to garage sales advertised each weekend to find out if wall decor is one of the things that they’re attempting to sell. Remember that the seller won’t necessarily be interested in getting the highest price at a garage sale-they have a real incentive not to drag everything back inside the house! Also remember to bring cash and small bills. I picked up a set of three small original oil paintings in this way a few years back; no idea who did them but I liked them immediately and they transform the hallway in which I’ve hung them.

Another no-brainer for getting excellent deals is waiting until Kmart or one of the other giant retailers has one of its semi-annual sales when it really needs to clear a bunch of inventory. You’ll find excellent quality cheap prints, already framed up for you, and whatever your tastes in art are you are sure to find something to your liking. Chances are that visiting one of these clearance sales will get you three or four pieces at once, as these retailers cut prices very aggressively during sales like these.

You owe to yourself to brighten up your living space, and inexpensive wall art is an excellent place to start. For the price of the movie you can buy a piece or two that you’ll have for years even if you move. It’s really an investment in household aesthetics!