08 Oct Event Styling on a Budget
Styling an event doesn’t have to mean spending thousands on florals, furniture, and custom signage. In fact, some of the most memorable events are those that feel personal, thoughtful, and well-curated, without going overboard. There are plenty of creative ways to style your space beautifully without breaking the bank.
Here’s how to do more with less while still making a lasting impression on your guests.
1. Start With a Strong Theme
Themes bring clarity and cohesion, giving even the simplest elements a sense of intention and style. With a clear vision, every design choice becomes more purposeful and easier to execute within budget.
A strong theme simplifies decision-making. You’ll know which colours, materials, and decor items fit the vision and which don’t, helping you avoid impulse purchases or mismatched elements. It also creates a cohesive guest experience. When everything from the table settings to the signage tells the same story, your event feels polished, no matter the budget.
2. Lean Into Lighting
Lighting is one of the most overlooked (yet powerful) tools in event design. It can shift the mood, spotlight important areas, and completely transform a space, especially if you’re working with a plain or minimal venue.
Warm lighting makes spaces feel intimate, while coloured uplighting can add drama or highlight your brand colours. Fairy lights, lanterns, and LED candles create an inviting glow and cost very little to set up.
Why it matters: Lighting sets the atmosphere. Even if your decor is minimal, good lighting can elevate the space and make it feel immersive and considered.
Set the mood of your event with lighting. The lighting you choose can completely transform a venue space.
3. Statement Tablescapes
Tables are often the central visual element of any event, whether guests are seated or simply passing by. Instead of trying to fill the whole venue with decor, focus on creating impact at the tables.
You can create elegant tablescapes with a few simple, repeated elements: fabric runners, seasonal foliage, candles, or small jars of blooms. It’s not about quantity, it’s about layering texture, colour, and form in a way that draws the eye.
Tablescapes are high-impact zones. Well-styled tables instantly elevate your event and are often featured heavily in guest photos.
4. DIY Decor Done Right
Doing it yourself can save you money, but it also adds personality. Hand-lettered signs, printed menus, custom playlists, or small handmade favours show thoughtfulness and effort. Guests notice these small details and truly appreciate the effort.
However, DIY can get overwhelming. Focus on one or two creative projects you can execute well and let the rest of the styling stay simple.
Here are some easy and impactful DIY ideas to elevate your space:
- Handwritten or Printed Signage: Use chalkboards, mirrors, or simple card stock to create welcome signs, table numbers, or bar menus.
- Favour Bags or Snack Stations: Assemble small takeaway gifts or offer a “build-your-own” treat table with handwritten labels and scoops.
- Hanging Installations: Add height with origami, paper stars, ribbons, or fairy lights hung from ceilings, beams, or archways.
- Framed Quotes or Messages: Print your favourite sayings or event-themed messages and place them in second-hand or mismatched frames.
- Ribbon-Tied Chairs: Elevate standard seating by tying ribbons, lace, or strips of fabric to the backs of chairs for a soft, decorative touch.
- Stacked Book Centrepieces: For vintage or literary events, stack old books and top them with candles or flowers for easy table decor.
These ideas are proof that a little creativity can go a long way. Pick one or two that suit your event and theme, and don’t be afraid to make them your own.
DIY adds a personal, human touch. It shows care and creativity, helping guests feel connected to the experience you’re creating. Photo by AtlasComposer.
5. Florals (or Greenery) on a Budget
Fresh flowers are beautiful but can quickly eat into your budget. Luckily, you can still achieve a natural, elegant look with fewer stems. Dried florals and greenery are trendy, long-lasting, and more affordable when bought in bulk. Even a single flower per table in a bud vase can create a charming, minimalist aesthetic.
Floral arrangements bring life and movement to a space. Using flowers and foliage wisely helps you create visual impact without overspending.
6. Use What the Venue Offers
Your venue can be one of your greatest styling assets. If you know how to use it! Features like large windows, industrial brick walls, unique flooring, or built-in lighting can work in your favour if you build your decor around them rather than trying to cover them up.
Be sure to ask the venue team what’s included in your hire. They may have furniture, lighting options, or decor items available at no extra cost.
Why it matters: Leveraging the venue’s existing features saves money and reduces the need for extra styling. It also ensures your event feels like it belongs in the space, not just placed there.
7. Focal Points Over Full Coverage
You don’t need to decorate every corner of the venue. Instead, identify 2–3 focal areas where you can concentrate your budget and styling efforts, such as, the entrance, stage, or bar. These are the areas your guests are most likely to notice and photograph.
By keeping the rest of the space clean and simple, your focal points will stand out more, and you won’t dilute your impact trying to style everything.
Strategic styling ensures your efforts are noticed. Focal points guide the flow of the event and allow you to impress without overspending.
8. Rent Rather Than Buy
If you’re only using decor items once, it rarely makes sense to buy them. Hiring tableware, linens, lighting, or even statement furniture can be more cost-effective than purchasing, and you won’t have to worry about storage or transport afterwards.
Many event rental companies offer mix-and-match packages so you can customise your look without overspending.
Why it matters: Renting gives you access to higher-end pieces at a fraction of the price, helping you achieve a polished look without a big investment.
Customisable rental packages allow you to mix and match Christmas decor to suit your event style, while staying within budget.
Stylish doesn’t have to mean expensive. By focusing on intentional design, utilising the venue, and getting creative with budget-friendly decor, you can create an event that feels elevated, personal, and memorable.
When your space tells a story—through lighting, theme, and thoughtful detail—your guests will feel it. And that, more than the price tag, is what truly sets an event apart.
Have you also read these articles?
Transform Your Event Into a Holiday Wonderland
Step-by-step Guide to Create an Event Budget