Create a Cozy Home Sanctuary on a Shoestring Budget

sanctu·ar·y
noun

1. A place of refuge or safety.
2. A sacred space, a wellspring for the soul.

Who says you need to spend a fortune to design a space that soothes your soul? What if your dream sanctuary was already within reach, hidden among the things you already own—and in the generous hearts of your community? This month, INSIDE+OUT has focused our attention on ways to create and celebrate spaces where you can rest, recharge, and connect to your truest self. But is it possible to make beautiful interior spaces even on a shoestring?  It is! From local gifting economies to online resources where neighbors give free items generously, a Hudson Valley alternative local currency that utilizes a mutual credit system, and more, there are bold and accessible ways of enhancing your home and life without breaking the bank. The editorial team at INSIDE+OUT Upstate NY is here to help you feel supported and inspired, no matter what your budget. Let’s get started!

Patience and Play: A Sanctuary in the Making, Slowly

Designing a sanctuary isn’t something you should rush—it’s a process, a practice of patience. The Hudson Valley has long been home to artists and creatives who value slowing down and observing nature’s rhythms. Take that same approach with your space. Let it unfold naturally. The space will reveal itself to you over time—sometimes, it will be clear, and other times, it will take a while to come together. Trust that your sanctuary will find its way.

No matter where you are in your design process, remember the goal is to create a space that will continue to inspire and grow you. Ultimately, your sanctuary should nourish your soul. It should feel like a true refuge from the chaos of the world. A place that invites you to reconnect with nature, recharge your spirit, and reflect on the things that truly matter…an oasis where you can be completely and entirely your fullest self. Maria Kondo wisely wrote in her best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing:

“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”

+ + +

Here are 12 TIPS and some FREE steps towards creating your Sanctuary (Yep, FREE! And no fine print!)

Step 1. Put on some music you love (preferably tunes to put some shake in those hips).

Step 2. Ask yourself, “Is my intention to turn a particular room into a sanctuary or shall I consider my whole house?”

Step 3. Minimize Clutter—Make Room for Deep Exhales and Calm

• Focus on one room at a time.
• Take inventory of every item, surface and receptacle, removing what doesn’t have a function or merely takes up space.
• Repair or recycle what you no longer need.
• TIP: Find your local Hudson Valley Repair Cafe! This incredible FREE resource is not only local; it’s global! With 4,132 Repair Cafés around the world, 61,980 estimated volunteers involved, and 74,376 an estimated number of items repaired per month, this wonderful initiative helps keep your heirlooms and other things out of landfills, honors your shoestring budget, and is a great way to get to know your kind-hearted neighbors! Want to know more?

Step 4. Declutter the Fun Way!

• Turn the Music Volume Up!
• TIP: “Tidy by category, not place,” writes Maria Kondo. “For example, instead of deciding that today you’ll tidy a particular room, set goals such as clothes today, books tomorrow.”
• Set a timer for 15 minutes each day to tackle one category (books, clothes, etc.).

Step 5. Feel Good Objects and Design

• What feeling do you want your space to evoke? Restful? Invigorating? Playful?
• Consider textures, colors, or objects that will enhance that feeling.
• TiP: If something is not useful or resonant, you can sell it through the many channels, locally or online.
• Or better yet, donate it to someone who will genuinely appreciate it. You will rack up good karma, potentially make new friends, and liberate yourself from dense energy that you are transforming into someone else’s joy. WHOOP WHOOP.

Step 6. Donate.

• Other Ways to Release Your Items: (Can you hear the choir and trumpets?)
• Give them to a neighbor or friend, or sell or giveaway via Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp. You can also gift your items on Facebook’s Hudson Valley Freecycle, Free Stuff Hudson Valley and Free-Cycle Kingston. Also, consider dropping your no-longer-wanted at your local recycling centers where, like the ReUse Center at the New Paltz Recycling Center, they have a cozy warehouse of affordable pre-loved goods.
• In keeping with the 4 “Rs” (ReDuce, ReUse, RePurpose, ReCycle), these centers can be treasure troves of fabrics and sewing items, office supplies, and furniture–without a dumpster dive.
• Anything you haven’t found a home for, consider donating to our wonderful local heroes at FAMILY. This important local nonprofit serves families in need, those challenged by homelessness and more. They also gratefully receive donations of clothing and household goods. (Contact them before dropping items off.)
• When you trade, gift, or barter an item, you’re not just sharing an object. You’re offering a part of your story and connecting to others in meaningful ways. These exchanges allow us to form bonds, build trust, and enrich our lives in ways that money simply can’t.”
• Less locally and deeply impactful, there are many drives at this time supporting those affected by the LA fires or Hurricane Helene in South Carolina and beyond.

Step 7. Two words: House. Plants.

• Plants, including flowers and herbs, reenergize a space, bring Life, reduce stress, diminish recovery time from illnesses, boost productivity, and even improve air quality by removing harmful chemicals and gases from the air (including benzene, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)!)
• Start from seed, get cuttings from a friend, find some in any of the free options above, or purchase them inexpensively through the local online hubs mentioned previously (Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp.)

Step 8. Three words this time: Clean. With. Love.

• Tackle every little crevice. Wash it all like it’s a newborn baby. Or like you are laying down prayers.

Step 9. Losing steam?

• Call a friend or family member to help. Not available? Check out the fabulous local bartering/gift economy resource Engather.co.
• Through supportive, joyful human connections,” Engather “reweaves the social fabric of our communities.” How does it do that? Recognizing that “Supporting one another isn’t just helpful, it’s fun. Whether we’re helping someone move or building garden beds for each other, doing it together makes any task more enjoyable. We actually underestimate how much people enjoy helping one another.”
• Not to mention… “Communities that have each others’ backs provide far more reward than financial gain. When we create a social fabric that people can lean on, we alleviate the burden of having to do and pay for everything ourselves; we feel more personally invested in the well-being of our community; we are more resilient during local and global hardships; and we improve the quality of life for ourselves and our community members.” -Engather.co

Step 10. Moving things around a little goes a long way.

• In other words, a great FREE way to give your space a facelift is to rearrange your furniture. Need help doing so?
• Review Step 9 to find some joyous neighbors with muscles and maybe even a flair for design at Engather.

Step 11. Other great and affordable ideas that can do wonders to reinvigorate a space and make it feel dreamy

• Paint old things in playful new colors. One bold wall. An accent piece of furniture.
• Also, reclaimed or new lighting, better (more forgiving) lightbulbs, vintage accents, fresh art, throw pillows, and reupholstered furniture cannot be underestimated.
• Lastly, (of course) what every sanctuary needs: a hammock. #purefun

Step 12. Me Time

• Be sure to create a space that is more overtly contemplative.
• Altars can be created in a way that speaks to the simplicity of your daily practice or is as syncretic and elaborate as you feel will inspire you.
• Things from nature, plus a candle and a photo. A place where all the representatives of the complex pantheon and journey you possess can congregate in full regalia. One incense holder and something your grandmother once made.
• The important thing is that your alter is intimate, sacred place where you can return to your true-self each day and set down intentions and thanks.

And lastly…

If you’re looking to add a few new pieces to your rearranged rooms:

• The RE-Store on Rte 28 has a constant flow of inventory of windows, doors, hutches, shelves and many other great upcycled household items, tiles, furniture, and more.
• Enjoy treasure hunting? The Hudson Valley’s charm is in its vintage finds and local craftsmanship. Yard sales, thrift and consignment shops, antique centers, it’s all here for the picking. Again, upcycling, refinishing, or adding new life to an antique piece can bring new energy to your space without breaking the bank. Check out INSIDE+OUT’s great list of vintage and antique resources HERE.
• Don’t forget to stop by The Newburgh Vintage Emporium! They have two huge warehouses of vintage and antique treasures of all kinds.

Now that you have the tools, it’s time to turn your space into––and enjoy––the sanctuary you’ve been dreaming of. As we promised, no matter your budget! Whether you have decided to start with a single room, a small corner, or your backyard, your peace is waiting.

And when, you’re done? Collapse on something soft and inviting, read, nap, or stare out the window with a glass of wine, a cup of tea or curled up with your loved one. It’s good to relish the pauses, to still the mind.

Namaste.

EXPLORE THE DIRECTORY for anything you’re looking for, whether you’re living, visiting, or working in the Hudson Valley!