10 Cheap and Quick Ways to Make Military Housing Home

 

 

I have had the distinct joy/pleasure/utter confusion of turning a blank, empty, sterile, foreign house into my very own home.  12 times.  Not including college dorm rooms.  Which would tack on an extra 5 living spaces.

 

It can get expensive.

 

But it doesn’t have to.

 

It can be time consuming too.

 

But it doesn’t have to.

 

Military housing requires slightly different rules than other housing.  It’s often more temporary (so you don’t want to spend a lot of money).  It’s definitely a blank, unmodified canvas (so there isn’t anything unique about it from owners before you).  And it’s definitely, definitely not going to be yours permanently (which honestly you probably are okay with).

 

Today I’m rounding up my top 10 very favorite ways to inexpensively convert your new (or extremely old) military house into a home.  This post contains affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will receive compensation if you click through my links and make a purchase. 

 

 

Invest in Lamps

 

This is a top “coziness” secret for any room…it’s why hotels do it!

 

Overhead lighting can be very stylish, but it can also be overwhelming.  Especially if you’re living in military quarters that aren’t equipped with the stylish version of ceiling lights (read: fluorescent kitchen lights).

 

Lamps add ambiance to every room, and help create a more personal-feel to your space.  This is especially helpful in bedrooms, as it’s one of the most personal spaces in your home.

 

While some lamps can be very expensive, they can similarly be very VERY inexpensive.  Scour used stores for beautiful but cheap options.  The amount of difference they make in a room is well worth the $15.  This cheap table lamp comes in many colors and I just bought this floor lamp. Hint: thrift stores, consignment shops, and buy nothing groups are affordable and unique places to look. We even rescued one beside a trash compactor!

 

 

Deck the Halls

 

A big sign that you haven’t been somewhere long, or that it isn’t “home” yet is large spaces of blank wall.  (I’m not saying you can’t be a minimalist).  But if you’re house is “consistently” decorated (AKA not minimalism) then you need to eliminate large passages of undecorated space, mostly stairs and hallways.

 

Hang photos or artwork. Even just a mirror at the landing of the stairwell will make a huge difference.

 

Bonus: an inexpensive way to create a gallery– buy a pack of matching frames and make photo prints for 15 cents a copy at your local drugstore.  Wall vinyls can get expensive individually but a bulk pack is economical.

 

 

 

Curtains are Life

 

Cue the Army Family curtain jokes. (the box full of curtains that never quite ALL fit in your next space…okay so it’s not really a joke but it’s a thing we all have laughed/sighed about at one time or another)

 

One of the first things we do in every single house is hang curtains.  The possibilities here are endless.  You can go fancy, light-blocking thermal, or mod.  Or, if you’re living in Alaska, all three. (only kind of kidding)

 

Curtains can be one of the most expensive items in a room…or the least! You can buy $3 pocket rods at Walmart, Target, Lowes, the PX, etc. and do it yourself.  Even if you hang nothing else, at LEAST hang sheers.  They will allow you to pull back the blinds during the day without your furniture fading, adding an elegant layer of privacy.  And you can usually find them for less than $5 a panel at the PX or amazon..

 

Begin your curtain collection today! Check out thrift stores (especially military thrift stores on post) and start stockpiling. They are reusable in every house (though you may need to alter the combination at times). So invest in curtains!  Even if you do so slowly.  Bonus: the rods are reusable too, so hold onto the screws!

 

 

 

Window Decals

 

I wouldn’t consider these as sustainable as any of the other times on this list, since they are single-use and definitely plastic.  🙁

 

However.

 

They definitely afford privacy and sustainability isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Privacy is important too! Depending on where your windows are placed, stickers just might be an important exception.

 

There are these really neat stickers on amazon that are imitation stain-glass.  They are perfect for putting over a bathroom window, so that natural light comes in but so nothing else goes out.  They are also great for window panels running beside your door if you don’t like people to be able to peek in.  If you live in a super old military house, you can also put these on the transoms (the little windows over the doors).  Just a cheap, removable touch of personality to your home!  This is a classic stained-glass decal, and here is a more modern-arty one.

 

 

 

 

Happy Feet = Happy Home

 

Out of everything on the list, this is the most “expensive” but it is still completely doable on a low budget.

 

Military housings can sometimes be covered in less-than-desirable flooring.  It can make your home empty and loud.  Up the coziness factor in seconds by laying down area rugs in your most “special” places (bedroom, couch area, nursery, etc).  Seriously. Even one rug can transform a room.

 

The PX and Post furniture store (not every base has one) have the very cheapest rugs in all the land!  You won’t find a thick shag carpet, but there are many low-pile options that are very cheap.

 

A life hack to getting a large rug for cheap is buy a “remnant”rug at a flooring store. (of course it won’t have binding on the edges)  But there is always the clearance section in furniture places.  Don’t forget to check places like Lowes (bonus: they give military discount!)

 

 

 

Landscape

 

A tell-tale sign that someone has been in their house for years is that they will have a “put-together” yard.

 

I don’t mean perfect grass.  (not exactly sustainable anyways) I don’t mean fruit trees or a huge vegetable garden.  I mean put-together as in the outside of the house is as thoughtfully styled as the inside! You know, because they actually get to have the same plants spring up year after year. (sigh…sounds lovely)

 

Simply planting a few flowers and sweeping your sidewalk will make a huge difference in making the yard look lived-in.  My favorite place to find discount flowers is the salvage section in garden areas (Lowes always has one).  The plants are marked down as low as 99 cents!  Start there, and browse for any plants that fit your sunlight/watering abilities.  You can walk out with a cartful for $10.

 

Note: for arid places or less-than-one growing season housing, potted plants are fun because you can take them with you.

 

Decorate your Front Door

 

You don’t have to spend $300 on a porch swing just to make home entrance look inviting.  (I wouldn’t!)

 

You don’t even have to have a porch!

 

A personalized sign, as cheesy as it may sound, is one of the easiest ways to make your house look more like yours and less like a military-rental.  I see these all over post housing and they are quite lovely and friendly! You don’t have to spend $50 on etsy to get one, either.  You can find DIY materials for a good price at craft stores.  Or if you’re not crafty, buy a wreath and customize it with a single wooden letter for your last name.  Bonus points if you change your wreath/sign out each season!  Also, you’ll need a welcome mat, or unwelcome mat if you want to keep away solicitors!

 

Organize Your Storage Space

 

 

Another tell-tale sign of a civilian home that has been inhabited for decades is the “everything-has-a-place” look in the garage, kitchen, and other organizational-type spaces.  You’ll drive past the home of an elderly couple and see their Christmas wreaths hanging inside their garage year-round.  Established homes often have a basement secondary-fridge and bulk food on shelves.  Basically, everything does have a place.

 

And of course it does!

 

They have 5, 10, even 30+ years to find a place for everything. Sometimes we can’t even find what box are things are in, let alone where to put them.

 

But, if you make storage organization a priority, over time, you can accomplish the “everything-in-its-place” vibe too. (maybe not the double organized fridge part).

 

Lowes sells garage/outdoor shelving units for $15 each.  Organizing your bulky items or surplus things is one of the best ways you can make your home functional and smooth even in the early months of getting your feet on the ground.

 

 

 

 

Throw Away EVERY. SINGLE. BOX.

 

Take this from someone who didn’t.

 

Our first PCS, we didn’t have any boxes.  It was a random throw-everything-in-a-uhaul move.  The second move, I left a good 10% of our items in boxes because I had morning sickness and had zero motivation (as well as huge closets).  But I SERIOUSLY regretted not unboxing everything, because our third move we ended up brining a bunch of stuff we didn’t even use or need.

 

So now, our new rule is to throw away EVERY SINGLE BOX.  Actually, don’t throw them away. Put them on marketplace for free and they’ll be gone within hours. Help your fellow military family out!

 

But for your own sanity, do not keep even ONE.  Christmas decor can go in plastic tubs.  Clothes for next season can go in a trash bag.  Trust me, having moving boxes in your house year-round is bad for your brain!

 

 

Buy One New Special Thing for THIS House

 

We started a tradition in our very first home together, to buy one new item to christen our house with.  It doesn’t need to be expensive or even useful.  It’s just a special token that is brand-new to your home, and it remains a reminder of that special space for the rest of your life!  It’s especially fun to watch the collection grow over the years (don’t buy something big haha).  And it helps you bring a piece of that home with you wherever you go.

 

~ * ~

 

The good news is, you can turn any house into your home with just a few bucks and an afternoon of dedication. Have you tried any of these?  Leave a comment below to share your best tips for and tricks for turning your military housing into a home!  Thanks for stopping by.