An HGTV show tried to revolutionize budget home makeovers, but some of the wildest moments from Decorating Cents left viewers stunned for all the wrong reasons.
In recent years, HGTV has quietly canceled several long-running or fan-favorite shows, including Bargain Block, Married To Real Estate, Farmhouse Fixer, and Izzy Does It. Changing viewer tastes, tighter budgets, and shifts toward streaming content have led to a leaner lineup. Some HGTV fans have noticed fewer quirky, personality-driven series in the current rotation.
Ironically, some of HGTV’s strangest and most baffling shows stayed on air for years. From Cash In The Attic to Design On A Dime, the network once embraced bold concepts and odd design risks. Decorating Cents stands out as a prime example, lasting over a decade despite showcasing some of the weirdest, most head-scratching makeovers ever seen.
What Was Decorating Cents About?
Decorating Cents Had 31 Episodes
Decorating Cents was a long-running HGTV show that focused on transforming rooms on a strict $500 budget. It encouraged viewers to get creative with DIY projects, thrift store finds, and affordable updates. Each episode featured a different room makeover, showcasing how small and inexpensive changes that create major visual impact.
The show was hosted by Joan Steffend, a former news anchor known for her warm and relatable presence. She guided homeowners through the makeover process with practical advice and encouragement. Joan’s easygoing personality made the show entertaining and educational, helping viewers feel confident about tackling their own low-cost decorating challenges.
Decorating Cents aired from 1997 through the late 2000s, spanning 31 seasons and several episodes. It typically focused on one-room makeovers, like living rooms, kitchens, or bedrooms. The episodes also included tips on how to repurpose furniture, use color effectively, and create stylish looks without overspending, making it a favorite among frugal decorators.
The show is remembered for its memorable and sometimes quirky design choices. Viewers still recall painted rugs, tree-branch curtain rods, and wall art made from T-shirts. Some ideas were bold and divisive, but they always sparked conversation. One segment featured a nearly completed decoupage table project that was scrapped mid-episode, showcasing the real-life nature of DIY creativity.
Though the show ended in the 2000s, it has found a second life online through streaming platforms like Prime Video and Discovery+. It’s also gained renewed popularity on social media, where nostalgic fans share clips and memories.
While many fans enjoy the nostalgia, others criticize the show’s designs as outdated, overly quirky, or even tacky. Some makeovers felt rushed or incomplete. Still, it remains a beloved part of HGTV history and a fun example of creative, low-budget decorating ideas.
Someone Made Wall Art Out Of A Dirty T-Shirt
There Was An Episode Dedicated To Decorating Walls With Water Stains
One of the most infamous moments on Decorating Cents involved a homeowner’s idea to use old camping T-shirts as wall art (via HGTV.) Instead of framing or creatively displaying them, the designers simply pinned the shirts directly onto the wall. The result was messy and unpolished, drawing criticism for resembling laundry hung up rather than intentional décor.
Fans found the design choice puzzling and even laughable, as it clashed with the rest of the room’s more traditional style. Rather than adding charm, the dirty, worn T-shirts made the space feel cluttered and unfinished, highlighting how some budget solutions on the show missed the mark entirely. “I can’t believe we watched this show for decorating tips,” wrote IG user 7chocolatechips.
Meanwhile, heartthrobanderson discovered an episode where a customer had a green and white wallpaper at their home, but they weren’t happy with the look. They also didn’t have the money to replace it, so they “got creative” and decided to rip it off one day.
Underneath was an imprint left by the wallpaper on the wall on a patch which they described as a “pattern” akin to a work of art.
“This woman really featured on a design show for her water stains.”
There were also water stains left on the walls from where the wallpaper was ripped off. The customer took pride in talking about how the guests who came over were interested in the way the “seams” showed, along with the tears and the stains.
Joan agreed with the customer, saying she loved it and that the stains gave the home a “golden” and warm feeling. “I was not prepared for them to actually compliment the water stains,” commented HGTV viewer chonkybug.
Basha’s Soul Sister Has Left Fans In Tears
Basha’s Also Into Dolls That Look Like Her
As per the video by heartthrobanderson, the blogger believes that no one is braver showing their home on TV than a woman named Basha. Her mother had a replica doll made from an old childhood picture of herself.
On the show, the narrator asked viewers to look closely and see how the doll even had the exact knee patch on its jeans that Basha had on her own pants in the picture.
“If I had a doll that looked like a Wayans brother from White Chicks, I wouldn’t be putting it on TV, I’ll tell you that.”
However, what was even more odd was a framed picture of a woman, described by the HGTV show’s narrator as a picture of Basha’s “soul sister.”
Basha had found the picture at a flea market years ago. The photo had followed Basha in all of her moves, and she had no idea who the woman in the picture even was. Basha felt like the picture brought her “good karma.”
Sources: HGTV/Instagram, heartthrobanderson/Instagram, 7chocolatechips/Instagram, chonkybug/Instagram