On A Tight Budget!!
Amber646
I would love to decorate as I wished! But not everyone can. I would like to know of any web sites or a web site to find stores in my area to find discounted furniture, Room accents and decorations! And without looking cheap?? Any tips help! Thanks You!
catwoman708
I don't know about web sites, but you can look in the Yellow Pages under "furniture-used", try thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, salvage yards, flea markets, and garage sales. Dollar stores, Wal-Mart, and Target stores have cheap stuff, and you can find really nice looking items at discounted prices from TJ Max, Ross, or stores Hobby Lobby and Garden Ridge. Personally, I the eclectic items found at import type stores, if you have a discount type one in your area. If you can, watch a some of those shows on cable (HGTV) about decorating or home make overs, like "Trash to Treasure", "Decorating on a Dime", "Trading Spaces", etc... to get ideas. You can even cruise around neighborhoods the night before trash pick-up day and find all kinds of stuff on the curb. I know it's distasteful, but lots of people do and come up with unique finds. Many people will give you stuff they no longer want if they just know you are looking for "good junk" you can reuse or spruce up. Ask your family and friends to see if they have any unwanted items or see if they'll let you scrounge around in their attics or basements for old furniture and stuff you could turn into "treasures". You might also look at your local hardware/home improvement stores for discounted "reject paints" to use for these fixer upper projects. All kinds of stuff can be salvaged, repaired and/or painted, like mismatched furniture can be painted to "match". You can decorate with tins, bottles, baskets, pottery, tea sets, and garage sale finds, plants, old photos, etc... Some examples: We replaced a wrought iron porch railing, and ended up cutting the wrought iron in half, painted it, and used it in the kitchen as "legs" for a counter/bar we extended. We then put wheels on an old butcher block so it could roll underneath the extended bar when not in use. A section of wooden picket fence was sanded, painted, and turned into a frame for a day bed in a girl's room. Later it was taken apart and used in the garden like an arbor. I've made covers for throw pillows, table runners, small curtains or table clothes from thrift store sheets, table clothes, or curtains. Someone gave me 2 huge bags of upholstery sample swatches, most about 12" or 14" square which I used for pillow covers and "table runners" or "doilies" on coffee and end tables, or several coordinating ones together for the dining table. Another lady gave me a box of silk greenery and two china tea sets.Salvaged decorative molding can be made into a shallow shelf for decorative plates or knick knacks or frames. You can take old silk flower arrangements apart and reuse the nicer flowers and containers. I recently saw a nice dining table that had been cut shorter to use as a coffee table, and a dresser that had been painted to use as a buffet table in a dining area. I've had a little bookcase for 20 yrs. that someone gave me (they were going to throw it out) made of 1x12s, has been repainted 3 or 4 times, and has been used as a makeshift vanity, a desk, a sofa console table, a console table for TV/nintendo set up, and a bookcase. The possibilities are endless, but get your big pieces first, then you can fill in the little stuff as you find it.
Shapeshifter78
I agree totally with catwoman's advice. Add BigLots to her list if you have one in your area. I particulary like to "re-vamp or re-purpose" found treasures. I have just discovered www.craigslist.org. It is a forum where folks sell, trade, and give-away just about anything. And it seems to be in most places in the country [don't know where you are]. Lots of the folks post pictures so you actually can see the item before you contact them. I've discovered you have to work fast, though, stuff seems to go very quickly. For example, someone had a complete Ikea bedroom set for sale last week for $600. Good luck and post some pix ok?
Thevail
Also try Tuesday Morning if you have one in your area. It's iffy, but sometimes they have the most amazing stuff.
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