Budget Decorating is FUN
Everyone wants their house to feel like a real home no matter whether it's a new condo or a fixer-upper. The key to defining that space is the style of decor that you select. Of course, no one wants to sacrifice creating a pleasant home space because they can't afford those outrageous retail price tags. During an economy crisis, finding ways to decorate without breaking your budget becomes even more valuable.
In addition to furniture, art is everywhere. When you frequent the second hand or thrift shops, they often harbor pieces of art that people have made for their own enjoyment. You may be able to find many unique works of art that enhance your decor as well, for much less than you'd find at an art gallery. Here are different ways and places that you find home furnishings even if you have a super low budget:
Thrift stores - As the saying goes, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." That is the belief that thrift stores were founded on and as a result, millions of people save millions of dollars everyday by using these great resale shops to get their wares. Often, you may find home furnishings in perfect condition but have been donated for any number of reasons. If you live in an area with a large military base, soldiers relocate frequently and instead of taking the furniture, they may donate it. The best thrift stores are usually the ones that are located near an upscale or high income area, as they often receive donations from people who may just be switching out looks in their home or upgrading to more lavish items. These people often don't have the time, nor the interest in selling their items themselves, and so they donate them and get a tax break for their contributions. But, ultimately, you can score great furnishings from their excess. Shop thrift stores with the expectation that you will have the furniture cleaned, as it may have been sitting in a storage space or garage and may have accumulated a lot of dust, or look for furniture with strong "bones" that can be either recovered or simply fitted with a slipcover.
Garage and Yard Sales - People move everyday and instead of lugging everything with them, or if their new homes cannot hold all of their stuff, people will sell off their furniture and household goods for pennies on the dollar. These residential sales often start at the crack of dawn and only last for part of the day. You can find them by looking in your local newspaper or, most commonly, follow the often makeshift signs that will be posted in a neighborhood. If you frequent the library, their may be a community board where you can find postings for yard and garage sales.
Surf the internet for savings. Online auction sites such as Ebay offers lots of bargains on art and household furnishings. If the word FREE gets the frugal fashionista in you all stirred up, then, Craigslist.org or Freecycle are a perfect search option for you. On these sites you could find just about ANYTHING for free. However, a word of caution, act early and always go with at least one other person to retrieve any items that you get.
Decorate your home for fewer dollars that you ever dreamed by following these simple and fun tips. Any frugal fashionista can have the best looking home on the block with just a little research and willingness to move fast!