Really Cheap Decorating Thread!! - Page 3

[rere]

Originally Posted by Just My Opinion

I wish I could sew

I am really good with a staple gun though I am recovering some kitchen chairs with that cool tablecloth material I mentioned above.

I have a hideous kitchen chair(stool?)that I would like to cover but I can't really figure out how.It was here when we bought the house.It's awful but it's the chair everyone wants to sit in.

[Kristine233]

OMG, so I tried that mind into roman curtains frugal idea... love it!

Of course I used flat sheets, lol. My youngest DD's mini-blinds get wrecked instantly. I have no idea what they do to them. Mini-blinds are the bane of my existance but generally the cheapest window treatment I can find.

Before: http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105080001

After: http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105290001
http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105560001

Would have looked better if I took my time but I just wanted to try it out before I invest a bunch of time into it. Since no one in our house actually uses flat sheets I always have a bunch around. These actually match teh fitted sheets on DDs bed. Perfect!

[Kristine233]

Originally Posted by Just My Opinion

I wish I could sew

I am really good with a staple gun though I am recovering some kitchen chairs with that cool tablecloth material I mentioned above.

Oh yes! We don't have enough chairs at our kitchen table so I have included a piano bench that can seat 2 kids. I recover it occasionally with whatever fabric matches the dining room. I have a pretty cream and red toile on it right now. If it gets grungy I pull it off and staple new fabric on it. Super easy and it accents the dining room nicely.

[Just My Opinion]

Wow, those flat-sheet-to-blinds look AWESOME!!!

What an awesome idea linked above. I read the tutorial and I think I get the hang of it -- maybe I will try it sometime. You did a great job Kristine!

I labeled my craft bookshelf today. Here is a frugal idea I did ages ago. I have this bookshelf that is really cheap, like one you put together yourself out of fake pressed wood. Well, it looks really cheap -- so I just screwed a thin, decorative curtain rod on the top front and put curtains on it I get a lot of compliment on it

I'll have to take pics of my place one of these days when things are actually clean lol

[Kristine233]

Ty. The bottom part of the curtain is actually solid red because I didn't have enough of the stripped to do both windows. It would have looked nicer if I would have done a tad of sewing instead of just spray glueing it all. I think it took me a total of 30 minutes to do both? So cheap, easy and fast!

[rere]

Originally Posted by Kristine233

OMG, so I tried that mind into roman curtains frugal idea... love it!

Of course I used flat sheets, lol. My youngest DD's mini-blinds get wrecked instantly. I have no idea what they do to them. Mini-blinds are the bane of my existance but generally the cheapest window treatment I can find.

Before: http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105080001

After: http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105290001
http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12450105560001

Would have looked better if I took my time but I just wanted to try it out before I invest a bunch of time into it. Since no one in our house actually uses flat sheets I always have a bunch around. These actually match teh fitted sheets on DDs bed. Perfect!

They look great!

[crunchy_mama]

The blinds look awesome, way to go! I love the colors looks so geat!

I wish I had some extra sheets around. We have just 1 set for each bed. I was eyeing my bedroom blinds as well, but I have to find some cheap fabric first, I have some offwhite, but I really need a floral or stripe or maybe polka dot to go in there. the offwhite wouldn't work with the white curtains. Maybe I'll head by the discount curtain store and check out the $4 rack or GW- although a lot of times it is not the best deal there. Free would be best, but I cannot think of anything around here. I dont keep a lot of clutter around.

[rere]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

The blinds look awesome, way to go! I love the colors looks so geat!

I wish I had some extra sheets around. We have just 1 set for each bed. I was eyeing my bedroom blinds as well, but I have to find some cheap fabric first, I have some offwhite, but I really need a floral or stripe or maybe polka dot to go in there. the offwhite wouldn't work with the white curtains. Maybe I'll head by the discount curtain store and check out the $4 rack or GW- although a lot of times it is not the best deal there. Free would be best, but I cannot think of anything around here. I dont keep a lot of clutter around.

Do you have a freecycle in your area?or any friends that you could ask.I know a lot of people don't use their top sheets but don't know what to do with them.It might be worth asking.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by rere

Do you have a freecycle in your area?or any friends that you could ask.I know a lot of people don't use their top sheets but don't know what to do with them.It might be worth asking.

I didn't think we actually had one in my area(last I seen closest was 1.5hrs) however I just checked and now there is one in my town(well the closest town). I signed up to be part of the group, we have some things that I would love if other people could use as well. I am trying to think who would get rid of top sheets.... mil has a ton of extra everything, but she is a hoarder. Will have to think on that one. You ladies are inspiring me to try and figure out some creative ways to finish a couple of rooms around here! The thing is generally I don't have extra things to repurpose- for one we had a fire 2 yrs ago and lost everything and 2- I abhor clutter

[rere]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

I didn't think we actually had one in my area(last I seen closest was 1.5hrs) however I just checked and now there is one in my town(well the closest town). I signed up to be part of the group, we have some things that I would love if other people could use as well. I am trying to think who would get rid of top sheets.... mil has a ton of extra everything, but she is a hoarder. Will have to think on that one. You ladies are inspiring me to try and figure out some creative ways to finish a couple of rooms around here! The thing is generally I don't have extra things to repurpose- for one we had a fire 2 yrs ago and lost everything and 2- I abhor clutter

I'm trying to find a good balance,for myself,between clutter and having some useful things around that actually might get used.I do have some good sources for "stuff".I never buy anything without asking my mom and a family friend.One of them almost always has what I'm looking for and is happy to give it to get it out of their house.It's great!

And for sheets,my mom's dog does a great service for me.He keeps chewing holes in her fitted sheets ruining the set which then comes my way!Ahhh...puppies.

[Just My Opinion]

I can relate to crunchy mama -- I don't have "extra" things hanging around -- I try to switch up my rooms but I abhor clutter as well, and don't keep a lot of knick-nacks or other things such as that around -- but I do have a couple of flat sheets actually, from when we had our queen bed (now we have a king) that I could use for something I think.

Hubby is bringing his drill home from work today so I can cover those kitchen chairs. Yay staple gun!

I also have a canvas that I messed up on and don't feel like repainting (I fashion myself a bit of an artist) that I just might put fabric over and staple gun for some cheap wall art -- maybe with the same fabric to tie into the chairs.

We shall see. I am determined to take pics soon so people can see my 'cheaply' decorated house (apartment). I was wanting to put pics in the other thread "clear uncluttered spaces" or some such, but a lot of those people have gorgeous spaces, some of which do not appear to be cheaply decorated You peeps will understand my space :P

[rere]

We've got some sun today so... here's some of the "nitty griity".
And a little more.

And the carved animal that my daughter has decided should be decor.

[crunchy_mama]

Rere- nice pics!! I like the wood sculpture- I think it is cool!

You ladies have inspired me- I am racking my brains thinking of what I *can* do for free or as close to it. I asked mom today about fabric, but she doesn't have any. However, I think I will ask dh's g-ma, she might. Also, I am wanting to paint the bedroom so bad, but to get decent paint- 2 gallons which my room would need, is money I don't need to spend. However, I have a lovely light green that I have tons of left over, that I think would look good in there. I have a dresser downstairs that dh is using for tools, but I am thinking about emptying it out and trying to paint it, that way if it turns out bad it is nothing lost.

I was also considering painting my nightstand- I didn't pay that much for it, so it would be horrible if it isn't perfect. I just have to not let dh know before hand as I said, he hates painted furniture! However, if I could get the one dresser painted and moved upstairs then I could take my dresser to my uncle's flea market to sale and hopefully finance another dresser.

Those things would really spruce it up. I need frames for some plates and material for the blinds and I would like some curtains that are a bit heavier. I will also check the discount rack at the curtain store and try to find the fabric store to see if they have anything discount. Oh, and just called and asked mil about fabric- she says she thinks she might have some pink and white stripe, which would work perfect if the shade is right. She is getting back to me in a few days :0

[boobybunny]

Our home is what I call "early American Garage Sale"

Our bed is a sleep number bed, but my husband built the frame, and I hung a queen sized quilt on the wall as a headboard. Another cordinating quilt as a curtain..(still have the stupid mini blindes up though) and yet another quilt on my steamer trunk/seat at the end of my bed.

[Just My Opinion]

Thanks for the 'nitty gritty' rere! I LOVE the bar hilarious with the Shakespeare "books" lol

Crunchy_mama, glad you are inspired! Hope you can get to painting before hubby finds out you are painting furniture

I covered the chairs woot woot! It was so easy, I just unscrewed the tops and staple-gunned the crap out of the fabric (apparently like the person before me haha - they did a bang-up job) and I love how they turned out! It was so easy

I am really starting to like my place. It is very decluttered and simple -- there are some things I want to improve:

I moved the dining room table out of the dining room and made it into a 'family room' -- we LOVE it, but there is nothing over the couch and it looks quite bare. That, and a few other odds and ends.

Part of me would love to paint, but the lazy part, and the one who doesn't want to paint with a preschooler underfoot or paint back when we move out (we rent) says, nah.

Pictures to come in the next couple days!

[crunchy_mama]

woot- woot- pics!! Just paint it! If nothing else you will inspire everyone else! My grand plan is to paint when the littlest is napping and #1 is having quiet time.

Ok- I need painting furniture input, so I don't totally screw this up.

1) How do I paint furniture w/ little cravings in itw/o totally filling them in or making it just look uneven?
2) I want an antiqued kind of look to the furniture. My headboard has kind of a patina(sp) look and I kind of want to emulate that- how? It is an offwhite w/ a bit of goldish coming through.
3) Then what do I do w/ the hardware- I think the cheapest option is just to paint- I kind of like the design on the dresser and nightstand and think they would be complimentary, but what color do I paint them. I don't want them super shiny metal obviously and it needs to be in the gold family- ideas?

[Just My Opinion]

Crunchy mama, I have no idea how to paint furniture because everytime I do, it turns out... not good lol I believe though, to get the look you are going for, you would have to paint it twice -- once in the color you want showing through, then once with the top color -- dry between coats of course, then lightly sand the top coat in places until the other coat shows through? Or, an alternative, is to paint the first coat, let it dry, then water down the top coat of paint so it is not offering full coverage and some shows through, kwim?

As for hardware, I find the best option is to replace. It is often extremely cheap to do (most times under $5) because at a hardware store you can get just what you need per piece. Otherwise, I don't know how to paint hardware -- spray paint maybe?

Okay, I took pics of the living/'family' room There are plenty of notes lol

Here is the chair I covered (there were two, I did both)

living/dining room -- we do have a dining room but I have the table out here by the patio door for natual light, as we do *a lot* at this table - meals, arts/crafts/homeschooling

Another angle

This is a thrift store chair, my royal blue velvet half-chaise, I got about 5 years ago, it is across from the big beige chair, diagonally in the sitting/dining room

family room screaming for art over the couch lol

Now this is decluttering!

Enjoy I will post the bedrooms (and all the secondhand "cheap" stuff in there lol) in a day or two when they are presentable enough

[Kristine233]

OK, adding some good finds. My mom has had most of these pieces for ever, she found them at garage sales. She's frugal and wont spend much on a garage sale piece so I know they were cheap. I got them for free. She gets stuff and then tucks it away in her house. Once we bought our 1912 house my mom loves the house and says the furniture "matches" so she passes it along as she decides she doesn't need it anymore, lol. I guess they belong with our house according to her.

Ignore my icky wall behind it, it needs another coat of paint and finish putting up the wainscoting. We are sorely lacking counter space in our kitchen so I brought in this buffet that my mom refinished. I just gave the bottom half a coat of paint to match our cabinets (was painted prior as well). http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12451783680001

Yes its broken, but I still love it. This old phonograph player stand is perfect for storing the kids' games and my magazines. My mom refinished this piece as well. http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12451782240001

This one REALLY needs to be refinished, I just haven't had the time yet to do it. Its super ugly right now but will look nice once its done. Another mom garage sale find from years ago. http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12451783080001

This has been around as long as I can remember, it was always in our bathroom when I was a child. I found it a couple years ago hiding in the back of a cupboard at my moms and claimed it. http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12451788330001

A freebie score of my own! My work was going to throw this away! It had a white board that was in bad shape and missing the rod. I took it home, cleaned it up, added a new rod and make-shift curtains and then sprayed on chalk board paint. Now my kids have a theater play area. This actually is in our dining room and stores all my kids' art stuff, crafts, legos and more on the shelves built in behind it. http://gallery.me.com/deppemn/100016...12451783620001

[crunchy_mama]

Kristine- Can I adopt your mom? LOVE the furniture!!! The playstand is awesome as well! Too cool!

JMO- I love that chaise- all those colors go together so nicely, beautiful!!

I got a few decorator items today at goodwill, still contemplating the painting issue. I was thinking about getting some curtains from the discount store(on the discount rack ) just doing white but then doing a complimentary fabric trim around the edges.

[Stone Fence]

I this thread!

With the exception of our mattress and box spring we have no new furniture that we bought. I have a set of cubbies that DH made for me (the wood was probably pricey) but we have a free couch, yard sale crib, yard sale dining room table with chairs fronm another set that was a hand me down, a recliner that we bought at an auction, yard sale dressers and some stuff from when we were kids. I struggle to make my living room what I want it to be.