Really Cheap Decorating Thread!! - Page 5

[Sailor]

I buy sweaters from the thrift stores when they're all just cents each in summers. Most of them are very ugly, but I unravel them for yarn, and knit all kinds of things - felted bowls, throws, placemats, etc. Quilting is another good way to spruce up rooms. Of course, if anyone sews, you can make all kinds of things fairly cheaply: curtains, pillows, etc., all from thrifted or freecycled fabrics.

I also pick wildflowers in the spring and summer. I love wildflowers on the dining table.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by rere

Crunchy Mama,

Super cute pics!Color really does a lot for a room.Did you decopage the diaper dresser?

Oh, I guess I wasn't clear- I found the dresser already painted. It is all paint. Man, you should have seen that lady's house that I bought it from she had all kinds of beautiful murals on the wall- she had it painted to look like a tree growing up the wall with leaves and everything coming from the ceiling, now she had some talent!!

[granola_mom]

Hi everyone!

Reviving this thread because I loved all your ideas!

Plus I've been having awesome dumpster diving luck the past few weeks! Check out my blog for pics... I just found two new tables and am so happy :

Here are some pics of other cheap finds.

[rere]

Originally Posted by granola_mom

Hi everyone!

Reviving this thread because I loved all your ideas!

Plus I've been having awesome dumpster diving luck the past few weeks! Check out my blog for pics... I just found two new tables and am so happy :

Here are some pics of other cheap finds.

Really nice blog post!I love your pics and I sooo understand how you feel.I love giving new life to things.I have a lamp in my bedroom that my mom originally got more than 30 yrs ago from a funeral parlor that was getting rid of it.It's still going strong.

And here is a little cabinet that I just painted for my daughter's room.I'm not sure where my MIL got it but she gave it to some friends who then gave it to us.

[tree_hugger]

I love this thread! Our home is furnished and decorated abou 75% second hand (be it thrifted, Ebay or side-of-the-road-finds) and the rest is either crafted by me, or Ikea chic, lol.

I am in the middle and rearranging the living room right now, but when I m finished I will try to post pics.

I have enjoyed these two blogs - I think their budgets are probably bigger than what this thread is describing, but I do find them inspiring.

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/

[sabrinat]

Cool blog links. I had not heard of either of those. Great ideas.

[rere]

I found a great shelf in the alley today!We took a walk to the park and I spied it on the way there.On the way back I made my family go down the alley with me to check it out.And just as I was figuring out how I was going to convince my husband to get the car and go back for it,he picked it up and started carrying it away!:That is so not like him.

My daughter and I washed it off.I think it might need some more scrubbing(what do you all use to wash your garbage picks?)but she was very eager to put it in it's spot and fill it up with toys for the babies we take care of.

Anyone else have anything new going on?

[rere]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

Oh, I guess I wasn't clear- I found the dresser already painted. It is all paint. Man, you should have seen that lady's house that I bought it from she had all kinds of beautiful murals on the wall- she had it painted to look like a tree growing up the wall with leaves and everything coming from the ceiling, now she had some talent!!

Somehow I missed this post.Wow!I can't believe that's paint.I thought for sure it was scrapbook papers.

Originally Posted by tree_hugger

I love this thread! Our home is furnished and decorated abou 75% second hand (be it thrifted, Ebay or side-of-the-road-finds) and the rest is either crafted by me, or Ikea chic, lol.

I am in the middle and rearranging the living room right now, but when I m finished I will try to post pics.

I have enjoyed these two blogs - I think their budgets are probably bigger than what this thread is describing, but I do find them inspiring.

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/

Ikea chic...

How is the living room coming?

[pitter_patter]

This isn't super cheap, but rather than buying curtain rods for my living room I bought plain wood closet rods, two wooden brackets and wood finials. I painted everything myself w/spray paint and got a fancy look for two windows for about $20, compared to $40/each for two curtain rod sets.

[crunchy_mama]

Nothing immediately going on around here. I have some b-day money so I need to see if I can find some dressers for the bedroom. I am also trying to sell the ones I have as well as anything else to make some much needed money.

As to garbage finds- not much experience here! People really don't put stuff like that on the curb- the garbage man won't take it- we live rural here!

[rere]

Here's my "new" toy shelf!

[crunchy_mama]

beautiful shelf- what a find!!!

[sabrinat]

Paint! I love it! I've painted several room w/mistints purchased for mere $'s. Also you can paint a drop cloth to make a unique rug. I've repainted many lamps to match decor. Spray paint is easy to use and inexpensive. Oh and ribbon is great. I just redid some lamp shades with a bit of grosgrain ribbon and I love the look, plus when I want to change it, I can just switch out the ribbon color.

http://mylilsliceofpie.blogspot.com/

[slsurface]

I was avoiding this forum for a while because I found it all too grim, but in doing so I missed this great thread before! :

I have virtually NO decorating or remodeling budget. DH and I are pretty handy, so we do a lot on our own. Like other people mentioned, my house is decorated with hand-me-downs, secondhand, and garbage finds. In the 9.5 years that DH and I have been married, we've only ever purchased 4 new pieces of furniture, and one of those was DS's crib. My style is sort of shabby chic meets Asian contemporary. Here are some pics on fliker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/archymo...7615779605774/.

I repaint and refinish furniture, repurpose things, and always look for beautiful "junk" wherever I go. Thanks for starting this thread!

[rere]

Originally Posted by slsurface

I was avoiding this forum for a while because I found it all too grim, but in doing so I missed this great thread before! :

HA!Me too.Infact I found this thread in new posts.

[slsurface]

Originally Posted by rere

Here's my "new" toy shelf!

Nice. I also LOVE the cabinet for your daughter. I've seen pics of your home before and I love it. You have a great sense of style.

[sabrinat]

I've been doing major thrifting lately. I was super excited when I went to drop off a donation the other day and scored a bunch of decor items + a solid wood folding craft table all for $20. Woo Hoo! I'm in the process of repurposing some furniture pieces. Out of curiosity, folks who've done a lot of furniture do you use a roller, brush or spray paint?

[rere]

Originally Posted by slsurface

Nice. I also LOVE the cabinet for your daughter. I've seen pics of your home before and I love it. You have a great sense of style.

Thank you!Funny thing is...when I first came to this thread I thought of your son's room.It's soo sweet and I know you put it together for nothing!

Originally Posted by sabrinat

I've been doing major thrifting lately. I was super excited when I went to drop off a donation the other day and scored a bunch of decor items + a solid wood folding craft table all for $20. Woo Hoo! I'm in the process of repurposing some furniture pieces. Out of curiosity, folks who've done a lot of furniture do you use a roller, brush or spray paint?

Nice score!

I use a brush.I was thinking spray paint might be a good idea but I just use whatever left over paint we have from painting the walls.However years ago I used spray paint to paint a lamp and a bunch of frames.

[HeatherAtHome]

Originally Posted by slsurface

I was avoiding this forum for a while because I found it all too grim, but in doing so I missed this great thread before! :

I have virtually NO decorating or remodeling budget. DH and I are pretty handy, so we do a lot on our own. Like other people mentioned, my house is decorated with hand-me-downs, secondhand, and garbage finds. In the 9.5 years that DH and I have been married, we've only ever purchased 4 new pieces of furniture, and one of those was DS's crib. My style is sort of shabby chic meets Asian contemporary. Here are some pics on fliker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/archymo...7615779605774/.

I repaint and refinish furniture, repurpose things, and always look for beautiful "junk" wherever I go. Thanks for starting this thread!

Love it! I have a question about your apartment pics. What kind of flooring is in your kitchen and was it painted that colour green to start out with or did you paint it yourself?

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by rere

Thank you!Funny thing is...when I first came to this thread I thought of your son's room.It's soo sweet and I know you put it together for nothing!


Nice score!

I use a brush.I was thinking spray paint might be a good idea but I just use whatever left over paint we have from painting the walls.However years ago I used spray paint to paint a lamp and a bunch of frames.

Thanks!

I've used spray paint to do lamps, frames and a few other items in the past, but I've been reading a bunch of blogs where folks use spray paint. I don't know if I'd want to use it for a huge project, but I'm going to try it on this little table I picked up and see how it works. I've always used a brush and latex paints before on furniture and I'll be the first to say I'm not the best painter so maybe spraying will help some.