Budget Decorating is FUN
Articles - Savings
Whether it's a first apartment or a new empty nest, furniture and decorations are keys to making a house a home. Lamps, rugs, lots of interesting pictures can give a space definition and appeal. Stylish home accents cost money and if you are not budget conscious, the cost of making your home a personal haven can quickly get out of hand. While you want your home to look the best that it can, does it require everything to be brand new off of the showroom floor? Probably not. In fact, some of the best home decor and furniture can be found right at a local second hand or consignment shop. For a mere pittance when compared to the retail price, you may be able to get some really high end pieces, or possibly antiques, for your home.
by AlexandraVrugt


Whether it's a first apartment or a new empty nest, furniture and decorations are keys to making a house a home. Lamps, rugs, lots of interesting pictures can give a space definition and appeal. Stylish home accents cost money and if you are not budget conscious, the cost of making your home a personal haven can quickly get out of hand. While you want your home to look the best that it can, does it require everything to be brand new off of the showroom floor? Probably not. In fact, some of the best home decor and furniture can be found right at a local second hand or consignment shop. For a mere pittance when compared to the retail price, you may be able to get some really high end pieces, or possibly antiques, for your home.

Furniture and art can be found in lots of places. From one of a kind pieces of art to antique home furnishings, just taking the time to research, dig through, and look off the beaten path could net you some cool stuff for your home. Here are a few ways to get some great quality pieces without spending great amounts of cash:

1. Find tons of treasures at your local thrift store. At thrift stores, shoppers can buy for cheap all types of home decorations and other household wares. Often these fab finds are the ultimate score for frugal fashionistas that don't want to skimp on quality just because they can't afford to buy in the regular retail stores. Shoppers can expect to find lots of furniture and art in nearly perfect if not perfect condition that is usually brought to the thrift store as a result of a family's relocation or death of a loved one. In addition to the perfect pieces, frugal fashionistas can find some items that could be a wonderful home addition with the simple addition of a slipcover or a professional cleaning.

2. Get in on local garage and yard sales for deals. Most people have made a move in their lives. If you have moved before, then you know how it to want a fresh start in your new home. So, to ride themselves of the excess or unnecessary, people will hold garage or yard sales. You can often find super buys on just about anything that you can use for decorating your home. From chairs to artificial flowers, garage sales usually have a little bit of everything. Check your local newspaper for listings and get there early to get the best deals!

3. Go online for a world of decorating deals. Websites such as Craigslist.org, EBay, and Freecycle have more home decor deals available than you could ever imagine. The best thing about websites like Craigslist.org or Freecycle is that you could actually find exceptional home decor pieces that are 100% FREE! Keep in mind that if you do find a free deal or really, really cheap deal during this economy crisis, jump on the deal and be prepared to make immediate preparations to pick-up the item. You could use a cheap truck rental service like U-Haul should you need a larger vehicle to pick up what would be a "big ticket" item in a store like a chair or sofa.

You can have a gorgeous home during this economy crisis without putting yourself in debt if you search out deals and look for opportunities to get great items for cheap. Use your creativity and your resources to furnish your home and you (and your wallet!) will be glad that you did.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

Alexandra Vrugt, a renowned connoisseur on saving money in daily life, has written many articles on how to manage on less. You can download a free version of her Ebook '15 Top Ways To Save Money'by visiting her site MakeEndsMeetOnlne.com. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.