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You spent your life savings paying for your home and used your rainy day fund
to pay the moving company. Trying to figure out how you can afford a few
furnishings? Luckily, interior decorating isn't just for those who have the
money to pay professionals. In fact, really good home décor - getting your home
to reflect your personality - is in some ways easier to do when you do it on
the cheap. When your financial resources are limited you have to make up for it
with creativity: use your own, inexpensive interior decorating ideas and
combine them with some used furniture and discount paint to make the space come
alive.
Don't be hesitant if you don't know where to start. Before you begin decorating
your home it's best to ask yourself a few important questions. Do you plan to
be in the home over the long term, or is it just a starter home? What
furnishings can't you live without? What home décor ideas have you seen
elsewhere and might like to adapt to your home? The answers you come up with
should guide your interior decorating ideas. Once you've got your home décor
ideas all lined up, it's time to pull together the materials.
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Since you can't afford Pottery Barn, or even Pier 1, you'll have to find
inexpensive, unique furnishings and discount furniture somewhere else. Check
out the following tips to find out where to shop:
Shopping for Discount Home Décor
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Consignment shops - stores where private owners sell their used furniture - are
becoming more and more popular. Check if there are any in your area. The
inventory is one-of-a-kind, so if something catches your eye be prepared to
buy. If you get to know the manager they can let you know when the sort of home
furnishings you're looking for come in.
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If your new home is in a pre-planned community, check out the developer's model
home for pieces you like. They may be a bit worn, but often the developer will
sell off the home's furniture after a period of time. It's a great way get room
sets that are already coordinated.
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Many big furniture stores have scratch and dent rooms: sections where they keep
slightly damaged (but very inexpensive) models. Also keep in mind that most
furniture stores periodically sell off used furniture (again, comparatively
cheap) when they get rid of "showroom samples" or "floor models." Ask about
both possibilities when you shop retail.
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If you have any wholesale furniture warehouses in your area, consider stopping
by. Buying wholesale furniture is almost always cheaper than buying retail.
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When looking at used furniture - or any used furnishings - don't think of what
they look like now, but what they could look like with a little refurbishing.
Maybe that coffee table wouldn't fit your living room now, but sand it down and
add a coat of stain and it might not be so bad.
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Flea markets can be a great source of inexpensive, one-of-a-kind interior
decorating materials. But finding a bargain at one can involve a lot of time
and a lot of effort. Preparation always smoothes the way. The next few tips
show you how.
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Nowhere is the expression "the early bird gets the worm" more apt than at a
flea market. Vendors' best used furniture and bargain furnishings often go
quickly, leaving late arrivals with the leftovers.
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Some flea markets can be huge and it's easy to lose focus. Take along a list of
the furnishings you want before you set out. It also helps to take along
sketches of the rooms you need to decorate, complete with dimensions and a tape
measure to see whether the furniture in front of you will fit with your plans
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If you fall in love with a piece of discount furniture at a flea market, bear
in mind that moving it can be an issue. Some vendors will deliver, but only at
the end of the day and only for an additional fee. Thus, you'll want to bring
the biggest vehicle you have available (i.e. a pickup truck or a van) or
consider renting one.
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When you're moving a piece of furniture home from a flea market, you'll want to
take all the packing precautions you normally would when moving furniture.
Before you head out to the flea market, make sure to bring a few old boxes,
blankets, tarps, tape, twine, bubble wrap and a box cutter with you for the
ride home.
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People selling antiques out of the back of van usually don't take MasterCard or
Visa. When you're going to a flea market, bring cash.
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Don't be afraid to bargain. Flea market vendors expect it, and with a little
negotiation inexpensive items can become even cheaper.
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When perusing home furnishings, try to think outside the box. You might not
want to eat off that set of ceramic dishes, but they might make colorful,
unique wall hangings.
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