Where To Find Furniture on a Budget

By Dirk Williams

There are plenty of people at one time or another that find themselves having to live on a tight budget and you will often find people who are first time homeowners that fall into that category as well as people who might be going through career or lifestyle changes.

Believe it or not, it is actually very easy to come by furniture that does not look like what I call early marriage, you know the hand-me-downs and the garage sale items or the culmination of what you had or your spouse had before you got married, the stuff that really clashes. It is very simple to find furniture that does not cost a fortune and can add a more coordinated, mature look to your home.

As a single parent at one time, I had a very tight budget and post divorce, you do not necessarily want to keep furniture items that remind you of the union of marriage that has now been dissolved, so I had to find ways to make my very tight budget stretch in order to get some new furniture when I moved.

I do not want to mislead you into thinking that these ideas will instantly lead you to the perfect piece of furniture you are looking for because chances are, it wont. In fact, you will probably have to do a lot of searching to find everything you want and are looking for, but its not too hard to have a good time doing this because the trips you take to look for furniture can be quite interesting and comical as well.

One of the best places to look is at garage sales. Depending on the time of year when you are shopping, you can find some great deals on some very well taken care of furniture that people just have either no room for or just do not want anymore. The last couch I found at a garage sale was well maintained and had no flaws or stains and it was very close to what I was looking for and I was able to pick it up for $25.00. Now, seriously, how can you beat $25 for a very well maintained couch? I have not been able to find that great of a deal since, I have found some great deals, but none as great as that.

Flea Markets are another good choice because there are tons of communities that have a flea market on the weekend and vendors who are looking to make you a deal to get rid of their stock are usually bountiful at a Flea Market. Just because their furniture might be cheap does not mean it is cheaply made, remember, these vendors do not have the overhead that the owners of a furniture store do and this is why they can cut you a great price break.

Thrift stores, consignment shops, scratched and dented rooms in the bigger furniture places are all great places to look for your next piece of furniture on a tight budget. Keep these tips in mind when you are looking and also, keep in mind that you might want to discuss this with family members, they might have a great piece of furniture to add to your home that they are willing to part with or have no use for. - 32194

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What to Do When Designing a Bedroom

By Dirk Williams

As we begin our discussion about room design, we should probably determine the difference between designing a space and decorating one. I will be talking about interior design, not differing decor tastes. Interior design really refers more to the functionality and physicality of the room. Decorating is what is done after the major design is laid out. In addition, it is based more on individual preferences. I would like to present you with a list of what I consider to be the most important and basic components of designing a room.

1. Probably the most important piece of our design puzzle is that the room must be proportionate to those who will use it. This is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. It just means that all the parts should match in size relative to each other. Say you are designing a room for a toddler. A king size bed in his room that measures 10 by 12 would be the definition of disproportionate. That bed does not fit in that room or with that person. It is not a matter of taste it is just true.

2. Always remember to let that sun shine in! Nothing compares to natural lighting. It makes any room come to life. When making sure that your room lets in enough sunlight, keep in mind this is one time that there is no such thing as too much!

3. Lets stop here for a little breather. Take a deep breath. Now let it out slowly. Okay, now that was not just a recess. It is our next big piece. We need air. Design your room with that in mind. Give ample space for airflow. It makes the room cooler and more crisp and fresh. If you obeyed guideline two, then your ample light-providing windows can also get that air moving. If you were unable or unwilling to have many windows installed, then do not forget that there are other options for creating airflow. Fans placed strategically can increase the flow. In addition, there are some great rooftop ventilation systems available.

4. Everyone needs their space. Design must reflect that need. You should be able to move about freely in your room. We have many doors in bedrooms. Just the entrance and a closet are basic. If you have a suite with a bathroom attached or have an outside door, it becomes more challenging to design a room that allows free movement. Just remember that a challenge does not mean it is impossible. Working within limits, can still provide enough space with some smart planning.

5. Although I did mention earlier that interior design was different than decorating, there are some points where the two can intersect. You need to remember that there are certain things that should be included or at least left room for in your design plan. This is definitely one place where you can express a bit more creativity. Simple things like light fixtures and window dressings can be included. They can add to the design and the decor at the same time.

I hope that this list gets you excited at the prospect of designing a bedroom. This is only a short overview of some of the important basics of interior design. There are many resources out there if you would like to delve further into this topic. If nothing else, I know that the next time you are visiting someones house, you will be looking to see if they read this article, too. If not, you may want to show them. - 32194

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Tips for Easy Interior Design

By Dirk Williams

Who does not want to go to a wonderfully decorated home after a hard day of work? The mere thought of waking up on a Sunday morning and walking through a hallway that has been meticulously decorated, on your way to the kitchen to grab a fresh hot cup of coffee, even if living in a small rental apartment, is everybody's dream. Unfortunately, not everyone has a flare for interior design. Not everyone is good at picking out just the right type of home decor which will look amazing and not clash with anything else that they own.

Making sure that it does not end up looking like a nightmare in the end, is probably what scares people the most when it comes to do it your self interior design. It is true that not everyone can afford a fabulous interior designer who can easily make the magic happen for them. But one must not despair or give up on the idea of shopping for some affordable home decor and doing some interior design of their own.

The first thing that someone could do is pick up at least six magazines which show different types of home decor and interior design. This will give anyone a great idea as to what style they like the best. Once a few designs have been chosen, then finding a way to start eliminating a few is great idea, in order to end up with the one you really like. Perhaps eliminating those which have home decor that would ultimately prove to be overly expensive, or even eliminating some interior designs which look too complicated, should help with the selection process.

The most important thing is, that regardless of the interior design which is chosen, one must be able to imagine themselves in that environment in a way of both enjoyment and delight. Next comes the fun part for most, which is the shopping. Keep in mind that everything does not have to be done at once and when it comes to decorating, the first thing to do is paint a room. Painting a room opens the door for any future home decor of your liking and gives a room an immediate face lift!

While shopping for home decor, make sure to try and match the pieces found in the picture of the room you chose as your interior design guide. Hunting for bargains and similar items, even if not exactly the same as the one in the picture is ok, as long as the size, scale and colour remains the same. Concentrating on a corner, or one single space of the room to start your interior design, is not a bad idea, especially if on a budget. By following these simple decorating tricks, anyone can make their house or apartment look amazing! - 32194

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