Thrifty Ways to Redecorate

Before discussing thrifty ways to go about apartment decorating, it’s important to understand the term thrifty. Thrifty or thrift is a word that means economical and careful. Unlike the term cheap, thrift doesn’t hold an association with poor-quality.

This is important to know because many people confuse the word thrifty with shoddy or shabby when in reality the goal of thrift shopping is to be chic on a budget. “Shabby chic” is the name of the game, and poor quality or inferior products are never the objective.

Photo by: Yvonne Eijkenduijn

Freshen up an Old Look

Thrift shopping can be a great way to go about launching a redecorating project on your home. Every penny saved is a penny that can be used for rent, as apartments in Los Angeles are anything but cheap.

With the right state of mind and the right purchases in mind, anyone can find some very unique furniture and great accessories at thrift stores and other secondhand stores around the area. Creating something new out of something old is a great way to save money on apartment decorating. Consider these tips:

1. For the Sofa – Sew a slipcover for your sofa out of leftover fabric, or bulk fabric from the store. A new slipcover can update any old sofa into a fresh piece.

2. Tables – Almost anything can be used as a coffee table with the addition of four legs. Random furniture legs can be found at junkyards and hardware stores and can be easily mounted to a variety of flat surfaces.

3. Additional Seating – An unused coffee table can easily turn into a seating bench with the addition of a few seat cushions.

4. Refurbishing – Old furniture pieces such as chairs, cabinets and armoires can be picked up cheap and sanded down. They can then be stained or painted to match existing furniture.

5. Wall Art – Almost anything can be put on walls for decoration, framed or not. Look for items like antique rugs, decorative sheets and old city maps that make for excellent and interesting wall art.

Photo by: ooh_food

Moving Around

Sometimes, the most thrift way to redecorate an apartment is simply to rearrange a room. It’s surprising how a crowded room can suddenly become open with the shifting of a few pieces of furniture. Always play with and test a few furniture arrangements before starting a new decorating job. It will help to reveal new ways of utilizing your existing furniture and accessories and potentially cut down on your purchases.

In the end, being thrift is a kind of like being a carpenter. Carpenters are told to measure twice, cut once. When you’re thrift you should learn to plan out your purchases ahead of time to cut your costs. Although, when deals do present themselves, you need to be able to jump on them right away.

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