Home Decorating With Craigslist - Cheap and Chic
My goal was to help a friend decorate a cheap chic living room for under $500. Since I needed inexpensive decorating ideas, I turned to Craigslist in search of a bargain. After a few days of looking around I had a cheap chic living room furniture set put together for him. The price and results may shock you.
This home decorating lens will show you how I was able to use Craigslist to find b>. I will also give you some valuable tips to ensure that you make a smart purchase and will not waste time or money.
This lens is perfect for those that are just starting out or want to create a new room style without breaking the bank. Cheap chic decorating with Craigslist can be fun, rewarding, and a true decorating bargain.
This home decorating lens will show you how I was able to use Craigslist to find b>. I will also give you some valuable tips to ensure that you make a smart purchase and will not waste time or money.
This lens is perfect for those that are just starting out or want to create a new room style without breaking the bank. Cheap chic decorating with Craigslist can be fun, rewarding, and a true decorating bargain.
Home Decorating Tips Using Craigslist
5 tips to help you snag cheap chic used furniture and decor on Craigslist
Once you go to Craigslist.org, you will find your state, and then the city nearest you to begin finding great deals. StyleEstate.com is an excellent source to find living room ideas. Browse through all the living room designs or other room designs that the members have uploaded. The goal is to have your inspiration and some ideas before the hunting starts. Below is a list of things to go over before you start.
Home Decorating Checklist
for shopping on Craigslist
This is a checklist of thinking points that should be considered when shopping for home decor on Craigslist. The list will be a work in progress and updated as I think of more.
- Ask Questions. Many Craigslist sellers provide photos of the items with their ad. However, even a photo won't necessarily tell you everything you need to know. Be sure to ask questions about the condition, style, and constructions of the item. These questions will help you determine if it is worth your time and gas to see it in person.
- Bargain With the Seller. Most sellers on Craigslist will negotiate with you on the price, especially if the item has been listed for more than 2 or 3 days.
- Find Freebies. Craigslist.org has a "free" heading in their classifieds. Although many free items are not in great shape, you can often find "diamonds" hidden among the rocks. This is especially true with furniture and home decor since many people replace these items seasonally.
- Don't Wait. If an item is listed for free, call immediately to be sure the item is still there and go quickly to pick it up. Free furniture, as well as well-priced items go quickly. Check the site often, as people can add their listings any time of the day and new posts are added constantly.
- Determine How Far You Will Go. Before you even look at Craigslist for your home decor, determine how far you will go to look at an item. Going long distances, only to find out that the item described does not really suit your needs, is a waste of time and money.
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Home Decorating on a Budget - What can you do with $250?
Craiglist: The perfect place to find cheap chic used furniture
Are you ready for a change but don't think you can afford it? Decorating your home especially with today's economic issues, can seem like a difficult challenge. You may have even decided to just "live with" what you have. However, there is an alternative - Craigslist.org. In this economy, home decorating on a budget has never been more important.
Cheap Chic Used Couch and Love Seat
Sofa and Loveseat for $100
In order to show you the kind of incredible decorating bargains available to you on Craigslist, a great experiment was conducted. Was it possible to decorate an entire living room for under $500 using a Craigslist community? With $500 in hand, the search began. Knowing that the main item in the living room would be seating, finding a shabby chic sofa was the first item on the agenda. After several emails and a couple of unproductive short trips, the pictured cheap chic couch and love seat were purchased for $100. Beautiful Used Area Rug For $65
Earth Tone Area Rug on Craigslist
Once a sofa was purchased, the living room style was determined. It would definitely be more modern with cleaner lines. However, due to the solid neutral color, accessories would be needed to liven up the area.An intriguing area rug in excellent condition was purchased for $65 and gave the room a dramatic effect.
Inexpensive Wall Art On Craigslist
Matching Chic Accessories
Since the area rug had rich earth tones and unusual shapes, it was time to find artwork that accentuated those characteristics. For $37, the following pieces were found: Earth Tone Painted Canvas
Cheap Chic Art
So far the tally is $202. Pretty darn good for my friend's first pad in LA. Used Lighted Ceiling Fan
Found in the Craigslist Free Section
So far, so good. With a budget of $500, the major pieces had been purchased for $202.Next came lighting since it is an essential part of room decor. The living room had a large window that provided excellent natural light, but was in need of some kind of window treatment for effect and for nighttime privacy. Additionally, the room had one, ugly overhead light.
Beautiful Used Drapes
Found these drapes, in excellent condition in the free section of Craigslist.
Looking in the free section secured a ceiling fan with a light fixture as well as a set of neutral draperies. Cheap Chic Used Lamp
Found this floor lamp on Craigslist $20
Another source of light was purchased for $20. The straight lines of the floor lamp worked perfectly with the shapes and angles already in the room. Used Entertainment Center
The centerpiece of the cheap chic used furniture ensemble.
Having spent only $222, another large piece of furniture was possible. For only $25, a wood entertainment center became the last part of the cheap chic furniture ensemble. Although it had a few nicks, the general appearance was excellent, the construction was solid, and the style was perfect. Cheap Chic Used Living Room Complete
Total Price = $250, Total Time = 3 days
Although the original goal was $500, the entire living room ensemble was purchased for under $250! And it only took 3 days!
In these hard economic times, there is no need to give up beauty and style. Logging onto Craigslist is the perfect way to make your outdated or tired room into something new again. Decorating on a budget, if done right, can really pay off. Imagine what I could have done with the whole $500. Now he had money left over for a home decorating party
In these hard economic times, there is no need to give up beauty and style. Logging onto Craigslist is the perfect way to make your outdated or tired room into something new again. Decorating on a budget, if done right, can really pay off. Imagine what I could have done with the whole $500. Now he had money left over for a home decorating party
10 Tips To Finding Great Deals On Craigslist
Added 12-29-2008
* Use Google site search on Craigslist. Craigslist has a pretty excellent site search (that's unusual - most site searches are worthless), but if you can't what you're looking for, try Google. Simply type this into Google: (1)
Site:http://yourcity.craigslist.org/keyword
* Use filters such as max/min price to remove redundant items from the list that you would not be interested in.
* Set your max price a little higher than your "real" maximum price because many times people on Craigslist are willing to negotiate if they know that you are serious.
* Be sure to ask detailed questions about the item. How old is it? How much use has it had? A photo can be deceptive and you wouldn't want to waste your time or gas going to look at something that is completely different than what you had imagined.
* Always get a photo first. If they do not have a photo posted - ask them for one. It is best to be as knowledgeable as possible about the item before you ever leave the driveway.
* Don't try to decorate the whole house all at once. Monitor the new items posted daily. Chances are you will see fab items added all the time that you like.
* Jump on the great deals. If you see a great item at a great price, jump on it. Just the other day I found a guy giving away a one-year old leather sofa in mint condition. He even offered to deliver within 20 miles. Ofcoarse this piece was gone within ten minutes and I had just missed out.
* Keep up with the free section. The old adage, "one man's trash is another man's treasure", definitely applies. Sometimes people do not know the value of what they are throwing out and sometimes they just don't care.
* Map it out ahead of time. Before you go to look at an item, check the neighborhood on Google and make sure it is a relatively safe place to go.
* Take a friend or relative with you. Not only is it safer, but sometimes friendly advice is needed before making the final purchase.
Site:http://yourcity.craigslist.org/keyword
* Use filters such as max/min price to remove redundant items from the list that you would not be interested in.
* Set your max price a little higher than your "real" maximum price because many times people on Craigslist are willing to negotiate if they know that you are serious.
* Be sure to ask detailed questions about the item. How old is it? How much use has it had? A photo can be deceptive and you wouldn't want to waste your time or gas going to look at something that is completely different than what you had imagined.
* Always get a photo first. If they do not have a photo posted - ask them for one. It is best to be as knowledgeable as possible about the item before you ever leave the driveway.
* Don't try to decorate the whole house all at once. Monitor the new items posted daily. Chances are you will see fab items added all the time that you like.
* Jump on the great deals. If you see a great item at a great price, jump on it. Just the other day I found a guy giving away a one-year old leather sofa in mint condition. He even offered to deliver within 20 miles. Ofcoarse this piece was gone within ten minutes and I had just missed out.
* Keep up with the free section. The old adage, "one man's trash is another man's treasure", definitely applies. Sometimes people do not know the value of what they are throwing out and sometimes they just don't care.
* Map it out ahead of time. Before you go to look at an item, check the neighborhood on Google and make sure it is a relatively safe place to go.
* Take a friend or relative with you. Not only is it safer, but sometimes friendly advice is needed before making the final purchase.
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Waiting to Hear From You
Please use this feedback module - I accidentally made two :)
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Sherrie1 wrote...
What a sweet idea for a lens! Well done! 5 Stars for U! Looking for some teen room decorating ideas? Check out Decorating Teen Bedrooms
Posted May 21, 2009
only1bub wrote...
I LOVE your lense! What a great idea! I too am a huge fan of Craigslist & decorating secondhand. I'm planning on making a website on my bedroom which is decorated with mostly with second hand furniture and was under $500 too.
I would love to see a picture of the completed room!
Lensrolling you to my page!
Posted April 29, 2009
StyleEstate wrote...
in reply to JellyGirl1 That is a great idea :) I actually have a website in development, styleestate.com - that could do something similar. I will add you to my lensroll as well.
Posted March 08, 2009
JellyGirl1 wrote...
hi. what a great lens. I lensrolled you into my lens http://www.squidoo.com/budget-apartment-decor
this is great info, and made me think of a new HGTV show that you could pitch....you could go around and find people who want their rooms decorated, and the designer's challenge is to do it w/ 500.00 and the local craigslist!!
good luck!
kim
Posted March 03, 2009
Leave us your feedback.
Have you used Craigslist for Decorating?
StyleEstate wrote...
Thanks you very much for the kind message. Squidoo is a very fun website and although I have just launched my own very neat website, styleestate, I find myself spending more and more time here trying to perfect my lenses. This is very addictive :)
Posted December 21, 2008
enslavedbyfaeries wrote...
Welcome to Squidoo! Great information and I look forward to seeing more of your work. Nicely done. :)
Posted December 20, 2008
StyleEstate wrote...
in reply to BrianS Hi. Thanks for the compliment on my lens. This looks like a terrific group.
Posted December 17, 2008
BrianS wrote...
Very nice lens, welcome to the Interior Design, Soft furnishings and Decor Group
Posted December 17, 2008
by StyleEstate
Hi, I'm Ryan. I am the creator of a new social shopping network, StyleEstate.com Style Estate is a community specifically designed for home decorating... (more)
