Decorating for Free.

[oscar]

That looks like something a homeless person put together under an expressway bridge.

Along my commute where I used to live, there was a homeless man who used to make things like these and sell them for a dollar:

http://www.curbly.com/diy-maven/posts/7 ... ovely-vase

He also had a Christmas tree and decorations in his camp under an overpass. His living space was prettier than Mrs. Doodle's living room. One day he disappeared and all his stuff was gone, and I really hope he got the care he needed.

[Paisy]

She's dedicated a whole post to those snarking here at FJ

Still, I think Emily's is worse.

Surely she's got to know by now that attention + internet = criticism. It's how anonymous people work. Either she's going to love it or she's going to stop putting herself out there.

[clarinetpower]

Her response was definitely decent, sounds like she has a sense of humor. I don't agree with most of her religious/political views, but at least she didn't cry persecution.

Though I agree--being happy with what you have and find for free is one thing, but bragging about it on the internet is another. There are people that get paid to brag on the internet. (See YoungHouseLove.com, my favorite decorating site). BTW, Doodle, that's one you should check out. They have great style and some wonderful, cheap ideas. I'm currently collecting frames to spray paint white for a wall o' photos. They know how to make cheap junk look designer for the cost of a can of spray paint. Also, Doodle, I'd leave the sectional as one piece--as two, it looks a bit weird. Stick with one, and find another chair to set opposite. It's too small a sectional to break up. And ditch the suitcase. Get yourself on freecycle (ours is a yahoo group) and you will decorate your house in no time for the cost of pickup.

Oh, and if you want to clean the carpets and find yourself with an extra $30-40, rent a Rug Doctor from the grocery store, and don't buy their formula, get some in the carpet cleaning isle. Share the night's rental with a neighbor to save more. It does a good job. (We may snark, but we have kids, too.)

[atheistjd]

I admire her thick skin and kind response... I agree that I wouldn't brag about that living room, but then I am a very private person, kind of a design geek, and have not moved across country and been living out of boxes/suitcases. So I am happy to wish her luck and glad to see she is happy with the finished product because in the end, that is all that matters :)

[formergothardite]

She took it pretty well. She is kind of snarky herself. It had to be hard to read all that about something you were proud of.

[Rosa]

While I agree with FJer's on this decor, I wonder if we're snarking on someone who's in no position to do any better? What if she's a submissive helpmeet whose head doesn't earn much money, and she's doing the best that she can? Granted, she seems to have a few luxuries, but what if that's pretty much all she has?

She isn't like Kelly or the Duggars; she doesn't seem to be boasting. Perhaps she's doing the best that she can under her circumstances.

I love to snark. I also want to help fundies see outside fundiedom. Perhaps we could ask this woman, nicely, why these items are what she has to work with.

And go back to snarking at Kelly and Lina.......

Here's the thing: I purchased my first-ever new couch when I was 33 (and it was from Ikea). I am typing at this very moment from a desk I found on the curb. My house is full of free artwork, free dishes, free rugs. I used to dumpster food on a regular basis.

I'm not snarking because it's free, I'm snarking because it's UGLY.

[Koala]

She took it pretty well. She is kind of snarky herself. It had to be hard to read all that about something you were proud of.

Agreed. I respect the way she handled it.

[batwing]

Her response was definitely decent, sounds like she has a sense of humor. I don't agree with most of her religious/political views, but at least she didn't cry persecution.

Though I agree--being happy with what you have and find for free is one thing, but bragging about it on the internet is another. There are people that get paid to brag on the internet. (See YoungHouseLove.com, my favorite decorating site). BTW, Doodle, that's one you should check out. They have great style and some wonderful, cheap ideas. I'm currently collecting frames to spray paint white for a wall o' photos. They know how to make cheap junk look designer for the cost of a can of spray paint. Also, Doodle, I'd leave the sectional as one piece--as two, it looks a bit weird. Stick with one, and find another chair to set opposite. It's too small a sectional to break up. And ditch the suitcase. Get yourself on freecycle (ours is a yahoo group) and you will decorate your house in no time for the cost of pickup.

Oh, and if you want to clean the carpets and find yourself with an extra $30-40, rent a Rug Doctor from the grocery store, and don't buy their formula, get some in the carpet cleaning isle. Share the night's rental with a neighbor to save more. It does a good job. (We may snark, but we have kids, too.)

I love YoungHouseLove too! I've followed them from the start and damned if they didn't turn a blog into a living. The NonConsumerAdvocate and YardSaleQueen are also awesome frugal websites that touch on home decorating as well as other bits of living thrifty.

I have to say, I'm digging her response compared to PERSECUTION!!!1! responses. She earned a couple points from me, and if nothing else, she got a lot more traffic on her blog.

Doodles, I'm not sure you'll understand this reference so I've included a video for you. You get two snaps in a Z formation.

rmL5s3k9o9U

FJers- the Men on Books sure made Robinson Crusoe sound like a manly romp through the forest :shock: Coincidence, I think not. Reviewing the skits again through new eyes, I see so much Dougie in this, "____ from a Man's Point of View"

[alsio]

I just don't get why the suitcase?

She put the books in a suitcase on the floor, that doesn't look better or is easier to reach than just stacking them or putting them on the floor against the wall.

I get having a found couch or repurposing something as a table, not necessarily pretty, but been there, done that.

But why the suitcase, what does it ad?

Maybe it is obvious, but I'm mystified.

[Sola]

That's what I was thinking too, I kinda feel bad for her.

I do too. But.... she has a camera phone/camera + phone and an internet connection. These cost money. Plus if I am right doesn't she have some major kitchen tech?

It seems slightly screwed up priorities.

I know dirt poor, I have been dirt poor. And some of it was MY choice as we wanted to pay off our home early so every spare penny went towards that. But you can do better than that and it not cost much at all. That sofa is gross but covered with a throw and a few matching cushions (which dont have to be bought new) would make a huge difference. That TV stand thing would look so much better with a CLEAN UNSTAINED piece of cloth covering it. A yard or so of fabric, hemmed by hand if she doesn't have a sewing machine, would look so much better. That horrible carpet might not clean up but a few rugs picked up a second hand store would make a huge difference.

And get some curtains. For the love of whatever you hold holy, get some curtains.

[Effie]

And get some curtains. For the love of whatever you hold holy, get some curtains.

I agree with the curtains. A pale green colour maybe? :) Some light colour to lighten up the room.

Something to put on the walls would be nice. Maybe this Recycled Book Page Sunburst Mirror: creativejewishmom.com/2010/05/make-a-recycled-book-page-sunburst-mirror.html or this Recycled Toilet Paper Roll Wreath: creativejewishmom.com/2010/06/recycled-toilet-paper-roll-wall-decor.html

[library_youth]

There's a comment on her blog describing "the women of FJ" as "disenfranchised, lost, and angry." That same person wrote "They try to disguise this anger by calling it “snark†but we know better. The anger still shines through."

I reread the post, and the blogger herself never called out FJ by name. But somehow, the commenter knew who she was referring to.

[clibbyjo]

There's a comment on her blog describing "the women of FJ" as "disenfranchised, lost, and angry." That same person wrote "They try to disguise this anger by calling it “snark†but we know better. The anger still shines through."

I reread the post, and the blogger herself never called out FJ by name. But somehow, the commenter knew who she was referring to.

I am not disenfranchised,lost or angry. What would I be angry about? I have a better couch, real book shelves and hundreds of books. I'm good thanks. :dance:

[Sola]

It's probably a lurker.

That sort of thing really makes me laugh. I can honestly say that I am not disenfranchised at all, neither am I lost nor angry. My life is good, I have a great family, a good life, lots of love and laughter and quite frankly the snarking is just the icing on the cake :lol:

[Effie]

Disenfranchised? Hmm my dictionaries tell me it means berövad rättigheter which would equal deprived of power... Why would we be deprived of power? I think we FJ:ers are a powerful bunch of people.

[onlyorganic]

Maybe this one's obvious... but if you are literally picking through the trash to find things to decorate your home with, maybe you should rethink having a boatload of kids?

ETA: I don't mean this just about this one woman. I don't know her life situation but every fundie blog seems to be how they can live on so little. *Applause!* Hubs works 12 hour days while you stay at home and economically make vast quantities of muffins. I think it's often a disgrace when people don't have two dimes to rub together yet they can pop out child after child. "Life in a Shoe" for one. Your kids sleep on shelves! Nine in one room. I can see if a sudden life change makes for penny-pinching but so many fundies make it a game how little they can spend while still loadin' up the quiver.

[Effie]

Mm gotcha. I don't know if this certain situation is self-caused. Many people in U.S. have to struggle against poverty. :(

[Sola]

I agree with the curtains. A pale green colour maybe? :) Some light colour to lighten up the room.

Something to put on the walls would be nice. Maybe this Recycled Book Page Sunburst Mirror: creativejewishmom.com/2010/05/make-a-recycled-book-page-sunburst-mirror.html or this Recycled Toilet Paper Roll Wreath: creativejewishmom.com/2010/06/recycled-toilet-paper-roll-wall-decor.html

She's got some really good ideas. Things like that cost next to nothing and look really good.

It's easy to make old furniture look better too. My kitchen table and chairs are looking really tatty; the varnish has worn off the table and it is scratched and the chair seat upholstery is falling apart. But the table and chairs are oak and are really solid. I'm in the process of making some seat coverings to reupholster them. All I am using is 4 fat quarters of quilting fabric. Each one cost around £1. I'm going to be sanding the table top down and then waxing it. By the time I've done it will be as good as new and it will have cost me less than £5. Far better than shelling out £lots for a new set. I'll probably not get one as solid as the one I have for the money I'd be able to spend anyway.

When my daughter was a baby I restored my grandmother's bedroom furniture to put in my daughter's bedroom. My gran died about 3 years before my daughter was born so sadly never saw her - she would have loved her to bits - I inherited her bedroom furniture which comprised of oak dressing table, wardrobe and large chest of drawers. My granddad bought them when he married my grandmother in 1945 and she had them up to her death. They were really looking their age, lots of scratches on them. But they were, and still are, as solid as they day they were bought. I spent 6 months hand sanding (I didn't have a power sander) them all down, removing the handles and cleaning those up, then I waxed the lot. They look absolutely beautiful now and stand proud in my daughter's room. I would never, ever be able to buy a bedroom set as good quality and sturdy as those now. Plus I also know that my gran would have been thrilled that my daughter has them.

[NurseNell]

(See YoungHouseLove.com, my favorite decorating site). BTW, Doodle, that's one you should check out. They have great style and some wonderful, cheap ideas. I'm currently collecting frames to spray paint white for a wall o' photos. They know how to make cheap junk look designer for the cost of a can of spray paint.

What a great site! They are so creative. I just cannot come up with ideas on my own but I copy well. I bookmarked the site.

[emmiedahl]

I guess it is not that she lives in a shabby house (nothin' wrong with that) but that she is so proud of having books in a suitcase and of course the brilliant idea to cover an old table with an old tablecloth. That is where the lols are for me.

My house is not terribly nice right now, but it is cozy and has a lot more flair than that. I have had to get very creative with storage, otherwise it would look like The Other Emily's apartment.

[SheWoreLemon]

If you read her next post, it says that they just moved a family of six cross-country on a train with only 24 suitcases. So she's starting over with decorating from scratch.

[Burris]

I know April has just moved, bringing very little with her. The last thing she wants after such a long move, however, is to endure overlong within a cheerless house.

Most of our own stuff is either inexpensive or free. We have no problem whatsoever with pulling something out of the garbage, if we see merit in the item, and fixing it up for our use. (The little flat-panel TV in our bedroom was acquired in that manner. The minor electrical difficulty was easy to fix and we use it 'til this very day.)

It has taken me a lot of trial and error - a lot; our space looked terrible a few years ago, as I was first learning – before our place began to look as homey and peaceful as I wanted. During that time, I watched a lot of house porn to see what others had done in situations like mine. I also learned a lot about organization from the year we lived in a single room.

SIMPLE BUT NOT AUSTERE

Clean, simply decorated spaces can be charming and easy to use; but while simplicity is good, austerity is not. The home is supposed to be enjoyable.

AS USEFUL AS POSSIBLE

Utility is an important factor in making any decorating decision:

* "What does this item do?" (Even if its only function is to sit there and look good)

* "Does this item perform its function well?"

And the smaller a space, the more immediately useful (and preferably multi-functional) each and every item must be.

Having a couple of suitcases on the floor as "bookshelves" is inefficient. The books are harder to see and reach than in a standard shelf, and the containers look sloppy.

ORGANIZE TO MAXIMIZE USEFULNESS AND BEAUTY

If one part of a corner sofa is all you can afford as furniture, then consider flanking each side of the wedge with an end-table or a plant or a toy-box or some combination thereof. That gives the piece a more balanced look than is the case with leaving the unfinished sides exposed.

You can get free materials...

...through freecycle

...through local classifieds sites such as Kijiji in Canada and the US and Plumtree (?) in Australia

...by keeping an eye open for things sitting beside the large garbage bins behind apartment complexes (just be sure to avoid mattresses, couches, chairs, and anything else with upholstery that might contain bugs)

...ask a local non-profit for help, if you're truly in need

There are other ways as well. I hope April gets a chance to do these things rather than settling for her current situation.

ETA: I found her response to our snarking admirable. It's entirely too rare for someone to answer us with humility and grace. 90% of the people we snark on could learn by her example.

[blisterine]

years ago, my house burned down. what the fire didn't get, the water did. we decided that instead of uding the money for our possessions to buy more stuff, we'd pay off the house. it was a great decision, it just meant we had to get creative about furnishing the home.

our insurance paid for us to stay in a posh furnished apartment. it catered to short-term residents, like people staying a few months in a new town to do do a specific job and i found a lot of wonderful things to furnish my home with. i even made a water-proof sign for the dumpster, asking that if the item was still usable to please leave it next to the bin.

we still have a lot of the things i collected from the dumpsters and various second hand shops, because they were well-made and much better quality than what i could have afforded if i bought it new. i bought cheap glossy white spray paint by the case (easier to sand down imperfections and spray paint rather than do a complete redo- yeah, i'm lazy!) and my home ended up being comfortable and serviceable- as well as so shabby chic it would have made rachel ashwell (shabby chic maven!) cry!

my project right now is finding enough vintage chenille to cover a chair. i saw a $3k chair i covet with all my heart and i can fix up a chair i got for free off the curb for next to nothing. amazingly, it's hard to find vintage chenille- it's either too worn or costs an arm and a leg!

[NurseNell]

amazingly, it's hard to find vintage chenille- it's either too worn or costs an arm and a leg!

I'm looking for a vintage chenille bedspread for my bed, I figure sooner or later I'll find one.

When you had your house fire did you lose your photos and photo albums? That to me would be the biggest loss. Other stuff can be replaced but photos are really hard to replace. Maybe not so much today if they're digital and you've uploaded them to an internet site but even so, it would be hard. I used to keep my negatives in a safety deposit box at the bank. Maybe I should keep photo CDs there.

Glad none of you died in the fire. I don't know why but I have an almost abnormal fear of house fires.

[pfamilygal]

I don't think I have any pics of my freebies!

A few years ago some renters left a house around the corner. They left in a hurry, not sure if they were evicted to ran away from their landlord or what. Anyway, they left all of their earthly belongings on the front lawn and hauled ass down the street in a UHaul. I saw them leaving as I was pulling in from work and saw this awesome Step 2 playhouse. I don't have a truck or anything, so I committed the most awesomely frugal/embarrassing thing ever.

I pushed it home. My home is on a different street. I pushed it in the middle of the road, all the way to my house, in broad daylight, with the neighbors watching.

My kids still play with it.

I was out for a run the other day and found a folding room divider screen thingie. I was afraid it would be gone when I came back with the car. So I hauled it home six blocks on my back. Spray painted it, covered the panels in cute cloth and hinged it to my wall. Totally awesome.

My neighbors already think I'm nuts.

And that house was kind of yuck!