If you're decorating on a budget, check out your nearest Habitat For Humanity Restore Store -- the larger the better -- for furniture bargains and materials to redo stuff. Larger Goodwill stores and charity thrift stores and "resale" stores will also have used furniture and furnishings at more affordable prices than "antique" stores.

Houzz readers are usually willing to help. If you cannot find the info you want here, there are other sites to check, too:

ask Reddit -- check out the many categories of Reddit, including DIY categories.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/

There are other web sites: Hometalk (very DYI on a budget)

http://www.hometalk.com/

and Pinterest, just to name a few, but do come back to Houzz and let us know how you fare.

"I only log into Design Dilemma. Is this not a Design Dilemma post? How did I find it then?"-they merged Houzz side and GardenWeb side, and added tags that one can use I suppose when logging in from the Houzz side. If the OP chose to tag it with several tags, say both "Design Dilemma" and "Home decorating"-the topic will become visible on both forums.

I think pretty much everyone here enjoys a good bargain, and there are some very good DIY'ers here. I've learned a lot about things like paint, furniture, and architecture on this forum.

I also own a smaller, modest home (about 1200 square feet), so I have my own challenges there.

But for anyone posting, it is super helpful to post photos, and give an idea of context.

Louise - as long as remember that inexpensive art does not preclude original art.

mryk - after my own heart, i love hunting and finding things for less than everyone else has or being able to do it myself. and i love sharing it.

although we all get to share or pick up ideas sometimes, i too would love a section of just that. so we can go in and share an idea, or ask others like us,without getting yelled at or have a whole conversation in group about how to make certain lamps etc.

It would be fun to share a deal or coupon or whatever, too.

Frugality doesn't preclude style, and vice versa.

I absolutely admire (a HUGE amount) those who post a dilemma, or clearly want support and validation, and are insulted. There is a way to say things and a way to say things, imho

Those of us who choose to spend our money on other things aren't lesser people nor should we be made to feel inferior.

By the way, thank you to all who commented on this thread.

And thank you to those who READ the thread, too ;)

Interesting thread... I know what youre getting at... something with more emphasis on DIY, frugality, and creative repurposing. The "small house" forum tends to be by and for people with a more modest budget but its not very heavily used. Maybe its topic could be expanded to include everyone/anyone w/ more frugal outlook, not necessarily those with a small size house. Besides "small" is pretty much a relative term. I have to laugh sometimes because what some people consider "small" is downright palatial to some of us

i am with you penny. i have started to wish that when someone has a blk sectional, etc. that it is a sleek italian job, just to spite sophie and others like her when they say mean things without even seeing it.

we could also go in and show things we find at better prices, like an arco lamp for under $150.

if folks ever bought sleek italian sectionals, they wouldnt be coming in with problems.

while people seem to frequently accidentally buy awful stuff (we went in for a small white couch, but my husband saw this huge black one and the matching love seat, 2 chairs, and ottoman was free!!!!!!) the lovely stuff seems to be accumulated a tad more mindfully.

adding, i think its rather useful to have strangers tell you something is ugly. it opens the mind to the possibility that your friends think its off, too, but are too nice to say so.

my advice is always take a picture, LOOK AT THE PICTURE, before you post it. thats all we know about you is whats in the picture. it shows the situation more clearly than standing in the room does.

i think half of the dilemmas would be self-solved if folks just LOOKED AT THEIR PICTURE before they posted it.

I know this thread is going off on a different direction, but just to be clear, saying "please help me decorate around this sofa" is NOT the same as "what do you think of this sofa".

And, back to the original topic, perhaps that sofa is all they have for the time being. Perhaps their spouse loves that sofa. Heck, perhaps THEY love that sofa....whatever the reason, if it bothers you (using the general "you" here...nobody in particular) somehow, just move on to another topic and keep your mouth shut and let those of us who wish to help these people creatively make a home they can love, do so. Because THEY should love it.

Possibly, everyone would be a little bit happier. :-/

Giggle, I don't care if my friends think it's off. As long as I don't.

Patricia, even if all you can afford is $5 second-hand poster art from garage sales, you can still look for the image you love. I have Michelangelo's Adam (okay, just the head) sharing wall space with Seurat's "A Sunday on the Island of Grande Jatte" in my passage. I walk past these works of genius every day and never stop looking and feeling full of wonder. Er, yes. Cheap prints, one framed, one just mounted. I asked, but the Vatican wouldn't let me chip Adam's head out of the ceiling.

What a lovely discussion this is. The first good thing to happen from the strange, messy meld of Houzz and Gardenweb posts when I log in as a Houzz member and click on Unanswered Questions. Yes, that is where I found this. In fact, I find it so hard to pick up new genuine design questions from Houzz that I may just defect to Gardenweb (if I can, I haven't tried yet).

As for unaffordable suggestions, I'm sure I've been guilty when just looking for pics that illustrate the kind of thing I'm suggesting. But I did run to a screeching halt the other day when I was going to suggest a beautiful rug I found searching google images, clicked on it, and found it cost $12 000. The OP sure didn't look poor, but I figured she didn't have that lying around in change.

I love, I truly love, makeovers that are done on a budget and making use of a lot of what is there already. They can be so incredibly creative. Anyone can redo a room by emptying it, repainting it, and filling it with gorgeous furnishings. So, Pennydesign, I'm very in favour of your idea.

Mind you, I do remember in the past watching a British furniture makeover series where they took something shabby and ordinary and proudly turned it into something truly hideous. I swear I remember someone gluing pink feathers and glitter on to a kitchen table. Which, of course, is what we'd all like to avoid.

Penny, I absolutely agree about the differences you mention. People don't ask for "decorate around" when there is an option to change the item in question.

" think its rather useful to have strangers tell you something is ugly"-ummm..I'm really not sure

it usually doesn't work well that way. Nor with decor, neither with almost anything in life.

leaving the whole issue of what's ugly and what's not aside-I'm rather with posters who pointed it out there's a way to say things and a way to say things

otherwise it's either useless or counterproductive. Why to give something in a manner that will- almost in a guaranteed way- prevent the other to take it from you?

And that something can be a thing, an advice, a purse with money..almost anything.

One needs to be willing to take. But another, he needs to be willing to give in a way that encourages the other to take rather than throw it back in his face

they both need some sort of connection for that. a positive one. in case with decor, doesn't have to take hours and days and years to establish it. Minutes are usually enough.

I agree about art..when they say "to find what you love" they literally mean "to find what you love". no correlation with price. I have postcards displayed too..that's not the point..

and that's why I don't have a rug yet..I can't commit to what I don't love madly , rug's too big a surface..and whatever I think I can commit-I don't have that kind of money.

so I don't have a rug, no bid deal. I'd rather live without something that live with something that goes. Now something that you really need like a teapot or whatever you really need for the everyday that's different. Sometimes you just moved and you're tired as hell and a teapot is something you're rather use kinda now this moment so you're not looking to fall in love with that teapot, you just buy whatever 20 dollars can buy you in the home store closest to you.

then you'll have years though to get a pefect teapot if you're lucky enough, or interested enough, to afford to dream about different teapot lol

not everybody's lucky to be in a mood to think about decor. and not everybody is plainly interested

we suppose that's whoever found his way here is interested

yet sometimes I learn with surprize he doesn't have to be. maybe he/she just thinks homes should be this and that, and wants some basic guidance. It's very hard for me to understand but it might be because I'm not industrious enough. Say I'm not interested in computers so never I'll go and ask about them. But who said it's right?

(I swear to you I have no idea how it got this long. Actually I've no idea why I started writing at all, it's like enough of me in this thread. I guess it's a very interesesting thread, and I love reading all the responses..thank you pennydesign for opening it too, I like discussions when one learns more about himself and others and have enlightments..and I definitely had one, right now))

Oh, and Havingfun -- I do agree with you that it is well worth looking for original art that fits a meagre budget. I've seen works by students and unknown artists that is absolutely wonderul, and not expensive. And there is something magical in knowing that this is it, this is the work direct from the artist's hand. Even so, with the cost of paint, canvas, and even pastels and paper, one can't expect it to go for near nothing. Except, maybe, at a garage sale?

"I asked, but the Vatican wouldn't let me chip Adam's head out of the ceiling."-ahaaa!!

"What a lovely discussion this is. ". yes. so it is indeed.

There are posts here where someone has the 15 year old gigantic lumpy brown sofa and gets a lot of great advice on how to make the room look better with it.

And some where the poster won't take any advice no matter what it is or who is giving it, then chucks all the stuff she originally said she "had to keep" for an entirely different idea that looks no better. When if they had just edited what they "had to keep" down to what a pro said, it would have solved the problem and looked great. Those people frustrate me way more than anything.

Some of my favorite posters are the ones considered a little harsh. I also feel these people have improved my "taste." Honest feedback is a good thing. We are asking for reactions, assessments, and ideas, and we have to accept that what comes back might be a little out of our comfort zone.

Ninigret is 100% correct too. I found I didn't see my room at all until I saw it through a picture. And now I'm like, "Damn. I need to paint yesterday and why the heck did I put up 89 tiny photos of my baby? My giant brown casegoods and huge black tv are sucking the life out of here. Aunt Marge's giant recliner is tripping everybody. I need more lights! Purple next to brown looks like poop! Gosh. It sure would be nice to have a cream colored English arm sofa with real Aubusson pillows.... Why are my lamps so short? This rug is too small for this space! And yes, my table from Home Goods looks like it came from...Home Goods." It's all kind of true. I'm here to learn.

April, we're a pair of blabbermouths.

Rina, I agree, I have a garage sale art for 10 dollars..the sellers didn't feel connection with it anymore, or maybe reminded them of something that didn't want anymore-well I loved it. It's a drawing of a palm tree..watercolor and ink if I'm to guess..

I also have several very cheap things from eBay(many people sell their work on eBay and Etsy) and second hand shops and young artists from the street fairs ..you do feel different connection to the art because you have a story..maybe , partially, an imaginary one..probably imaginary one..but everything is different when it has a story.

also sometimes it's more affordable because of where you've purchased it.

That clown we have from Nicaragua-I'm sure we would never buy it, would never be able to afford it wasn't it done by Nicaraguan artist. (a listed one and all..and yes it was a gallery, supposedly expensive upscale one) It's just cheaper in Nicaragua..I's the cheapest country I've even been to, by now.

Or the portrait I won on EBTH..it was just the beginning of EBTH..not too many people yet...I fell in love since it reminded me of somebody..I won it..

I had no idea the artist is famous..and he was..

now would be harder since EBTH got very popular and it gets much more to win things there. Lts of dedication lol.

but then I got lucky. And I madly love that portrait.

Did anybody mention that nobody is obligated in any way to take any suggestions seriously? Sorry, but I had to skip down & comment before reading all the replies, since my time is limited right now.

I too notice the occasional marginally, or completely irrelevant, replies/suggestions to some people's queries, but guess what? There will always be people who are not really paying attention &/or have a personal ax to grind - in real life as well as online. Somebody on another thread took umbrage @ my suggesting such comments might be considered tone deaf, but there it is.

These are public forums & such things are to be expected. Nobody can please everybody, nor should they.

I say take what works for you & overlook that which does not. Nobody here will see your eyes rolling on your side of the screen.

P.S. I loved those budget decorating shows on HGTV - esp. the one where they shopped the homeowner's home for decor, rather than buying more stuff. They were so creative!

"Some of my favorite posters are the ones considered a little harsh."-that also. Depends of course. But opinions make for a great discussions sometimes. When you feel the opinion is given by somebody who has a lot to contribute. takes some reading...getting accustomed to..learning who the posters are

probably harder for somebody new who just came and asked something, just jumped in

after you spend time here for a while-I believe it's easier. Maybe precisely because of that connection. It's kinda more established after one spends more time somewhere, gets to know who is who more.

Probably like when the water is very cold when you first enter, and you just shiver

then you get used to a bit more and you enjoy swimming. you start appreciating the coolness even..:)

Rina s right..I'm such a blubbermouth

Nobody here is saying anything that's not valid. I would like to point out that I don't have a dilemma.

My problem is that I was shot down by admin(?) and told to go elsewhere when I suggested a more budget-friendly/DIY area of Houzz. I won't bother re-iterating the point of my post here. But I will thank (again) those of you who take the time to read.... ;)

I appreciate all of the opinions here.

Carol, I remember your "tone deaf" comment...And I did leave that thread as I don't think either side needed to be rude.....I hope you were able to help the OP...

Penny, thank you for hosting this thread. I certainly wish you had been successful. It is a whole really important area of creating a home you love, and perhaps Houzz/Gardenweb should remember that today's impecunious member might be tomorrow's big spender. You want to try again and quote me, feel free!

Houzz is a bit irritating, with all its enterprise like thing going on..the recent threads about "we look for people who want to make their home more Houzz-y..what makes you special?"

I exersize a lot of reserve as not to answer, personally..:) I understand it's just a business thing, growing and all

but gosh can you phrase it somehow differently?

what will you answer when folks start telling you the truth on what makes them "special"?

what does it even mean

but I guess after ".. and dramatic borscht color to reflect a culture of “everyday nomadism” (no haven't seen it here..some other online resourse..), that's not the worst thing to read..)))

I think your proposal sounds wonderful and truly see no reason you cannot post your questions on the regular decorating side. Make a special note in brackets like [Inexpensive Design Quandaries,] preferably something a bit snappier, but Design on a Dime has been taken and that is stuck in my mind. Ignore the kinds of responses you don't want to encourage.

Don't make too much about the unkind comments, though. It's not a money or snobbery thing. Of course it can be hard to keep that in perspective when money is a big part of your design problem, I understand. But money has nothing to do with the fact that there are thoughtless people out there who don't mind hurting feelings and venting spleen. On the GW Decorating side, those people are extremely rare. I've never been to Design Dilemma.

Me personally, I like people who give thoughtful answers and may be a but sharp tongued in their responses. I was the kid who liked the tough teachers. We have a few of those on the GW Decorating side- they have a lot to teach and share it generously.

So give it a try with a few threads. I am sure everyone who is here on this thread will show up and you'll be off to the races.

gosh this thread has gotten so wide and varied! it is a delight to read! on art, don't forget charity thrift and charity auctions, and saatchiart - world wide art group out of england. I have seen some art, couch size, under $200, that it was killing me not to buy.

I think that houzz in a way has a number of the type of venders we like = the ones from etsy and similar. i just think they need to link it all together so we can find their things easier and also make these venders feel more welcome.

oh yes, if you want, do this right, do it in the houzz usage area, i don't know if they havee one in garden web. then refer it here and i for one will be there to say yes, yes, yes!

Havingfun (and other enthusiastic posters) imagine what we could do in a week if we gave everyone a coupon code/cheaper place to purchase and they donated the difference to the Red Cross?

I also have an idea!

you know how they have a weekly thread in Kitchens (currently beachem's doing it)? so..what if to take Rita's suggestion, call it for example "Inexpensive Design Quandaries-week one"..or "Inexpensive Design Quandaries-calling all the brown recliner owners" (sorry..they have thread in Kitchens" calling all Fantasy Brown owners!"(it's about granite))..or something like that..and it can be done once a week or whenerever one feels like posting or needs to ask..but the name of the thread -that will partially stay the same-itself will give enough clues, and will bring in posters who are interested, from the get go, have things and ideas to share, feel passionate, etc?

PS havingfun Saatchi Art is amazing..I have three artworks from them..I have a wish list of another 300..for the lack of resources, I'm just staring at them..and staring and them..and staring at them..

I'd say I desperately want to buy one since I'm already at a point of constantly checking whether it's still there..but it being another portrait..and me being married to the same husband..I'm not sure how this one'd go..)))

I would have loved that forum, too bad!

yeah penny i am game, we can change beneficiaries every month or week. do not wish to forget my beloved fuzzies!

I don't like telling people to grow a thicker skin, but I'll offer it might help to take some comments with a grain of salt. There can be plenty of expertise behind a comment, but some folks need to work on their delivery.

When I was first on GW I was going through a kitchen facelift. I actually discovered GW after it was underway. I had one of those typical "oh no, what'll I ever do?" moments when the counter templaters arrived and discovered the plywood base was 3/4", not 5/8" as per specs. I took to the Kitchens forum with my problem and one of the "scary" posters told me to fire my contractor. Fire my contractor!!

I thought for sure the world was ending. Instead, I called my GC, told him the problem and he said he would replace the current plywood with one the right size. The result was a week's delay, during which I painted the walls and saved some $$$.

As you read through posts with really bad, serious problems, you will learn what rises to the level of crisis and what doesn't.

I find most regular GW posters to be nice and a veritable treasure trove of information and good ideas. Plus lots of moral support. If they can do it, so can I.

Crafting a clear, concise description of your dilemma/problem/search for ideas, with plenty of uncluttered photos, can go a long way to getting good, on-point replies.

Aprilneverends I think you're onto something there...

then there are several who always follow their own agenda no matter what op asks about or what they show.

and there a couple pros who come in and say something really nasty, to get their jollies. they have learned to say it about valid concerns so most walk saying that they can not fault them because they are so right, they actually applaud them!

actually, i do not even understand that we should grow thicker skins, i have learned to do it, but i still think you should not have too.

We're talking about furniture and paint here. It isn't personal and it shouldn't be taken as such. I hope for honest feedback on my posts and smart solutions that get the result I want, even if I'm not sure how to get there.

I read every post: I understand tiny budgets and DIY. I even understand lumpy brown comfy sofas , I can't abide them but I understand . I skip those, as I can say nothing kind.

But you can't ask a site to cater to every issue. In fact, the best tools to great DIY results may come from studying higher end professional results. Pros know this, and it's why we go to galleries., to fine antique stores, to museums....

We never miss an opportunity to learn, even if we or a client can't afford the coveted thing.

Theres few original ideas! Most are stolen interpretations! That's the truth of design.

Good post, Jan. I have gotten plenty of help with direct questions, and lots of photos. but more than that, I've learned a lot just by paying attention and reading what other people are doing and how they're solving their design issues, often with budget constraints. Most valuable is learning to do my research and asking questions long before plunking down a deposit or getting myself in over my head. Anticipate and document. Make sure you have an escape route.

I've also learned that sometimes it's okay to ask for advice/opinions and then decide to go in a different direction. It's fine. My house, my money. I live here, so it's on me. But I was challenged by some different opinions and helped inform my decisions.

i've seen so many posts hating on 1. open shelves getting dirty (mine don't) 2. corner sinks being horrible ( i love mine, great use of the space) 3. and downdraft vents not working (mine is great) and i still live to houzz another day. people simply cant require validation from strangers on the interweb for their self esteem. just. cant. no happiness in that direction.

pennydesign so lets do this then?

(I agree with Jan about constant learning. it enriches you. it doesn't mean it will result in something visible immediteately or soon or ever. it will though have an effect on you, invisible to others..but you'll know of it. and it will come through, in this way or another.

maybe it won't be just about furniture or paint. maybe it'll take you somewhere else entirely. well so what. I kinda think it's always more than furniture or paint..houses. once they didn't have furniture or paint at all. yet they still were houses. they sheltered people. people..well, sheltered other people. thoughts. dreams. were afraid. were sick. were happy. were inspired. told stories. i don't know..

many times they died or fled or whatever happened to them, and houses continued to stand..and sometimes that's all the clues or knowledge we've got about these distant lives. the houses..

and then we try to imagine the rest

the house itself doesn't cut it for us

we always try to imagine the rest

so i think it's understandable it can feel personal at times. even in the Three Little Pigs it's personal, in a way..and they have a quite a good ending there, even though I kinda feel sorry for the Wolf..:)

great april i am all in, but i missed how it was going to be done? and surely houzz could put one more categorey in the wha?- 50 on garden web?

Ah we'll just have to do it ourselves i guess. to take turns or something. on this forum. Just need to think of a name

(I've no idea how to deal with Houzz..frankly I don't want to. It's some huge corporate thing that gets bigger and bigger day by day..I had my share of forum battles(not here), in the end if the forum's too big you just go away and create a smaller forum lol.

Here I wouldn't even know whom to talk to. And why. And how to ask for it very respectfully since I feel no connection to Houzz at all. It's totally random that I winded up here, and if not for GardenWeb I wouldn't.

But maybe somebody who's been here for longer feels more comfortable about that and maybe it's very easy thing to do, you just need to know whom to ask. Maybe GardenWeb has their own admin too, or moderator or whatever, and he/she can just add sub forum in like 5 min. But somebody needs to know who's that admin. What does Houzz care what happens on this side as long as it gets traffic? Maybe it's purely logistical thing. I just haven't been here long enough to know the right people)

great!

somebody wants to suggest more names? I don't since you do it better:)

(we could even do swaps! the ones who live close to each other. imagine that? I'm very sentimental for example..will bring me more joy if somebody I know has it, than trying to sell it on eBay and stuff. You move-as much as you try not everything fits.Or for whatever reason you like it less..for example have a nice tray that I don't like because it's not "my" color.. but it was a gift so I'm, like what if she comes and looks for it and it's not here? but truth to be told she's in a different state lol.

or I have soo many books. on topic. and some I'll never give away like never ever..but some, I can share and let somebody else enjoy it and read it..

I do have couple friends who are interested maybe not to the extent I am, but they are. but they're far away...)

I'm not getting notifications here, but I'm still here and do thank you for your enthusiasm.

I've been a little preoccupied (as we all have) with the Harvey storm, but I'm still supportive of the thread idea.

Still really wish it was a dedicated section so it doesn't fade away, but I'm really wanting a thread to work.

Wish I had as good of an idea as clairebuoyant1 (what a great name, right?)...

you need probably to adjust smth in setting, in order to get notifications. I do get them in email if I responded to a thread, or something.

so. lets make it work then.

I'll start lol

Lets call it "Decor on a shoestring"..for now..That'd be a first part-and the second will be whatever an OP wants to call it

That's the only rule-keeping the first part of the name the same, so everybody who's interested knows it's something that he/she might find interesting, or wants to read, participate, contribute, whatever

Otherwise lets keep it whoever, whenever..

Now. Give me ten minutes..:)

..done

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4836692/m=23/decor-on-a-shoestring-the-bragging-thread

lets see how it goes. and hey write something too or else I'll feel like an idiot

(not like would be totally new feeling to me lol. but still.)

Thank you April!

thank you..all of you..:)

april, i forgot and put mine in other for houzz. where in garden web did you put yours?

Home Decorating

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/home-decorating-and-design-discussions-dsbr0-bd~t_28578

can you add this "Decor on a Shoestring.." name to it too, so it's easier to find? I always have sales to share for example..:) or just something cool that I happened to see

ok, i just forgot before, i have humongous brain burps!