{31 Days to an Eclectic Home} Day 10 – Cheapies

Today is Day 10 of a 31 day series on creating and cultivating an eclectic home.  For some crazy reason, I have accepted The Nester’s challenge to write on the same theme every day for the month of October.  This may end up killing me.  Or you.  But, I appreciate you reading and welcome your comments.

Yesterday, we talked about free (or almost free) ways to obtain eclectic decor.  Today, we’re going to move from free to cheap.

Cheap Ways to Obtain an Eclectic Decor

1) Junk stores – Have you ever been to a junk store? It’s sort of a mix between a thrift store and an antique store.  Most of the stuff is just what you’d think it is – junk.  But, occasionally, you can find a diamond in the rough.  I wouldn’t expect to find a great piece of antique furniture here, but perhaps you’ll run into something great that you can repurpose.  If you like the thought of a treasure hunt, then try to find a junk store or two in your area.

2) Habitat ReStore – Our local Habitat for Humanity is one of my favorite places to visit for new/old goodies.  Our store is an old warehouse filled to the brim with old doors, windows, light fixtures, reclaimed wood flooring…you name it, it’s here.  Sometimes I find great treasures, and other times I walk away empty handed.  During my last visit there, my friend JJ pointed out this beauty of a chandelier and came up with a great way to repurpose it.  You’ll have to check back later to see what I did with it (and she is an evil genius!).

Here’s a list of all of the ReStores around the country.  I hope there’s one close to you!

3) Garage Sales and Moving Sales – Obviously, garage sales and moving sales are a great place to score some cheap decor.  Definitely don’t discount the furniture you find as old junk (although some of it is).  The previous owner may simply be swapping out her decor for an updated style, or the owners may be moving across the country and don’t want to move many of their belongings.

4) Estate Sales – I have never been to an estate sale, but I am simply chomping at the bit to go to one. A true estate sale is one in which the entire contents of someone’s home are put up for sale, usually as a result of a death in the family.  I was never that interested until I started watching Cash & Cari on HGTV, because it seemed a bit creepy to me.  But now, I’ve got to go to one!  A friend of mine told me she got a 1950s record player cabinet in beautiful condition for $15 a few weeks ago at an estate sale.

5) Thrift Stores – The most obvious of all cheap places to find great eclectic furniture and decor is at a thrift store.  Make sure the piece is in good condition, and remember that you can easily change the color or style of a piece through paint, hardware, and moulding.  Some of my favorite pieces in my home were once thrift store cast-offs.

What are some good ways you’ve found cheap decor for your home? And what have you found?