Friday, May 11, 2012

Thrift Decor: Living Room 30 Minute Thrifty Before and After


You might recall that I made a work section in my living room from my new apartment tour. That wasn't  working out. I didn't use the table as intended for long and it made a giant mess, like so...


Woah, look at that shameful mess! The work space in the living room was such a bad idea. I ended up painting, tagging merchandise, and organizing supplies in the space. Who could entertain in such squalor? No one, that's who! I was going to have pals over and knew I had to get to work, so I set my timer for 30 minutes and hit it!


Artwork: $0.00, all on-hand, made for myself, or trades

"New" Area Rug: $3.00, flea market

Bar Stools: $8.00 pair, flea market  

Second Couch: Free! Curbside Find! (covered with quilt)

Having a Sexy Living Room to Entertain Friends: Priceless! 


I love being thrifty and using what I have on-hand instead of running to a store to make impact in a room. This wall of art showcases my Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 record collection...


And another has classic Bob Kane Batman illustrations from a free calendar I received years ago, glued to black dollar store foam core and thumbtacked to the wall. The quilt on my "new" free couch (I recall it from Target, I was tempted to purchase it about 3 years ago actually! Thrift Karma, indeed!) was a gift from my pal Fenn.

I like it when a room comes together organically and cheaply! How do you use thrifted finds in your home?
Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

25 comments:

  1. It looks AWESOME!!! Enjoy your new place! :)

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  2. Lookin' good in there, lady! Love how you've decorated! :)

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    1. Thanks Beth. I shall only improve it from here. Need to make curtains for the numerous windows next!

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  3. You had me at Jackson 5, Vanessa. You have inspired me!

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    1. Aw, thank you. I am a HUUUUUUGE Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 fan, know all the songs by heart. :)

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  4. Great job!! I love the organized wall of comic art and albums...I love displaying a collection together...it makes such a great impact. I have thrifted "treasures" all over my house and it's so much fun to swap out items when you get tired of them. Just this past week I have found two vintage paper cutters (I have a thing for office supplies) that I have incorporated in my DR and LR.....who would expect to see an old rusty paper cutter propping up a table lamp, or one sitting as a focal piece on my DR table? I love having elements of things unexpected lurking around for people to "discover" when they visit. I have two friends who visit often and when they do I can see their eyes circling my rooms for things that might be "new" since their last stop.

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    1. Indeed, a thrifter's home is definitely quirkier. People love to explore all of my curiosities! I love our Southern Crossing booths because like you said, when we get tired of something we can just stick it in the shop and sell it, then find a replacement curio at the thrifts ;)

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  5. What a fabulous room! (Did you actually move your work space to another area or just clean up?!?)

    Most everything at our place is thrifted or a curb-side find. It's how we roll :) Even after all these years!

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  6. Nice work! I hear you on the entertaining/work space separation. Its a must. Good call.

    Let me know when you are ready to part with your venus fly trap painting. ;)

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    1. Nevar, haha ;) A friend painted it for me. It's Audrey II from my favorite musical, Little Shop of Horrors.

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    2. I figured as much. You can almost hear the "Feed Me Seymore" . :)

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  7. Looks fantastic! I drool every time I see that Audrey II artwork, it is SO perfect. I found out quickly not to try & work in my living room, it is amazing how much mess comes from packaging stuff for shipping.

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    1. I think it's impossible NOT to love Jim's art ;)

      And yes, now my office is a huge disaster. I can't even walk in here...

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  8. Serious Window Envy! But seriously, how did you get all those pictures hung (in rows!!) in under 30 minutes. That is the most amazing.

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    1. I have a lifetime of experience hanging and rehanging stuff, I always switch things ;) That and everything photographed is hung with thumbtacks...

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  9. That couch is awesome but even more so is that yellow cart! What's the story behind that?

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    1. I'd always wanted a yellow cart like that, even trying to buy a display one off the local anthropologie. I finally found it for $5.00 at one of my favorite flea markets.

      Just goes to show ya, keep hunting, the find will come to you eventually. :) Here's the haul post where If first found it: http://www.thriftcore.com/2011/10/thrift-haul-busy-birthday-weekend.html

      I had almost nowhere to squeeze it in my tiny apartment but it found use as a printer stand.

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  10. love the white puss in my old bed

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  11. I love it, it looks great! I do all my crafts and work at my kitchen table, so I totally feel you with getting the work everywhere.

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