I have a friend who is relocating for her new job and doesn't want to bring anything with her - or even buy new furniture, as she doesn't know how long she will be there. If I were her, I would use it as a chance to do some cheap experimental decorating.
Make a little side table out of a large roll of newspapers tied, with a glass plate on top. Or a pile of old hardback books. Make bottle lamps with converters from the hardware store, wine bottles and thrift shop shades. Use old wood crates for side tables. Make brick and board bookcases. Put your mattress on the floor. Put transparent contact paper on the windows for privacy.
Look around for neat found objects. (I had a big piece of wood I dragged in from a camping trip in the big living room of my old NYC apt. Or collect neat river stones or shells). Make a footstool from a foam cooler covered with a remnant. Make wastepaper baskets from recycled ice cream cardboard containers wangled from your local ice cream place. Recycle any and all containers you can. Be creative!
I lived in a 3rd world country years ago, and visited homes from a hut to a very nice house. The most important thing I took away was whether or not people took care of what they had. Keep everything clean and polished as possible, add a nice crisp piece of linen here and there and the humblest home can be peaceful and pleasant. Be where you are at in life and it will be just fine.
My first solo appartment was decorated this way: - Made some bean bags type seating just by sewing an old sheet and used shredded paper from the office as filling. - Used a stack of books as a little side table to put my cup of tea next to my seating bags. - Used emptied tomato cans for a veggies garden to add ambience and greenery. Served double purpose as you can eat the greens you grow. - Used some empty plastic buckets from a nextdoor restaurant and an old door as a table. - Glass bottles, be it wine or sodas, made great vases - Got a nice chair from the street on garbage-removal day
*** The key is to use items that you can put in the recycle bin or give to charity organisation when you move.
I didn't know how long I would stay in this city. Was afraid of having a lot of furniture to relocate. I will use the same ideas if I ever need to move to another city for work purposes.
Instead of using newspaper for a side table, go to a place that makes draperies or a fabric store. Ask for the tubes that draperies come on and you can cut them down to size. You could cover them with remnant fabric or maybe even paint. Tie together with cording at the top and the bottom. You might want to use some silicone caulk to keep them together but use it only at the edges where each cylinder meets.
When I was newly married and just out of college, I had no money for furniture. I used what I had. We had a coffee table made from two milk crates with a wide leftover board on top. I had candles and such on top of that so you couldn't really see the milk crates unless you were looking underneath. We had the classic brick and board bookshelves lining the walls and a little loveseat that we had picked up on trash day and covered with a blanket. My TV was on an old trunk that I had bought at a garage sail for about $10. We had art posters on the wall and plants everywhere.
One time, I had an acquaintance come over and she exclaimed "Your place is so nice!" Well, it was! It was clean, comfortable and welcoming, all without spending much money. I still try to "make do" whenever possible. Currently an old desk is doing double duty as a potting bench on my patio and I have an old sewing stand (cast iron legs) that is an aquarium stand.
If you want to find something a little more substantial, try Craig's List. I have found useful, beautiful and inexpensive household items and furniture on Craig's List. Here is my living room with furnishings mainly obtained from Craig's List and Ebay.
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I have a friend who is relocating for her new job and doesn't want to bring anything with her - or even buy new furniture, as she doesn't know how long she will be there. If I were her, I would use it as a chance to do some cheap experimental decorating.
