Look for good deals! For bookcases (which I, personally, recommend!), a storage cabinet for the dining room, sofas for the lounge, and coffee tables, I think hunting for a good deal at thrift shops or in newspapers is the best way to go. If you have access to a 'trade and exchange' type of newspaper - those are great to check regularly! Set your budget and hunt until you find what you want at the price you want. I think it's worth having no coffee table e.g., till you find the right one!
Re-decorate old furniture Another way to go is to re-decorate your old dining room furniture. You can buy fresh cotton prints and measure furniture to make simple slip on, or tie on, covers.
Make your own tablecloths Very easy. Use any cheap cotton fabric you find attractive and you think will go with the surroundings in your dining room., and buy a piece to the measurements of your table (with 6-12 inch extra all around). Then you simply sew a hem all around the outside edge, and you have a frugal, personalised tablecloth!
Make your own place mats and napkins Simply measure to the size you want, and hem. For place mates it pays to sew in iron on stiffening, into the middle of it. Sew like a simple bag, one end open, and pull through the right way. Sew open end, tucked in as you sew. Then a nice overstitch around all the sides so that it'll sit nicely. Viola! Personalised and frugal place mats and napkins.
De-cluttering! One of the best ways to simplify your dining room and your lounge is to de-clutter! Do you have excess furniture you don't really need? Excess magazines? Go through your dining room and lounge areas and thoroughly check them out. What can you throw out? What can you give away? And what do you really need? Then proceed to determinedly throw out and give away what you have decided upon!
What items can do more than one job? Do you have a storage unit in your dining room? If you look for a good deal and get some sort of storage unit, you can put in this all your dinnerware, napkins, place mats, and recipe books. You can even store in these whatever you are currently studying (if you like researching, like me!), and it can be nicely hidden away!
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