Custom Search

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

CHEAP Decor from Cote de Texas

Now that I'm trying to improve my living space, I've discovered some of the cheap chic blogs. Of course, what these bloggers present as cheap and what I think of as cheap are often different. There are so many opportunities for inspiration--not to mention procrastination.

The other day, singlemomrichmom--a blogger whose posts I look forward to--was ruminating on the very subject of decor, wondering if she'd have to buy a bunch of junk--I mean, stuff--and hire someone to arrange it artfully. I can relate. I have lots of stuff, but I am a poor arranger.

Then I noticed a post from the uber-blog cotedetexas, a proponent of white slipcovers, European furniture, and seagrass rugs. Most of her posts feature places waaaaaaaayyyyyy beyond my ken. Recently, though, she discussed her daughter's college apartment. This apartment features a white slipcovered sofa from Ikea (the famous Ektorp) with the matching ottoman used as a coffee table. There is a sunburst mirror (available at many price points) over the sofa--and that's about it.

It's a mighty good looking space in and of itself. And, unlike many such spaces, it's frugality itself!

5 comments:

Duchesse said...

We needed a coffee table, first ever, for this new condo.

Le Duc incredibly picky- took 5 yrs to buy a sofa. Kept hurling more money at the project but still, nothing. Last week, walked by one of those places catering to loft- dwelling 30 yr olds. There was $225 table, the simplest glass rectangle on chrome legs, so perfect- and he likes it!

Moral is: look at all price points, including consignment shops which often have treasures placed by people who have to move.

You have to spend sometimes, as the designers always say, in places where it's worth it. Cheap wallpaper, for example, is sad, as is a sofa bed no guest wants to sleep on.

Frugal Scholar said...

@Duchesse--Coffee tables need not be expensive. Sofas probably do need to be at a certain level. So hard to tell about quality...

Anonymous said...

hi!! just saw this!
thanks for the shout out.

Joni

Frugal Scholar said...

@JW--I can't believe such a celebrity visited! Love your blog.

Charlotte Des Fleurs said...

The most important consideration for any piece of furniture you sit or lie on is comfort. For chairs and couches, that is directly related to bench height and seat depth. Frankly, what you pay for the piece doesn't have much to do with comfort except in the fabric. Fabric should be natural (Cotton, wool or linen) or a blend that has a significant amount of natural fabric on the outside of the yarn. You can always have saggy cushions re-stuffed. For a more in-depth discussion of how to make seating comfortable, please see my Facebook Page: Champagne Taste (on a beer bottle budget).