How do you shop for your home?

[The Nester]

Not buying a house but the stuff to put inside of it. Do you plan what you need and then go looking for that exact thing or just go out and shop and pick out whatever moves you that you can afford? I be someplace in between. How do you shop?

[aimee]

I look for stuff for my house everywhere I go. Rules I make for myself are, things have to be on sale or clearance. I don't always buy stuff I love. Some of my favorite things started out ugly leftovers in the 90% off bin. I ask myself "would that work if it were a different color or finish?" I love Design Master spray paint. It is so versatile, you can paint just about anything (even fabric) with it and it comes out great.

When it comes to fabric I watch for table clothes, Matelassé coverlets, clearance curtains and 50% off sales.

CraigsList is fun to watch for furniture.

[Katherine]

When I am decorating my home, I take my time to find just the right item. Sometimes, I will have a blank wall for a very long time, because I know that eventually I am going to come across the ideal decoration for it...One example is my *faux mantle* above our bar cut-out. This wall was blank for about four years, LOL, until I came across the shelf in a shop. (pic is third down: http://tiny.cc/VpJ6g )
:)

[Rhoda]

Oh, I love these kinds of discussions!! If anyone reads my blog, you'll see that I'm a total bargain freak & usually will only buy something if it's marked down. And being a yardsale queen too, I'm so used to buying at yardsales that it is SO (impossible) for me to ever pay full price, even sales at regular stores can be too much.

Darla, I'm laughing at your apothecary pleas...I was in a store last week in FL that had TONS of BIG and SMALL ones, they weren't super cheap, but decent prices. I'm posting about that tomorrow on my blog, a store in Plant City, FL. Looks like you are gonna get a bunch of those now.

I love them too, but just don't have room in my house for much more. I find so many great things out thrifting that if I wait long enough, it usually comes across my path, whatever I am looking for. I have one huge cloche that I found at TJ Maxx a couple years ago. It had a tiny chip on the rim & I got it for $7...that's my kind of bargain.

I've picked up many fabric remnants at yardsales too & will find something to do with them. I've bought silk, animal print & other designer fabrics for next to nothing. Usually about $1 a yard. Fun post!

[Darla]

Well, Rhoda, then you will be happy to know that I received 4 apothecary jars from Marie!!! I just got them today!!!!!

AND at my church garage sale I found a small one for a DIME. :D

[Marie]

I found one today at Ross that was BROKEN and they still wanted $2.49 for it. Like, NO. Glad your jars arrived today!

Nicki- I looked for the ones you mentioned at Big Lots today but there sure weren't as cheap as you found them. LUCKY!

[Mrs. B]

I went to Big Lots this weekend and actually found a set! I was so amazed because our Big Lots usually has nothing good. They were $20 for a set of 3. Weren't Nicki's only $12? Anyhoo, I thought $20 was still pretty good. Now I have a cloche and apothecary jars. What more could I possibly want? Oh I know, I want to find some fabulous silk fabric to make mistreatments from!

[Marie]

I saw that set too! I was THISCLOSE to buying them but I resisted. :o)

[Alicia]

You're my kind of people! I never, ever buy full price what I can get thrifty. I have a favorite thrift store, the SPCA thrift store, actually (I can tell you because I know very few of ya will be in Anchorage stealing my bargains).
I keep a notebook full of my favorite pictures from magazines, and it's really helped me get a good idea of what I want my home to look like. That way I have a little more direction when I get to the thrift store, instead of grabbing every miscellaneous thing that looks cool.

[Darla]

You never know...I'm a pretty desperate for a thrift find Iowan. I "might" hop a plane and beatchya to your favorite SPCA thrift store. ;0)

[Alicia]

Girl, if you hop a plane to AK, I will drag you to my favorite stores! C'mon!

[MyMessyNest]

I usually buy something I love and hope it works...I usually just stick it somewhere even if it doesn't "work" I like that eclectic homey look so It usually works out fine.