2008 Woodie Awards
Decorating on a budget
Madi Flournoy
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Features
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As you all know, being in college does not come cheap, so students are sometimes forced into decorating and furnishing these newfound homes on a tight budget.
Fortunately, there are some local businesses that accommodate a nearly-empty wallet.
A few of these places, such as Goodwill, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and The Salvation Army, have an assortment of items that won't burn a hole in the 'ole wallet, but can still liven up an empty space that you can be proud to call home.
Jack Durio, a senior nursing major, moved into his first house this year.
"I shopped at thrift stores, Goodwill and The Salvation Army especially for furniture," Durio says.
But wait, what about Wal-Mart, Jack?
"Their stuff just breaks," Durio says.
Furniture is great, but what really adds flavor to a living space are the little things.
Hit up your local Dollar General for these small items. The store has a variety of kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, picture frames and small, decorative items that, though small, add great emphasis.
If you can't afford anything big or small, fear not.
Just remember, someone else's trash is another man's treasure.
Durio lives by this saying, and found his new couches on the side of the road.
"If there is no water damage, then my buddies and I just take it," Durio says.
Once you have all the portable items in place, then it's time to worry about color.
Joann's and Hobby Lobby are two stores that have affordable paint with a huge range of colors but also offer the most simplistic ones that meet students' preferences like Tori Cramer.
Cramer, a sophomore, decorated her bedroom with only two colors, black and white. She also used vintage posters and a $20 comforter from Target.
"They had a great selection," Cramer says. "I always look in the clearance and sale isles."
Scott Adams, sophomore music business major, is spending his second year at college in a dorm. His room, also known as the "comfort dungeon," gives Adams a nice place to relax outside of class.
"Target keeps me happy," Adams says. "But even the cheap things add up."
And because of this, Adams and his roommate decided to do something that wouldn't total much at all. The two decorated their dorm room with music posters from floor to ceiling for a price we can all agree with - free.
Every time the roommates attend a concert, they politely take down one of the many paper flyers or posters that are in abundance once the show is over.
"Free is for me," Adams says.
Though concerts and thievery may not be for everyone, the example Adams and his roommate set is one to follow when working on a tight budget. You don't have to fork out the big bucks to have a flavorful room.
Durio knows all about following Adam's example.
"The other day there was a pile of perfectly clean mattresses leaning against a dumpster ready to be thrown away," Durio explains. "So I took 11 of them to lean against the walls of my music room so that they absorb the sound."
But if picking up objects on the side of the road is too scary, try the stores previously suggested.
There are three Goodwill stores in Murfreesboro, one on Memorial Boulevard, one on Old Fort Parkway and the other on Shelbyville Highway. TJ Maxx is located on Old Fort Parkway. Marshalls is on Thompson Lane.
The Salvation Army has two locations, one on West Main Street and one on Mercury Boulevard. Target is located on Old Fort Parkway.
And then there's always Wal-Mart. I'm sure you already know where that is.
So remember, you don't have to empty your funds on a room, house or cardboard box. There are plenty of ways to save money and keep your room from looking like a department store layout.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kim Ralston
posted 8/28/08 @ 2:18 PM CST
Where are the other Goodwill's in Murfreesboro? Because as far as I know, and I've lived here my entire life, there is just one Goodwill in town, and it?s on Memorial by Cici's Pizza and the same goes for the Salvation Army. (Continued…)
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