Times may be tough for most of us in this economy, but your design plans don’t necessarily have to suffer. Instead of putting your design plans on hold, try using these resources for some of the BEST deals out there…with a little effort and some creative searching, you won’t believe how cheap good design can be!

1) Craigslist-you would not believe the things that people will give away for free or just a few dollars-and Craigslist is THE place to find those deals locally. From dressers to accessories to fabric and even magazines, you can find just about anything you’re looking for if you’re willing to be patient or put a little TLC into these pieces!

2) Community Recycling Centers-builders, homeowners, and designers often send their overstock or discarded items to places like this to keep them out of landfills. They are especially good sources for things like antique moldings, reclaimed flooring, old appliances, and even kitchen cabinets. Again, you may have to put a little work into these pieces, but the end result will be worth it-plus you’ll be doing a good environmental deed by keeping waste out of the trash!

3) Dumpsters-it’s called dumpster diving, and before you judge, just spend a day driving to trash areas behind condo and apartment buildings and even office buildings. You can find some totally unique pieces and without any investment!

4) Hotel liquidators-okay, so maybe not the best place for mattresses (yikes-you never know what goes on with those things), but a lot of furniture used in hotels is used very sparingly. This is a GREAT source for things like side chairs, armoires, and headboards…usually the pieces are of very good quality, since they are intended for commercial use, so you won’t have to worry about things falling apart!

5) Friends and family-you know the saying: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure”. Well that’s definitely the case with furniture and accessories. Ask your parents, cousins, siblings, and friends if they have anything they’re interested in giving away (or even trading if you have some discarded items). Often times, a little paint or upholstery can totally transform a piece!

Last 5 posts by Sabrina Soto

• IdeaPaint - Instant Whiteboard Wall Paint - July 13th, 2009
• Recession Chic Art - June 20th, 2009

Author: Sabrina Soto

The authority on all things home, Sabrina Soto has spent a lifetime preparing for her current role as an HGTV host. You can catch Sabrina hosting and designing on shows such as "Get it Sold" and "White House Christmas", as well as appearing on the hit specials "HGTV's Green Home", "Bang For Your Buck", "House Hunters", "Showdown", and "Buying & Selling Secrets" and "Real Estate Intervention". She has also been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, People En Espanol and Latina Magazine.

Sabrina Soto has written 3 articles for us.