Location independence may be the new sought-after earning style, but the ability to remain rapidly mobile is a prerequisite for many individuals looking to stay employed in the face of shifting local job markets. Whether you are a struggling young person recently out of college, a globe trotter who moves around by choice or have been forced unexpectedly into a middle-aged career shift, being able to set up shop quickly and affordably is a good skill to have.
Having spent a great deal of my adult life changing locations, I've learned a few things about landing on my feet for less. Following are some of my favorite tips for decorating on a dime.
Shelving: Whether you are creating a room divider, book shelf, overflow pantry storage or an extra clothes rack, flexible shelving solutions play a large role in the successful relocation of any nomadic professional. While I don't have anything against cube shelving for studio and loft dwellers in search of stylish functionality, my money's on rolling metro shelves for greater value and flexibility.
Those same chrome units with caster wheels and sturdy wire shelves used by restaurants and indie grocers look fantastic in modern farm kitchens, industrial lofts and modular at-home office setups. With nothing more than a rubber mallet, a good friend and a bottle of wine, you can assemble these shelves to suit your storage needs in less than an evening. While certain retail outlets charge big bucks for these products, a minimal amount of savvy shopping can score you what you need for roughly a hundred bucks.
Bonus? Add-on products such as extra shelves, pull-out wire drawers, drop-down wine racks and stemware holders can be purchased affordably, providing a custom furniture solution for pennies. Those who find that much silver a tad cold for their decorating tastes can easily warm things up by adding vintage tins, plants or baskets.
Paint: It's no secret that a fresh coat of paint can perk up nearly any thrift store find. I've found one of the cheapest and most flexible options is black spray paint with a bit of primer when appropriate. Black integrates easily with a number of decorating styles, including traditional, Bohemian, modern and even a blended, eclectic aesthetic. Yard sale lamps, metal dining sets, DIY kitchen pot racks and even dated entryway cabinets can all be dressed up inexpensively with a quick coat from the spray can. My favorite is the textured matte black, but a glossier finish may be more to your liking.
Fabric: Framed art can be bulky to pack and problematic to ship. If you are the type of person to get attached to beautiful belongings, opting for stylish wall tapestries and table runners adds pizzazz to your overall decor in a way that can easily be tucked into your luggage when it's time to pull up stakes and move on to a new location. Other ideas for incorporating fabric frugally include large scarves as coffee table covers, clipping a sarong vertically to the outside of a narrow shower liner or draping accent blankets across a couch.
Basics: Choosing a more minimalist approach when furnishing your new digs will keep setup costs under control. Taking the time to search out deals for the few items you do bother to purchase will enable you to recover more of your initial investment when it's time to sell bulkier items upon departure. As for how little you can buy and still feel comfortable, a good couch and supportive bed are good starter pieces.
The world won't end if you need to eat dinner on the sofa for a couple of weeks while you search out a decent dining room set. There's also no crime in skipping a bureau in favor of pull-out drawers placed under your bed. Personally, I've learned to go without living room end tables altogether. It's possible to remove nightstands from your furniture equation as well, provided you don't mind having a basket you can slide under the bed frame during the day.
While repeatedly tearing down and re-establishing your home will always come with a certain price tag, it isn't necessarily one that needs to break the bank. Don't see the mobile lifestyle in your future? No problem. These thrifty tips work for nomads and homebodies alike.
