Funiture

[funkychunkymonkey]

When did you start trying to make your house look like a adult (not a crazy college student lived there? I’m thinking its time for me to get some more grown up furniture but I’m really not sure what a "grown up" apartment looks like. My friends keep telling me to "grow up and get real furniture" but I’m so confused by that. All my friends have kids so I’m not sure what a single adult woman’s apartment should look like. I want to have a grown up look (so my friends lay off) but don’t know where to start. Help? Please?

[kafitty]

well, to start, it should probably match.

to me, as long as things are clean, coordinated & organized, you're on your way to having an "adult" home...though i know plenty of adults who can't even achieve one, nevermind all three of those requirements.

i can't wait to get my own home and my own furniture. i LOVE decorating!!

[omghidanielle]

As long as you are comfortable, why worry about it?

I'm pretty sure I will never have an adult house
I'm constantly on the mousesurplus ebay site, seriously contemplating renting a uhaul

[funkychunkymonkey]

Im not sure im confortable with it anymore. I think its time to revamp what my house looks like. My lamps match, my tv stand matches my parson tables (aka end tables) and the empty fish tank matches them too. My kitchen chairs are all the same color, does that count? 4 match and two dont. My bedroom dont matter (i shut the door ALOT). I guess it would help if my craft/ guest room had a bed in it. I just dont know where to start. I guess I should find a style I like right?

[Silent1CB]

start watching HGTV. They have a few shows for renters that might help you.

Some take yardsale finds / thrift shop / used furniture store pieces & using paint & fabric, turn them into todays looking furniture.

Don't spend a fortune because it might not be furniture you want for years and years, but do know that a lot of todays cheap furniture will not last long at all and is pretty much disposible. Older pieces will be better made & you can change it into something you want. Design on a Dime does a lot of this.

[funkychunkymonkey]

Originally Posted by Silent1CB

start watching HGTV. They have a few shows for renters that might help you.

Some take yardsale finds / thrift shop / used furniture store pieces & using paint & fabric, turn them into todays looking furniture.

Don't spend a fortune because it might not be furniture you want for years and years, but do know that a lot of todays cheap furniture will not last long at all and is pretty much disposible. Older pieces will be better made & you can change it into something you want. Design on a Dime does a lot of this.

Thats how this aparment got started. The chairs came off a curb, the ONLY chair Im fond of in my living room came from the dumster. I guess Im failing at this cause my freinds still tease. My loveseat (Ok i have to fix it) was a curbside find and covered in a through. I dont have a couch, i have a futon, that I would love to replace. I love Hgtv and design on a dime but for some reason I cant make it happen (and look good here). Almost all my funiture was curbside shopped (for the most part). finding CUTE storage for my tiny living room is the main issue. I have stuff (books, dvds, work suplies) everywere! Guest room has the "Explosion" problem!

[Silent1CB]

Originally Posted by funkychunkymonkey

Thats how this aparment got started. The chairs came off a curb, the ONLY chair Im fond of in my living room came from the dumster. I guess Im failing at this cause my freinds still tease. My loveseat (Ok i have to fix it) was a curbside find and covered in a through. I dont have a couch, i have a futon, that I would love to replace. I love Hgtv and design on a dime but for some reason I cant make it happen (and look good here). Almost all my funiture was curbside shopped (for the most part). finding CUTE storage for my tiny living room is the main issue. I have stuff (books, dvds, work suplies) everywere! Guest room has the "Explosion" problem!

Well, you maybe are missing the design factor in your curbside shopping. Don't bring it home just because its free. You need to see great design & potential first. It also helps to pick a style & only bring home those pieces.

I think if you can find SIMPLE pieces, shaker or arts & crafts style pieces, you would have a better chance of recreating todays transitional style look, and just tie it all together by painting the pieces the dark brown everyone likes today. Skip the dental molding or ornate molding pieces. Same with frames. A can of spray paint can go a long way. On lamps too.

And don't go with too many small pieces. A few larger storage pieces are better. Maybe that would solve your explosion problem. And don't bring it home if you don't need it.


We are updating our house. I've painted light figures that still resemble todays style -- just the wrong finish. I'm spray painting frames because country wood is out. Changing out the artwork inside to things I can find on the internet & print. These are small frames obviously. Changing hardware on cabinets & other furniture. Sometimes just changing the artwork & style of frames can really take a decade or two off a room.

As for fabrics, I think they can be like wallpaper & go out of style quickly. Solids might be the way to go if recovering furniture.

[funkychunkymonkey]

[quote=Silent1CB;34185918]
I think if you can find SIMPLE pieces, shaker or arts & crafts style pieces, you would have a better chance of recreating todays transitional style look, and just tie it all together by painting the pieces the dark brown everyone likes today. Skip the dental molding or ornate molding pieces. Same with frames. A can of spray paint can go a long way. On lamps too.
]

It started with a style....... Now it got lost. I know I want to update the cofee table (simple clean lines which I guess is the style or this room) but im not sure where Im going with it. I have a color going too, black and blue (I know, I know, ODD! the end tables, tv stand, coffee table and futon frame are all black, the cover on the couch and futon are blue, and of course, My favorite chair is grey vinyl with blond legs( that Im so gonna paint soon, black I think). I guess my big problem is I need a bigger tv stand but cant bear the thought of getting rid of mine (one year old and I paid $150 for it, and Its probally one of my favoite peices). Why is it the only room I dont HATE is my bedroom (which is oddly enough furnished with leftovers from grandpas fishing days)

[Huggles]

Your style, as Frasier Crane said, is 'eclectic'. None of the pieces match but they 'go' together. Or as Daphne said upon spying Martin's mouldy old chair " Start with a good piece and replace the rest when you can afford it"

[RadioNate]

Well, my answer is going to sound rude but please remember that you did ask for help.

Stop picking up other people's trash. I think that is what your friends are trying to nicely say.

You don't need to be shopping at Ethan Allen but Ikea? Target has some decent pieces for inexpensive.

Keep the pieces you LOVE and move on from the rest.

[Silent1CB]

Originally Posted by RadioNate

Well, my answer is going to sound rude but please remember that you did ask for help.

Stop picking up other people's trash. I think that is what your friends are trying to nicely say.

You don't need to be shopping at Ethan Allen but Ikea? Target has some decent pieces for inexpensive.

Keep the pieces you LOVE and move on from the rest.

I agree, however, from the OP's past posts, I know she doesn't really have $ to go furniture shopping. That's why I suggested used furniture. But you do need to be SELECTIVE.

Maybe you can find better pieces than curbside pieces by looking on Craigslist, thrift shops or yardsales.

[lspst8]

I dont have a couch, i have a futon

I think this is the reason people think you don't have "grown-up" furniture. Futons just scream "poor college student" to a lot of people. Look at IKEA and Craigslist to find an inexpensive replacement.

Do you have pictures or other decorations (that are not posters) on the walls? I think framed pictures, other types of art, mirrors, all help to make a room look nice. Things that scream college are posters, collages, and tie-dyed fabric wall hangings! Or anything Greatful Dead

I do know how you feel -- my dining room is awful with a table and chairs from the 70s my pastor gave me and a shelving unit my mom found somewhere. Nothing on the walls -- I just have the room so much, but I never feel like shelling out money to get a decent table, chairs, and buffet. I'm really picky so that doens't help either. I spent a month searching on Craigslist for a new dining set, but only one thing appealed to me and the lister never responded to my email.

[Darcy03231]

I'm 47 and DH is 55. We finally bought matching family room furniture last year. Prior to that we had young children and pets. I wanted our family room to be a place where everyone could be comfortable, eat/drink when watching a movie, etc. so I decided to furnish it with inexpensive used furniture. For the most part it matched. Now that two of the four children have moved out and the younger two are in high school it was time to get something nicer. We bought a leather set (couch, 2 chair and 2 ottomans) and love it!

[kafitty]

yeah you definitely need a real couch!!

try to buy comfy, classic furniture in neutral colors - you can always accessorize to give it a different look later.

[Magic Mom]

Originally Posted by funkychunkymonkey

When did you start trying to make your house look like a adult (not a crazy college student lived there? I’m thinking its time for me to get some more grown up furniture but I’m really not sure what a "grown up" apartment looks like. My friends keep telling me to "grow up and get real furniture" but I’m so confused by that. All my friends have kids so I’m not sure what a single adult woman’s apartment should look like. I want to have a grown up look (so my friends lay off) but don’t know where to start. Help? Please?

There is no rule book for "single adult women furniture." Have the furniture that YOU like and can afford. If your friends don't like your choices tell them to bugger off. Decide what your style is and start from there. What do you like? Eclectic, modern, traditional, country, antique......? Look through some magazines and pull out pictures that you like and use those as your inspiration. If I recall correctly, you work part time at a day care? Furniture is expensive, so until you make a little more you might have to start off small. See what you can find at second hand stores or yard sales too. Sometimes you can find nice pieces if you have the time to really search.
But really, tell your friends to lay off. It's none of their business what kind of furniture you have (unless maybe it smells like your cats and they don't enjoy sitting down.)