Green Mermaid Cottage

Most of my furniture come from charity shops, markets, Freegle and Facebook Marketplace. As usual I like the idea of recycling items, rather than buying new. I also think that these pre-loved pieces fit in better with the overall boho, eclectic decor that I have chosen for my house.  Learning to up-cycle these items, with chalk pa int for example, means that I can give them a new lease of life and surround myself with colourful pieces for a fraction of the price that vintage, wood furniture would cost in the shops.  Below are the steps that I follow when I source a new piece of furniture that looks a bit tired, dated and unloved to turn it into a new, bright addition to my home.  Preparing the item Clean item thoroughly. I use sugar soap or create a solution made of equal parts white vinegar and water  Fill any scratches or holes. I use   basic wood filler Sand the item. This helps take any sheen off and remove old paint. Always sand in the same ...

Once I had paid for the most urgent repairs to my House of Horrors and done as much DIY as I could to sort out the walls and flooring, I had nothing left to spend on making it look homely and comfortable.  I found being in the almost empty house incredibly depressing. Everything felt cold and dark. I really wanted it to reflect my personality and I dreamt of a boho, arty, eclectic and colourful haven.   DECORATING ON A BUDGET And so I turned to charity shops, markets, Facebook Marketplace and recycling apps like Freegle to try to furnish my home and improve the look of my garden on a small budget. I found that many charity shops sell furniture as well as clothing and objects. For example, I got a huge armchair and a beautiful recycled red cabinet from Emmaus Dover, a  social enterprise that supports local homeless people and help them develop new work skills.  I also found chairs and plant pots in skips that people were only too happy to give away. ...