We have traveled to a new job and this time there are no furnished places to stay. We will only be here 3 - 4 months. I have rented a small apartment and am looking for ideas on "disposable" furnishing or for cheap ideas. I did find a pattern for a foot stool made out of a 5 gallon bucket that I can store stuff in when we pack up to leave. Any other ideas would be welcomed.
By Meemaw
For a table and chairs, you could use a card table and folding chairs. There are inexpensive futons and bean bag chairs. Use air mattresses for beds, for dressers use those plastic carts with drawers. However, have you checked with places like rent to own stores, to see how much it would cost to rent furniture while you are there?
If you have a freecycle group post on there too.
Goodwill is another option. Good place to get rid of things when you leave as well.
Try Craigslist.com for your area. I have bought cheap things there and then you can resale them on the very same website for free.
What about those folding all -in-one picnic table and chairs that can be taken with you when you move again and used later for "real" picnics? with a few packing cases or banana boxes covered with cloths, you have your dining area sorted!
The most important thing is to get a mattress! Sal Army often has those. Then get some pillows so you can sit on it like a couch. Scavenge for furniture so much good stuff goes in the trash! Make things out of cardboard boxes - (side tables, etc.) - you can cover them with dollar store contact paper. Make bottle lamps out of bottles + kit from hardware store - & thrift shop shade. You can make brick & board shelves, just like in college days. Cover windows with sheets clipped to form curtains or tape tissue paper onto windows on the bottom. Ask around for donations - look in your local craigslist in freebies - join a recycling group in your area a la freecycle to get free stuff. Good luck!
How about using containers, like Rubbermaid storage boxes, as coffee tables/end tables? You could put a piece of fabric over them as a "table cloth" and have a useable table, as well as extra storage space. You can store things in the boxes while using as tables, and use them for moving.
Portable shelving. Go to Menards or similar store, pick up scrap lumber and a few cement blocks for instant shelves.
You might also simply check at thrift stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and see what you can find really cheap there, or garage sales. Then when you move, whatever you don't want to take, donate back. (We are in a small town and can simply put furniture out on the edge of the road with "free" posted on it, and it's gone within hours usually!). Good luck!
Pam
Before I'd buy a used mattress I'd buy a blow up mattress instead. The ones that are higher up off the floor looks much like regular beds when they are made up with bedding.
You have a lot of good ideas. I just repeat that banana boxes from the grocery store are sturdy, and "stuff" can be stored inside while the stacked boxes are used as a side table.
Thanks everyone for your replies. You all are wonderful. The blow up bed is actually pretty comfortable-we bought the one that has the blow up feature built in and it has a bag to store it in when we are done. I also added a foam bed pad on top. I'm using the rubber maid bins - for coffee table & TV holder.
