FURNISHING COSTS AND BUDGETS 215

A brief survey of the various types of furniture procurable at
low cost, at low-medium cost, and at high-medium cost is pre-
sented here. New types of furniture may also appear in these
price ranges. Costly furniture is not treated in this section be-
cause it is usually purchased under the guidance of decorators.

LOW-COST FURNITURE

The amount of usable furniture available to the person with
an extremely low-cost budget is limited. In this price range at-
tractiveness depends on good lines, smart colors, and unusual tex-
tures, which can often compensate for the lack of costly materials
and processes.

Unfinished 'wood furniture, the most commonly used low-cost
type, can be found in most of the large department stores, which
usually carry a fairly varied selection of chests, tables, chairs, book-
cases, and hanging wall shelves, in Non-Period, Modern, and Early
American styles. Tables, cupboards, and chairs intended for the
kitchen can often be finished in a fashion suitable for the living
room. For information about finishing see page 257.

Sometimes inexpensive porch furniture is available which can be
used successfully indoors to supplement other types. See page 25.
For example, a good wicker chair adds textural interest.

Second-hand furniture stores, junk shops, and antique shops
provide a possible source of supply for a person with little money
but time to spare. Diligent search may bring as reward basically
good tables, chairs, or even sofas and love seats that can be satis-
factorily reworked. These are particularly suitable in old-
fashioned rooms.

Homemade furniture of rectangular Non-period or Modern
types can sometimes be made by the owners. An amateur can
build tables, benches, bookshelves, cabinets, or anything that does
not have drawers or upholstery. See page 104. A carpenter or
woodworker can usually duplicate simple pieces from photographs.
Prospective home makers should collect pictures of articles which
they might like to have copied.

Mail-order catalogs should also be consulted by those working
with a low budget, Reputable mail-order companies sometimes
sell the products of the best manufacturers without identifying the
brands; the volume sold enables them to reduce the prices.