Even in this more prosaic application, craigslist enjoys a challenge. So we will give it an assignment. Ready, craigslist? OK. This is short-answer exam in several parts. Please show your work.
(1) A young person is just graduating and starting a job in Minneapolis, and will be renting an apartment in a larger subdivided home - medium-sized rooms, but not an enormous space overall. Said young person owns just a TV and a bed, and would like to furnish a living room in reasonably adult style so as to offer hospitality to hoped-for new friends, but doesn't have a lot of spare cash. What can you offer this person?
First of all, this person will need a couch. Without knowing the person's tatste, we have to offer options. For the lover of the light, white, or beachy look, this tailored sofa for $50 might be a good choice:
For the person interested in a modern and streamlined look (with bonus flexibility and extra storage), this trio for $75 would work well:
For someone interested in a vintage vibe, this item is actually free:
For someone looking for a more comfy-cozy living room, maybe even a library sort of feeel, this couch comes with a matching chair for $50:
And for someone shooting for simple and tailored, this couch is $75:
For a simple living room for someone starting out, we'll also need a piece with some storage (and a place to set a TV). Our first couch buyer, looking for the light/beachy look, might like this $20 piece:
The recent graduate with the three-piece couch might appreciate this modern TV stand, for $40:
And to go with the mid-century sofa, perhaps this $25 piece:
Our friend with the library-style living room might like this piece - which is free:
Perhaps the person with the simple and tailored couch would like this $25 TV stand:
Our young friend probably also needs a coffee table or an end table on which visitors might set drinks - and perhaps even sneak in some storage at the same time. Our first young professional, of the clean and white living room, might like this as a coffee table - for free:
He or she of the modern couch might appreciate this $35 ottoman that could double as a coffee table (check out the chrome legs):
The mid-century modern lover might like this pair of end tables for $39:
Our friend of the library-style living room might enjoy this $25 trunk as a coffee table:
And finally, our simple and traditional friend might like this navy chest, for $45:
And one more necessary item for that person on a budget: a rug, to tie the room together. Our white/clean/beachy decorator might like this $10 five-by-eight rug:
To go in the modern living room, this rug for $25 will provide an injection of color, and, ideally, coordinate with the ottoman:
Though this isn't actually a mid-century rug, it would go well with the other mid-century items, and a circular rug would moderate the hard angles of that style. It's just $15:
This five-by-eight rug would go nicely in the library-style living room, for $25:
And lastly, our streamlined and traditional living room could use the injection of color from this five-by-eight braided rug for $30:
In answer to the first question: leaving it the homeowner to supply books, movies, pictures, and the odd throw pillow, this offers five different options (ranging from $79 to $175 in total) for a ready-made living room - not looking like a desperate trip to Ikea, but coordinated items with adult style. Pickup truck not included.
Tune in tomorrow for question 2: the dining room.
