The Lair

Adding fake plants gives that natural feel in a space and keeps the room maintaining effort to the minimum. It 's also a good option regarding the longevity of the item, the positioning (since it needs no sun) and the fact that during the night time, plants take in oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, which is poisonous  to human.

  Personal space means the world to me. Not only does it feel great living in a space that reflects your personality, but it is also necessary for me that the place I spend most of my time makes me feel calm and meets with my taste and aesthetic. It has to give out "at home" vibes. In case you're not living alone, as I currently am , it is extra important to be able to "isolate" oneself from the rest of the house.

Granny's old frame, repainted, with a printed poster of my taste
artwork: The exposure of  luxury by Trudy Ludwig Johnson 

  Sadly though , nothing comes without a price and alternative home-ware is extremely expensive , to a sometimes unreasonable point. Living in a small country where the goth community size is still quite small , though gradually expanding,  means that most of the goods have to be shipped from other countries or be produced exclusively. This can seriously burdain someone with shipping and extravagant custom fees.
   In a way, this situation leads to different spaces with great variety and pieces that are unique but I personally believe that not having the financial ability to afford a lifestyle doesn't have to exclude you from it, it just makes it harder to get to a satisfying end result. To me, thrifting, revamping and "scavenging" saved my wallet big time.
    First, you need some inspiration. Since you got access to the interwebs, you're already half way there! Alternative lifestyle blogs, Tumblr, Pinterest posts and YouTube channels are guaranteed to give you a few ideas. Gothic Homemaking series by Aurelio Voltaire is one of my personal favorites and I advise anybody to check him out visiting art exhibitions and galleries can also offer great help.
   Revamping old stuff  is an amazing alternative in order to save money, make use of what's already in store making zero waste and actually beautify something that already has some use in your life.
   I found going through old stored stuff was an excellent way to bring things back in another life. With a spray paint, a little sanding , maybe some glue to touch up or a little varnishing you can make things you wouldn't believe.

   "One man's trash is another man's treasure"
   I have to confess that I found some serious treasure when scavenging... Drawers and frames near a dumpster, candelabras and slightly damaged finds. From next-to-dumpster furniture to twigs and branches and animal remains (feathers , skulls)  from a forest. Work with what you can get : a brush and paint , a hammer and nails, cleaning effort and a messy floor/workspace always come cheaper than a new furniture, unless you don't have the luxury of time. If you have problem crafting , don't be afraid to ask for some help , we all have that  handy dandy friend and even if you don't, there's a YouTube tutorial for almost anything to help you get started.
   Alternative lifestyle comes quite expensive in every form, but you don't have to spend a fortune on it. All you need is some #gothspo, a few supplies and a rough idea of what the end product should look like, everything else will come along the way leaving you with the self satisfaction of making something by yourself and an awesome looking product!