But, what about the cost of furniture to fill any bare space in your new home? Don’t break your budget by going out and buying new furniture – it can add up and is often not necessary.
Here are 5 ways you can save money and furnish your home exactly how you envisioned it:
- Buy Used
Don’t let used furniture deter you! Thrift stores, estate sales, yard sales, flea markets, antique stores, antique malls, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore are all great places to shop for high-quality furniture items for cheap. You can also search online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Freecycle.
- Keep an Eye Out for Freebies
Join local Facebook groups and keep an eye out for free items; people are always looking to get rid of furniture if you are willing to show up and move it yourself. You can also check with friends, family, and neighbors to see if they have any furniture you can take off their hands; you can ask directly or put the word out on social media that you are searching for furniture.
- Wait Until the Right Time to Shop
Take your time and search for great deals at your local stores. Mass-market retailers, like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot have good-sized furniture departments. Request information on upcoming sales and sign up for email notifications. If you’re eager and don’t want to wait for a sale, you can ask about purchasing the floor model at a discounted price!
- DIY
If a piece of furniture will work, but it’s not love, give it a little TLC – paint, upholster, or polish until it’s perfect to you. Sometimes, a little DIY is all it takes to transform a piece from “okay” to amazing!
- Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate the Price
Whether shopping in-store or online, ask if the listed price is the lowest they will accept, if there is a discount for buying multiple items, or if they offer free delivery and set-up. It never hurts to ask, right?
Before You Start Shopping, Keep These Tips in Mind
- Make a list of what you need and stick to it! Cheap furniture is tempting, but you don’t want to waste money buying things you really don’t need.
- To increase your furniture budget, sell furniture you currently own that doesn’t work in your new space.
- Take measurements to avoid purchasing furniture that is too big or too small for your space.
- If you decide to purchase from a store, ask about their return policy first.
- Before you take any piece of furniture home, inspect it carefully for stains, rips, tears, watermarks, broken parts, and other issues that you cannot easily repair.
Take Your Time
If you need to wait to purchase furniture, that’s okay! Take your list of items and work your way through it over time – it’s not a race to fill your home with furniture as soon as you move in.
Best of luck shopping!
