Whether you buy or rent, setting up a new home can be a substantial investment. You have to purchase or rent the property and set up utilities. This may not leave much left over for furnishing. There’s no need to worry! You don’t have to resort to keeping your tattered dorm room furniture or sleeping on the floor. There are plenty of ways to furnish your home on a budget and this list is recommended by Instrument furniture.
Have You Set Your Budget?
Before you even begin looking at furniture, set your budget. You don’t want to have your heart set on a piece, only to find out you can’t afford it. Create a budget based on expected income and expenses so that you know how much money you are comfortable spending on home furnishings.
Charity Shops Can Be Your New Best Friend
You can often find high-quality pieces of furniture at incredible prices at charity shops throughout London. The trick is that you have to be willing to potentially search multiple locations to find the gems you are looking for. Another option is to visit flea markets and see if you happen upon any great deals! A word of caution with flea markets is that they can be just as pricey as bespoke furniture stores in some cases.
Visit Estate Sales
Estate sales are held to liquidate a person’s belongings for various reasons, including divorce, death, or even a big move. They typically include the sale of their property and personal belongings, including furniture. Most estate sales work much like an auction, in which guests bid on items of interest and the person with the highest bid wins.
It’s hard to know how high of a price items will go for, but you may be able to snag a fantastic deal or two. You never know; you may have an interest in a piece of furniture that no one else does. Not to mention, it can be fun to see what comes up for bid!
There’s Nothing Wrong with Freebies
Nothing will help your budget like free furniture. Often when people move, they either can’t take their furnishings with them or want to furnish their new home with fresh pieces. They just want their old furniture out of the way. It’s commonplace to advertise it online for free, and all you have to do is show up and get it out of their way. So, basically, it will only cost time and fuel! The best part is that these pieces of furniture can be very high-end and in excellent condition. Freecycle is one such non-profit group whose mission is to reuse and repurpose so that items stay out of landfills.
It is important to note that when vetting used furniture online, you should verify it is in acceptable condition before committing.
Browse Online Furniture Stores
Shopping online has its definite advantages when looking to furnish your home on a budget. The only thing you have to be willing to give up is the ability to see the furniture in person. However, product descriptions and customer reviews tend to answer any questions you may have concerning feel, colour, and quality.
Despite the one disadvantage, which is typically not an issue if you do your research, shopping online for furniture has distinct advantages. The first is that you can find any furniture style, in any colour and material you want. Secondly, with the entire world at your disposal, you can find amazing deals on living room furniture, dining tables, complete matching bedroom sets, and more! It is the easiest way to find the perfect furniture from the comfort of your home.
Find Discounts
This strategy can work for both in-person and online furniture shopping. Search for discount codes, gift cards, and coupons that will help you save even more money on a great deal and stretch your budget further. You may have to dig deep to find the best discount, but it is well worth the effort. You can even recruit friends and family to be on the lookout as well.
Bonus tip: Many online furniture stores will offer an additional percentage off your purchase for subscribing to their newsletters. It may be worth signing up!
Bide Your Time for a Sale
Every company will hold sales throughout the year. If you are able to hold out, keep an eye on the furniture you want and wait for it to go on sale. You could end up scoring big, especially if you are able to pair it with additional coupons and discounts.
Don’t Discount Big-Box Stores
It may not seem like the most natural thought to purchase furniture from a store that also sells toys and groceries but do not count them out so fast. Big-box stores may have just what you’re looking for at an incredible price. It’s worth a look!
Additional Tips for Furnishing Your Home on a Budget
-
Prioritise your necessities – Even though it would be nice to have everything at once, it’s probably not necessary. Purchase the must-haves, such as a bed, wardrobe, and sofa, first. Accessory furniture such as end tables can be purchased down the road when you’ve had a chance to save more money. This also means you do not have to choose between what you want and what you can afford.
-
Do you want to make interior changes? Hastily buying a bunch of furniture when you want to make interior design changes may be costly. Sticking with the essentials until you’ve had a chance to get to know your place prevents impulsive buys that you have to replace a few months down the road because it no longer matches your new theme.
-
Renting – If you are renting and only visiting the UK for a short period of time, you may consider an already furnished place. That way, you do not have to purchase furniture for such a short period of time and then figure out what to do with it when you move. However, it is entirely understandable if you want to begin purchasing things you can call your own.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to break the bank to furnish your home to your tastes with nice furniture. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and patience, and you can easily kit your home while staying on budget!
