Buying furniture for a new place or replacing an old one is among the costliest purchases you can make. Naturally, some pieces are worth their price tags, but there are also others where you can get away with something cheaper.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go into debt when buying most of the furniture pieces you need to make your home a cozy and aesthetically pleasing place. And if you want to know how to do that, read on. We have put together a list of our favorite ideas on how to find (and get) affordable furniture and decorate your home in style.
Tip #1 Make a list of what you need
Making a wishlist of everything you want for your new place or what you need replacing can help you quickly rank your demands and see where you can save some money. In making a list, go to any online furniture retailer offering a great variety of furniture, and add items you want to purchase in the shopping cart.
Once you are done, take a look at all the things and their prices. Consider where you can save some money and opt for a more affordable version, and where there is no place for cutting expenses. You can even reconsider whether you really need some of the items you have selected. This way, you can create a few lists, make priorities, bring decisions, and plan your budget better and smarter.
Tip #2 Look for furniture on finance
The internet is a great place to start browsing and comparing furniture prices. Moreover, it is a great place to find online catalogues and stores that offer different finance possibilities to their customers.
That said, you can opt for furniture on finance, in which case you can seize the chance to get the items you need, from these online catalogues, immediately and pay nothing for a set period of time. Or you can choose the option to spread the cost of your purchase for a few years or rent-to-own, where you can rent an item and pay for it in weekly or monthly installments. Importantly, when opting for any of these available choices, it is advisable to consider how much you are comfortable paying a month, how long for, and whether you can afford a deposit.
Tip #3 Try the stores
Hitting the stores to find a good deal on furniture usually means looking for furniture offered with a discount or on sale. These are good options to save money, especially when it comes to buying high-quality items. Though stores will typically advertise their sales, keeping an eye out for major price reductions on the items you love is advised.
When it comes to discounts, explore whether some stores offer discounts if you buy more than one piece or you ask for another service they might be offering. And, if time is no issue, try combining sales with discounts. This way you can sometimes buy new furniture for less than you may pay for a used one.
Another good way to get the best deal on high-quality furniture is to compare deals from various stores and collect competitive bids. Though this tactic requires a lot of time and energy, it is definitely worthwhile if you are in need to buy many furniture items.
When comparing prices, do not forget to consider delivery charges. Some stores charge a flat fee regardless of the number or size of the items delivered, while others charge per piece or hour. Certain stores waive delivery charges on large orders. Adding these expenses to the total budgeting might make a difference in the prices you are comparing.
Tip #4 Give used furniture the green light
Nowadays, looking for affordable used furniture has become more common since a lot of it is accessible online. There are so many pages (like Craigslist or eBay) where you can buy used items. You can also use Facebook to track local groups and keep an eye on listings. The good thing is that most of these options have goods and furniture for any room of your house, and if you are persistent, you might be able to find amazing deals.
Also, keep an eye open on the yard and garage sales in your neighborhood. If someone in your area is moving out or an individual or community organizes a garage sale, take advantage of the opportunity and be first to show up and bargain. Even though they are perfect for small furniture, look for furniture featuring qualities like solid wood or dovetail joints. When there are no good furniture pieces, check on smaller home items that you need, but always ask for a deal or a reduction, especially if you want to buy a few.
Keep in mind that there are certain second-hand furniture items that you should avoid. A good example is heavily used furniture, used mattresses or furniture that smells.
Tip #5 Accept hand-me-downs
There is nothing wrong with accepting a couch or coffee table from your family or close friends. These items come from a reliable source, and you already know they received proper care. Most importantly, they come for free.
Of course, you can decide to repaint, redo or accessorize them, but this way, you will be able to scratch a high-cost item off your list. The good thing is that you can try out a piece to see if it fits in your home interior and return it if you’re not satisfied with how it looks among the other furniture items. Your family or friends will be at your disposal for any returns or other preferences you may have. It is also a way of supporting sustainability and reducing your personal environmental impact by having used furniture.
Conclusion
As we can see, it is possible to save money on furniture if you are willing to do your homework, make a few compromises and adjustments. You definitely won’t save much money if you want your home interior to be designed with expensive furniture brands. Still, if you are willing to shop around, invest time comparing prices, and make a few trade-offs, your furniture will not get you into debt.
