Furniture is what adds comfort and a personal touch to any living space, but finding the right pieces can be difficult, not to mention expensive. Buying new appliances and furniture can set you back a pretty penny, but luckily there are many alternatives for furnishing your home to your tastes and needs without spending a fortune. This will require a lot more time and research than simply walking into a store and picking something out, but you will be surprised with the amount of high quality furniture you can find for a steal. The following tips will help you get everything you will need for your home, at the fraction of the new buy cost.
Make a wish list
The first step on your quest for affordable furniture is to plan out exactly what you need. Without a clear vision of what you aim to buy, you might well end up with items that seemed appealing to you outside of your home but don’t really work once you get them home. Take into consideration your everyday needs, lifestyle and the space you have available. So, it might be a good idea to have your furniture custom-made. You might even consider some light DIY. For example, second hand or reclaimed planks can make for unique shelves that you can cut down to your desired dimensions to best compliment your space. Remember that your wish list can include items that would be out of your price range if buying new, as designer furniture can depreciate quite dramatically.
Factory seconds
If you can do without unwrapping a new shiny appliance straight from the box, factory seconds are a great source of bargains, and are not to be overlooked when furnishing your home. All factory second appliances are in full working order, but suffer from some imperfection or another. This might range from box damage, display or demonstration models, refurbished models; old or deleted models and models with small cosmetic imperfections. It is important to see the appliances yourself, as online pictures might not always capture the extent of damage accurately. What may seem like a large dent in a picture might not be so visible in the flesh, and vice versa.
Consignment and thrift shops
Consignment shops and thrift stores are not to be overlooked in your quest for furniture. Although you will doubtless come across a lot of useless items, you might be surprised with what you can find. Visiting these stores regularly is a key element in securing that perfect find. Used furniture that is a decade or two old may even be sturdier than their modern counterparts, and can add a touch of retro style and accent a room. Online searches can also turn up diamonds in the rough, with many people willing to let their old furniture go for a song as they do not want to wait forever to make a sale.
Pickup planning
Now that you have found what you want, you will need to get it to your house. This is not where the saving ends, and planning your pickup carefully can further benefit your bottom line. If you are looking for a large item, be sure to budget for a truck or van rental and factor in gas and mileage costs. It might even be prudent to look into standard car rental services for your transportation needs. If you have found multiple items at various locations, picking them up on the same day will cut down on your transport costs. Putting a down-payment on items can ensure the seller will hold onto them until a specific day you choose for pickup. Needless to say, it does not hurt to ask for help from friends with pickups or vans, just be sure to buy them a drink later.
With the right research and tenacity, you can furnish your living space with cheap but high quality furniture and appliances. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you will also save on the frustrating assembly procedures that often go hand in hand with new furniture. If you purchase your items from someone who takes care of their furniture, you might not even be able to tell that it is not brand new. Remember to take your time and plan carefully, and of course it always helps to haggle a bit. Happy hunting!
