Furnishing your home can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! There are a number of brilliant ways to furnish your home on a budget without sacrificing style or quality. Follow along as we outline some of the best strategies for saving money while you decorate your home.
Before You Begin, Make a Plan!
There are so many tempting things out there, and it’s easy to get carried away. But if you don’t have a plan or a budget, you could end up spending a lot more than you intended.
Start by estimating how much you can afford to spend. Do you need to save a little bit over time to pay for it? Or do you have money already in savings?
Also, don’t forget to take an inventory of what you already have so you accurately prioritize your needs and wants. Once you know what you need, how much you need to save, and how much you have to spend, give yourself a realistic timeline to bring your decorating dreams to life.
7 Tips to Furnish Your Home on a Budget
- Sell What You Don’t Need to Add to Your Purchase Budget
- Make a List of Needs and Wants
- Watch for Furniture Sales
- Buy Big Name Brands Secondhand
- Swap With Friends for a Fresh Look
- Regularly Check out Yard Sales and Thrift Shops
- Adapt Your Design to Accommodate Unexpected Finds
1. Sell What You Don’t Need to Add to Your Purchase Budget
To decorate your home on a budget, you need to be willing to sell what you don’t need. For example, if you have furniture that you no longer use, you can sell it and use the money to purchase new decor. The same goes for any other items you may have around your home that you no longer need or want.
By selling these items, you can free up some extra cash to fund the finishing touches to your decorating project. In addition, selling things you no longer need can declutter your home. So if you’re looking to decorate on a budget, start by looking at what you already have and deciding what can go.
2. Prioritize with a List of Needs and Wants
Your needs are the things that you can’t live without, like a couch and a dining table. Your wants are the things that would be nice to have but aren’t essential, like a fancy buffet table or designer lamp. If you take the time to sit down and list your needs and wants, it can be a lot easier to prioritize your spending.
Once you’ve made your list, look closely at your budget and see what you can realistically afford. You may not be able to afford everything on your want list, but by prioritizing your spending, you can ensure that your needs are covered first.
3. Watch for Furniture Sales
Furniture retailers launch new products every season; when they do, they put last season’s furniture on sale. So, January and July are often great months to snag deals on furniture and decor.
If you have a particular retailer in mind, consider subscribing to their emails or text message alerts, so you don’t miss out on special furniture deals and overstock prices.
4. Buy Big Name Brands Secondhand
If you have your heart set on buying a particular brand or style of furniture and decor, you can save tons of money buying it used. Secondhand furniture is usually much cheaper than buying new, and with some persistence, you can generally find gently used or like-new versions of the brands and styles you want.
5. Swap With Friends for a Fresh Look
You’ve heard about clothing swaps; why not try it with home decor?! Swaps are exchange parties where you get together with friends or community members to trade items. Typically, each participant will bring 5-10 gently used items they don’t use or want to replace with something new-to-them.
Everyone draws a number that determines the order you will pick on the day of the swap. Some swaps ask participants to estimate the value of the items or bring things that follow a specific set of guidelines so that everyone goes home with items of comparable value.
Items should be clean and in good condition. If they are fragile, be sure to transport them safely so they stay that way.
6. Regularly Check out Yard Sales and Thrift Shops
Saving money takes time! It’s unlikely you’ll find everything you need to furnish your home in one weekend. Instead, plan on regularly visiting yard sales and thrift shops to source what you need gradually.
If you are saving up to cover the cost of furnishing your home, consider going room by room. Source essentials first and then spend some time curating the rest of your decor so you can achieve the style you want at a price you can afford.
7. Adapt Your Design to Accommodate Unexpected Finds
One of the joys of thrifting is finding unexpected treasures. While your list of wants and needs is a great way to focus your search, if you come across a surprising statement piece or unique find, be flexible and consider adapting your design and budget to include it, especially if it’s a good deal.
Save Money Decorating Your Home and Keep Your Debt Under Control!
Although it may seem daunting, furnishing your home on a budget is entirely doable. All you need to do is be patient and organized, take advantage of furniture sales, and think outside the box. By following these tips, you can save money on your home furnishings to pay down debt or put more money toward savings. What are you waiting for? Start decorating!