When it comes to buying furniture and accessories, things can definitely add up. So, how do furnish your home on a tight budget? Here are a few clever ways to save on home furnishings without breaking the bank.  All you need is additional time for treasure hunting, creativity, and willingness to work on DIY (do it yourself) projects.

#1 – Thrift and Second Hand Stores

Shopping at thrift and second hand stores is a very cost effective way to find loads of cool stuff for your home.  Although, most of the furniture there needs updating so you might have to use your imagination to see the potential of each piece.  Occasionally you can find things in perfect condition at low prices. Some stores like Goodwill, have half off sales on certain days, so make a call to check on their next sale date. The trick is to arrive right when they open for first dibs on the best furniture pieces.  Thrift stores are typically non-profit organizations so you can feel good about your purchases since it’s going towards a good cause.

#2 – The best things in life… can be free!

If you’re strapped for cash, FREE is always nice.  My top resources for complimentary home furnishings is the “free stuff” category on Craigslist or Freecycle.  Some people just want to find a good home for their furniture and post them on these sites. What better way to save money!

#3 – Classified Ads

Another effective way to save on furniture is to search classified ads in local newspapers or online. Craigslist and Recycler are the most popular classified websites. One of my friends furnished her entire apartment with cool finds from Craigslist. With a little patience and persistance you could do the same thing.

#4 – Estate and Yard Sales

Going to estate or yard sales is the ultimate treasure hunting experience.  You can find furniture in wonderful condition at very reasonable prices. These sales are usually on the weekend and picked over by the early afternoon, so you’ll have to set your alarm clock early in order to get the best steals.  My mom attends yard sales quite frequently and always finds incredible pieces worth more than she bargained for…literally! Her tip is to drive around wealthy neighborhoods and look for signs early in the morning and check out at least three sales. Moving sales are the best, because these people are on a time crunch to get rid of their furnishings.  They are usually more than willing to bargain prices with you too.

#5 – Refurbish What You Already Have

Transform your old piece of furniture with a fresh new finish, upholstery, or decorative accents to update the look.  You can easily upholster a dining chair cushion with a staple gun, piece of foam, and a few yards of fabric. Sometimes, fabric stores will have sales on remnants up to three yards, which is ideal for upholstering a stool or side chair.  Slip covers are a quick, cheap, and easy way to change the look of your sofa or arm chair.  If you have a piece you think has potential but have no clue how to update it, our designers will come up with a few good concepts for your furniture with our Design Analysis. We can also pick out finish or paint colors for each piece and directions on how to apply it with our Color Palette option.

Best of luck bargain hunting for your home.  “A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments.” – Samuel Johnson

- Day Design & Decor

• Permalink