You don’t need to spend a fortune in order to have great furniture. There are loads of ways to furnish your home for less. Here’s how to go about it.
Up-cycle
It’s no longer about just recycling these days, but about taking unwanted items and either enhancing their quality or using them for a different purpose than what they were designed for (e.g. wall-mounting old bicycle handlebars as coat and hat racks). There are so many different things you can come up, you’re really only limited by your imagination. If you like the rustic look and want to introduce some quirky or funky elements to your place, this is a great way to go about it. Up-cycling is a great way to achieve a totally unique look in your home and you won’t have the guilt of adding more rubbish to landfill. For more great interior design ideas, you can always check out display homes from home builders such as Coral Homes.
Shop second-hand
There are unbelievable savings to be made by buying second-hand furniture. Make sure you shop around as some people expect far too much for their items, while others might even offer things for free as they just want them gone. If you’re searching online, see if you can set up and save a search, so that you automatically get email notifications whenever new items matching your description are listed for sale.
Swap your stuff
Swapping is becoming increasingly popular and there are now a bunch of swapping websites dedicated to linking people who want to swap their items with other people. Also, ask around your circle of family and friends and see if anyone is up for exchanging things.
Discount furniture
Affordable furniture doesn’t necessarily mean cheap and nasty. There are a number of discount furniture outlets out there who offer quality furniture at very reasonable prices. This is usually because they can buy in bulk and pass on the savings to you. Online furniture stores often offer items on Sale and Clearance as well. You can choose just one or two pieces of furniture or buy entire dining, bedroom or outdoor suites. This is a great way to save money, especially if you want to direct your money towards owning your own home.
Op shops and markets
This is a great way to pick up some funky vintage and retro pieces to add some flair and originality to your furniture collection. By shopping at second-hand stores and markets, you can often pick up an absolute bargain.
Restore and re-upholster
You can breathe new life into old and damaged pieces by stripping, sanding and either staining or painting them with exciting, modern colours that really make a statement. If you’ve got a tatty old sofa, don’t throw it out. Pay a visit to a restoration company and take a look at some of the stunning colours and patterns now available in upholstery fabrics.
Furnishing your home doesn’t need to cost a small fortune. Just use a bit of creative thinking and employ some of the methods above to make your house feel like home for less.
Do you do any of these? Do you have any hints or tips?
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