10 Ways to Buy Great Furniture on a Small Budget
Don't let a small budget be your excuse for buying poor quality furniture. The first thing that you need to remember is to prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.
Remember that quality counts way more than instant gratification. Be creative in how and where you buy. And then, finally you may have to be creative with what you buy, because you can refinish, re-purpose or repair your furniture to end up with a truly great customized and stylish piece.
A limited budget is an opportunity give furniture buying a lot of thought, and as a result you may actually end up feeling more satisfied with your purchases than if you had gone in without any constraints.
The first and most important thing to do is to determine your needs. It is important to know what you need to buy, how you will use it, and who will be using it. You should also have a good idea of your personal style, so you can build up your collection.
It is also important to know your space well, and how it flows. Room size is a big factor in deciding what you need.More »
Buy the best quality you can afford, as poor quality furniture is going to cost you more over a period of time. It will break down, wear out and have to be replaced, costing you and the environment.
Learn what qualifies as quality furniture, and research manufacturers and retailers to know who offers the type of products you want.More »
There is no need for all your furniture to cost a lot of money. Mix up high quality furniture with well designed, more affordable furniture. Determine which pieces are important to you and splurge on those.
Buying vintage furniture or indeed used furniture of any kind is a great way to buy quality furniture for less money. You can buy pieces that are well made for a fraction of what you would pay for new pieces.More »
Look for sales, especially big ones like Labor Day sale or Black Friday sales. End of the year sales are great too, as retailers look to get rid of old and discontinued lines to make room for newer ones. While you are out shopping make friends with your salesperson to be advised of upcoming sales and best prices.More »
If you are willing to buy a floor model from a retail store, you can save a considerable amount of money. Floor models come to you on an as is basis, and are often marked down. If the piece seems suitable for your space, go for it.
Don't try to buy all your furniture at once or as set. Start looking for quality pieces once you have determined your needs and style. Build a collection of pieces you absolutely love one piece at a time. Don't waste your time buying sets.
If you plan to invest in vintage furniture learning to refinish or reupholster is an absolute must. Either that or try to find someone whom you trust to do a good job.
Refinishing requires time, patience and the right tools. Today it isn't that difficult to find water based materials with low VOC.
If you want to build a timeless collection, then stay away from fads. Don't buy furniture that is in a style that you do not absolutely love. In a few years the piece will still be with you, but the fad will be gone. Buy a style and color that gives you pleasure beyond today.
Look for many different sources to buy your furniture from the neighborhood retail store to a manufacturer's outlet store, online stores, auctions, garage sales, estate sales and consignment stores. Keep looking till you find what you are looking for at a price that you love. The hunt is half the fun.
Remember that quality counts way more than instant gratification. Be creative in how and where you buy. And then, finally you may have to be creative with what you buy, because you can refinish, re-purpose or repair your furniture to end up with a truly great customized and stylish piece.
A limited budget is an opportunity give furniture buying a lot of thought, and as a result you may actually end up feeling more satisfied with your purchases than if you had gone in without any constraints.
1. Determine Needs
The first and most important thing to do is to determine your needs. It is important to know what you need to buy, how you will use it, and who will be using it. You should also have a good idea of your personal style, so you can build up your collection.
It is also important to know your space well, and how it flows. Room size is a big factor in deciding what you need.More »
2. Invest in Quality
Buy the best quality you can afford, as poor quality furniture is going to cost you more over a period of time. It will break down, wear out and have to be replaced, costing you and the environment.
Learn what qualifies as quality furniture, and research manufacturers and retailers to know who offers the type of products you want.More »
3. Mix it Up with Affordable Furniture
There is no need for all your furniture to cost a lot of money. Mix up high quality furniture with well designed, more affordable furniture. Determine which pieces are important to you and splurge on those.
4. How to Buy Vintage Furniture
Buying vintage furniture or indeed used furniture of any kind is a great way to buy quality furniture for less money. You can buy pieces that are well made for a fraction of what you would pay for new pieces.More »
5. Watch for Sales
Look for sales, especially big ones like Labor Day sale or Black Friday sales. End of the year sales are great too, as retailers look to get rid of old and discontinued lines to make room for newer ones. While you are out shopping make friends with your salesperson to be advised of upcoming sales and best prices.More »
6. Look for Floor Models
If you are willing to buy a floor model from a retail store, you can save a considerable amount of money. Floor models come to you on an as is basis, and are often marked down. If the piece seems suitable for your space, go for it.
7. Build Your Collection
Don't try to buy all your furniture at once or as set. Start looking for quality pieces once you have determined your needs and style. Build a collection of pieces you absolutely love one piece at a time. Don't waste your time buying sets.
8. Learn to Refinish
If you plan to invest in vintage furniture learning to refinish or reupholster is an absolute must. Either that or try to find someone whom you trust to do a good job.
Refinishing requires time, patience and the right tools. Today it isn't that difficult to find water based materials with low VOC.
9. Stay Away from Fads
If you want to build a timeless collection, then stay away from fads. Don't buy furniture that is in a style that you do not absolutely love. In a few years the piece will still be with you, but the fad will be gone. Buy a style and color that gives you pleasure beyond today.
10. Look for Different Sources
Look for many different sources to buy your furniture from the neighborhood retail store to a manufacturer's outlet store, online stores, auctions, garage sales, estate sales and consignment stores. Keep looking till you find what you are looking for at a price that you love. The hunt is half the fun.
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