How to Furnish an Apartment on A Tight Budget

Getting an apartment and furnishing it is another thing altogether. No matter how frugal you are, you sure don’t want your apartment  looking like a plain hall. We understand that paying rent can be quite expensive, but you can still furnish and decorate your apartment even when operating with a tight budget.

First things first. Before you start ordering a piece of furniture, you need to be sure of the size of your apartment first. If you operate on guesswork, you might end up with furniture that is too small, too big or just isn’t right for your apartment. Plus, furniture doesn’t come cheap; in the US alone, furniture stores sold $113.78 billion. Therefore, you cannot afford to make the wrong choice when it comes to furnishing your apartment, especially when on a tight budget.

7 ways to furnish your apartment on a budget

      Check out online marketplaces and popular affordable stores

IKEA

This is a Swedish retailer shop that houses everything you will need to furnish your apartment. And many of their products are inexpensive and range from coffee tables, shower curtains, bedroom sets, you just name it, and you are likely to find it at IKEA. A great item to look for is futon beds. The frames are easy to repaint and decorate. Many styles allow the bed to fold up to become a couch, this makes for a great space saver. Here is a great resource for the best affordable Ikea futons.

Target

Students and singles who are looking for very affordable furniture must check out Target. Imagine getting TV stands and simple futons for not more than $50. They are known for offering budget-friendly furniture, but also partners with designers to provide in-house brands that are quite popular. One thing though, when stepping into Target, make sure you have a list of the basic things you want to buy. People are known to step into Target and buy more than they wanted to buy because of how affordable items over there are. And for some places, when you spend more than $35 worth of items, you qualify for free shipping. Heres another post on choosing functional furniture for the elderly.

Walmart

There is no way we can forget to mention Walmart when looking for good furniture that may not be too cheap but won’t tear your budget either. And when compared to Wayfair, which is another place to check out affordable furniture, Walmart may offer the same thing you found at Wayfair but at a cheaper rate.

Check out Flea Markets and Local Garage Sales

People are known to visit these places to not just find affordable furniture items but vintage ones as well. But flea markets and garage sales are great places to find very cheap items that won’t leave a hole in your pocket. People always dispose of chairs, tables and other furniture they no longer have need for in exchange for a little money. And so, you will definitely find something there. 

Refurbish Old Items

Many times, when you check out local garage sales and stores that are known to sell very cheap furniture items, you may see items that have gone through wear and tear. Such items many times are offered at very low prices, as an added offer or completely free of charge. If you already have a chair and find a table that a few strokes of paint can bring back to life being offered at a giveaway rate, go for it.

Check Out Thrift Stores

Going for used furniture is another way to save big on your budget. You can find good furniture items for your apartment at thrift stores. Although there are online thrift stores, physical stores like Habitat for Humanity ReStores and its likes offer you the opportunity to see what you are going for before parting with your money. Apart from the brick and mortar stores, you can enjoy the convenience of shopping for thrift items online where you find more options to choose from. Thrift stores are known to receive some items for free and they offer it to the public at really low prices.

     Mobile Apps

Mobile apps like LetGo and OfferUp are great mobile options where you can find and buy furniture locally at affordable rates. You won’t have to worry about being scammed as they verify sellers and buyers before they can conduct a business transaction. While at it, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace are great places you should check out as well.

      Craigslist

Craigslist is a huge marketplace for local people looking to sell or buy an item. You will be surprised to find used handmade pieces, coffee tables, cushion and other collectibles in very good condition at good rates. You can always search for what you are interested in buying when you visit the website. But make sure you are careful to not fall victim to scammers.

     Swap with People

You can swap what you have with someone that has what you are looking for. You can also ask your family members and friends if they have furniture items they no longer use or willing to sell at a cheap rate. Some of them have items they have been looking to dispose of and will be glad to give them out.

Final Thoughts!

There you have our 7 ways to furnish your apartment even on a tight budget. If you are looking for more options, here are other ways to spend less when furnishing your apartment. Following this guide will help you get items that people will hardly believe when you tell them how much you spent on them.