Furniture Shopping Tips: The Best Secrets For Decorating A Home

I am both the best and worst person to be writing a post about when it is okay to get inexpensive and when it is okay to splash out and get more expensive pieces when buying your furniture. Because while you and I both love furniture and design, I think we can agree there are bigger things in life — if buying a piece of expensive furniture comes at the cost of your family vacation, or stressing about never-ending interest charges from your high-interest credit card balance, just do not. [Sources: 6]

Not all of us have infinite budgets to the point that we can afford overpriced furniture or decorative pieces costing several hundred dollars. You fall in love with a piece of furniture, but even with a helpful coupon you found, it is out of your budget. Buying is a furniture-buying mistake you want to avoid when decorating your new home. [Sources: 0, 1, 7]

The increase is the reason that a whole new set of furniture in a brand-new house should not be considered a costly luxury. The costs of constantly replacing cheaply made, poorly made furniture quickly adds up to the price of one top-quality piece you will likely own your entire life. Secondhand is an excellent option you can feel good about — you are saving perfectly nice furniture from a landfill a lot of times. It can also save you money long term: It is far more cost effective to replace your throw pillows, comforters, prints, and even carpets rather than buying new couches and furniture every couple of years. [Sources: 4, 6, 7, 9]

Try painting your walls, adding big area rugs, and buying colorful furniture. From rearrangement of your furniture to a fresh coat of paint, etc., it really does help to bring a breath of fresh air to your living room. Rearranging furniture is the best way to give yourself a new look and feel without spending money. Buying a used piece at the furniture store, which is sitting on the floor, is a good way to have top-of-the-line furniture brands for a fraction of the price. [Sources: 0, 3, 5, 8]

This can work on an individual piece, or a whole set of furniture, as long as you are OK taking something that others have tested. A crucial piece in any house, the investment pieces are going to be the pieces you will be using most often and keeping the longest, so you want to pick something that lasts. [Sources: 7, 8]

You will want to have measurements for the rooms that you are decorating, dimensions of the furniture that is currently there, and measurements of your entryways before starting shopping for something new. Do not ever purchase any furniture without knowing your room’s measurements & other furniture pieces in the room. If your room is small, you will have to get smaller-sized carpets, simply ensure the front legs of the furniture are in the carpet. Moving house can be a costly time, so it is good to be aware of how much you really have to spend on furniture before setting your heart on a couch and dining table that is well beyond your budget. [Sources: 4, 7, 8, 9]

Until we win the lottery, we are going to have to make do with trusting our instincts – and taking plenty of interior design advice wherever we can get it. [Sources: 2]

##### Sources #####

[0]: https://www.onecrazyhouse.com/decorating-budget-secrets-need-know/

[1]: https://www.polishedhabitat.com/save-money-decor/

[2]: https://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/interior-designers/tips/g864/decorating-secrets/

[3]: https://athomewiththebarkers.com/cheap-home-decorating-ideas/

[4]: https://poshpennies.com/how-to-make-home-look-expensive/

[5]: https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/dabito-design-tips

[6]: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/tips-buying-furniture-home/

[7]: https://www.danetti.com/blogs/lifestyle/8-top-tips-on-how-to-furnish-a-new-build-home-a-new-homeowner-s-ultimate-guide

[8]: https://www.extraspace.com/blog/home-organization/tips-for-buying-new-furniture/

[9]: https://www.thedecoratingcoach.com/blog/pro-decorator-tips-and-sources-to-use-when-shopping-for-furniture-and-home-decor