Furnishing a home on a budget is easier than you might think. In fact, it can be surprisingly satisfying! The trick is to use clever hacks and think a little more creatively. Don’t worry if this isn’t familiar territory. Finding cheap home furnishings is something anyone can do – and we’re going to show you just how easy it is.
Repurpose existing furniture
Repurposing furniture you already own is a great way to furnish your first home more affordably. The key is to look beyond what you’ve been using the item for to date and focus on its potential instead. Once you shift your mindset in this direction, you’ll never see your furniture the same way again. That no-longer-needed desk becomes a much-needed dressing table. TV units transform into hallway shoe benches. Bookshelves find a new lease of life as a living room bar. There really is no limit to what your furniture can transform into if you’re willing to use your imagination.
Build rather than buy
Another way to save money on furnishing a first-time home is by building items yourself. Whether it’s a set of scaffolding shelves or a coffee table made from a cable drum, there are so many home DIY builds you can easily do with just a few everyday tools and a little determination. YouTube is a great resource for finding free step-by-step guides you can follow along to – perfect if you’re attempting home DIY for the first time. You can also save on materials by visiting local recycling centres and salvage yards. A quick google search in your area is sure to bring up a list of local sites near you.
Shop second-hand
These days, shopping for second-hand home furnishings can be done without even leaving your sofa. The internet is awash with websites like gumtree, eBay, and Facebook marketplace, where ordinary renters and homeowners advertise pre-owned furnishings at much lower prices than buying new. It’s basically the same as buying a second-hand car or even a home that’s been lived in by other families. Sites such as freecycle even offer items for free, meaning you can furnish your home without spending any money at all – it doesn’t get more affordable than that.
Get creative with shelving
While cupboards and cabinets will set you back hundreds of pounds, shelving offers you a cost-effective way of achieving usable storage in your home. As well as being cheap to buy new, shelves are something you can easily fashion yourself out of all sorts of materials. Just google cardboard box shelves if you don’t believe us! The other great thing about shelving versus traditional storage is that it doesn’t eat into your floorspace. Shelves can even be used as desks, bedside tables, and dressing tables. In fact, shelves are one of the most versatile types of home storage there is, offering you a way to affordably furnish every room in your home.
Take advantage of sales
If you’re determined to buy new but you’re low on funds, home sales are an excellent way to make your budget stretch further. Some of the best home furniture sales happen at the end of summer and winter, when retailers look to clear unsold stock to make space for new lines. Black Friday, Boxing Day, and January are also key sale periods for home clearance, and a great time to go shopping for ‘big ticket’ items like beds, dining sets, and sofas. You’ll also find retailers offering mid-season sales as well as spontaneous offers and flash sales. Subscribing to brand newsletters and social feeds will ensure you’re always among the first to know when retailers drop their prices.
Use money-saving hacks
We’ve already talked about how shelves can offer you an affordable storage alternative to cabinets, but this is one of thousands of hacks that can help you furnish your first home for less. Other ideas include colour-matching luxe paints to save on premium brands, as well as upcycling old furniture with new hardware. Content-sharing platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are a great resource for finding tried and tested furnishing hacks you can attempt at home. From clever ways to customise IKEA bookcases to creating panelled walls from MDF moulding, you’ll be amazed at the final finish you can achieve, just by taking a few money-saving shortcuts.
Still saving for your dream first home?
Buying your first home is such an exciting milestone – after all, a home is one of the most significant purchases you’re likely to make in your lifetime.
One of the key steps to making your home ownership dream a reality is securing the funds you need to make the purchase. That’s where speaking to Threshold Mortgage Advice can help. As well as being able to guide you through the process, our mortgage brokers can compare rates of interest across different lenders and even apply for a mortgage-in-principle on your behalf.
To find out how much you could potentially borrow and at what rates of interest, book an appointment to speak with a mortgage advisor for a fee free financial assessment.