5 Ways to Find Affordable Furniture for Your Apartment

One of the great joys for homeowners everywhere is being able to customize their interior décor according to their heart’s content. That’s a pleasure and pastime in which you can indulge only if you own your own property.

When you are stuck renting, you’re also stuck abiding by the bylaws set down by your landlord, and that often includes having to live with whatever restrictions they may have on furniture. When you own a property of your own, you’re able to take a far more creative tact.

Of course, just because you’re legally able to decorate your interior doesn’t mean you’re financially free to do so.

Furniture & home decor can be expensive, and those costs can limit your interior décor and imagination just as much as any landlord.

It doesn’t have to be that way, however. There are ways to find great furnishings on a budget.

1) Make a List

First and foremost, you’re going to want to look around your apartment and figure out what kind of furnishings you need most.

One of the biggest obstacles to redecorating an apartment is feeling like you have to revamp the whole space. Redecorating takes money, and it can be very easy to feel as though you have to redo everything and spend a fortune.

This is one of the biggest and most problematic rabbit holes you can possibly fall down – and it’s simply not necessary.

Instead of snapping up everything in sight, you want to be discerning with the items you buy. That means making a list ahead of time.

Take a look around your room, take a look at pictures and style guides online, think it over, and start to make a list of the items and decorating styles you want.

You can make this into a social event as well. Ask your friends for their opinion on your apartment space, and what kind of furnishings could add a little life and space to it.

What’s more, once you make your list, you’ll want to take a friend along when shopping for your new furnishings. It never hurts to have another pair of bargain-hunting aesthetics-evaluating eyes.

2) First-Rate Second-Hand Options

Another big issue that can come up in the course of trying to redecorate your apartment for less is the fact that new furnishings, like most any new products, are expensive. That’s especially so when it comes to designer products.

If you’re going to decorate on a budget, you’re going to need to eschew these options, at least in part. That doesn’t mean you need to opt for bargain-basement furnishings, but it does mean you’ll need to find an alternative to that $500 designer couch you’ve been gazing at. To expand on this have a look at our 20 tips to save thousands when decorating.

Then again, maybe that same designer couch or one similar to it is available at a lower price from second-hand sellers. This is the great hope of everyone looking to decorate an apartment on a budget.

As we’ll see with some of the later options, there are many different shopping options you can choose to score inexpensive quality apartment furnishings. For any of these options, however, it’s always a good idea to have a friend review the veracity of the offerings.

3) About Online Shopping

You’ll also want to make sure that you are buying on a site you can trust. It is typically better to stick to Amazon, eBay, and specialty sites which deal with second-hand furniture.

While you’ll find many offerings on Craigslist, the site’s notorious reputation for questionable listings should be taken into account.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t find anything interesting or worthwhile on there, but it definitely means you’ll want to check anything you choose to buy on the site before considering making a deal.

Another solution is to shop on local-oriented online stores and wait for clearance sales. An example being the Miami furniture store Rana Furniture, which serve the local Miami population.

Clearance sales at local stores like this happen all the time, pretty much all year long. If you’re patient, you’ll have better chances of getting a suitable deal at one moment.

4) Yard Sales Are Your Friend

Then, there are yard sales. These are obviously far more randomized than online options. You never know when a yard sale will pop up or what they will contain. That’s part of what makes them maddening and exciting at the same time.

That said, yard sales are definitely your friend when it comes to acquiring low-cost, second-hand furnishings. The price on these items is often even less expensive than you might find online, in part because you don’t have to worry about paying for shipping.

At the same time, however, there are mechanisms in place on good websites for ensuring the quality of your delivery, and some sites have screening processes for sellers.

When it comes to yard sales, none of that’s in place. There are no quality control mechanisms in place, so you’ll need to check anything you buy with care. In addition, you’ll need to exercise care yourself as you transfer the furniture from the yard to your home.

5) Good Timing

Last, but not least, there’s the matter of timing. If you want to get some affordable furnishings for your home, one of the best strategies might be to wait.

Just like fashion, the furniture world goes through seasons. What’s “in” one season might be “out” another – but still look highly attractive to you.

What’s more, as the seasons change, items go down in price, so if you have your eyes on a designer furnishing, but can’t meet the price tag now, simply waiting a few months might make a huge difference.

Of course, your furnishings can make a huge difference in your apartment décor scheme, which is what makes all this bargain hunting so worth it in the first place.

Author’s BIO: Lori Wade is a journalist from Louisville. She is a content writer for who have experience in small editions, Lori is now engaged in news and conceptual articles on the topic of home decor and home renovation. If you are interested in furniture or lifestyle, you can find her on  Twitter & LinkedIn. She has good experience and knowledge in the field.