In the last post, we went over a list of items that are essential for a new home. Today, we are going to look at 5 tips for setting up that new home on a budget.
1. Know Your Aesthetic
The first tip to save money setting up your new home is to know what look you want to achieve. Do you like a minimalist look? Heavily carved? Do you like all white or white with dark or white with blue? Is your preference square edges or curved? Traditional or modern? By honing in on a style aesthetic, you can make sure all your pieces (and accessories like linens and cushions) match for a cohesive look. You will spend less money on pieces that don’t suit your other items or that you don’t really love.
2. Decide Exactly What You Want
Be specific. Write down exactly what you are looking for. How does this help when setting up a new home on a budget? You will be less likely to be swayed by pieces that don’t fit your aesthetic and you will remember exactly what you ARE looking for. For example, let’s say you need a new coffee table. Your style aesthetic is dark, curved wood. So your list says “~1m long, dark wood, round or oval”.
3. Shop Sales
Tips number 3 is to shop sales. Many stores do sales for end of financial year, Black Friday, Boxing Day and any time in between. Armed with your list of exactly what you want, you can avoid the trap of buying something just because it is on sale and really score some bargains on items that you want. This is especially good for sheets, towels and cookware, though the furniture stores also do sales.
4. Look Around and Be Open-Minded
Check out Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Craigslist, thrift stores, yard sales, garage sales, Buy Swap Sell groups – there are so many options! Buying second hand is a great way to set up a new home on a budget, as well as preventing a wonderful item ending up in landfill. If you are looking for something that is a little more unusual, it may take some time to find but that’s all part of the fun of treasure hunting!
5. Consider Doing Some Work
Our last tip today – consider doing some DIY! Maybe you found a table in the perfect shape and size. There’s just one problem – it’s black instead of the white you wanted. Could you repaint it? Do you love the latest season trend of white and gold but can’t afford a new table? Buy or repurpose a plain white one and add the gold yourself. Just be aware of your own skill and time limits. Completely stripping and restaining a large bureau might not be a viable option – it might be best to pass and find another piece that is closer to what you want.
So there you have it – my 5 tips for setting up a new home on a budget. If you would like to read the list of items I feel are necessities for every new home, click here.
Hasta luego!
