Furnishing a home can be expensive, whether you’ve just moved into a new home or refreshing your current abode. But it doesn’t have to be. With creativity and resourcefulness, you can furnish your home without breaking the bank.
Here are the top tips on furnishing and renovating a new home, even on a budget.
Get Creative with Paint Colors
Paint is one of the most affordable ways to transform a room. And don’t feel like you need to stick to traditional white walls—get creative with your color palette. Choose light colors like pale blue, green, or lavender to make your living room look spacious. For a cozier feel, go for jewel tones like emerald or ruby. And don’t forget about the power of a statement wall—pick one wall in each room to paint in a bold color or with a fun pattern. You can even be bold with a black accent wall to give an edgy vibe to your space.
For the bedrooms, try to mix and match different paint colors to create a unique and personal space for each family member. Kids will love bright and cheery rooms, so you can paint their walls with cartoon-inspired colors like light purple (for a Barney-themed room) or pale green and blue (for a Finding Nemo room). For a more calming atmosphere in the adults’ bedrooms, opt for earth tones or white walls. Since they are easy on the eyes, these colors promote a good night’s sleep.
Shop Secondhand
Regarding furniture and appliances, think outside the big box store. Check out secondhand stores, estate sales, and online marketplaces for gently used pieces that fit your budget. You can often find great deals on quality furniture that only needs a little TLC. Estate sales usually have a wide variety of slightly-used furniture and home décor items such as rugs, lamps, and wall art. You can often negotiate prices too!
When it comes to appliances, stick to the basics. If you’re on a tight budget, you only need bells and whistles that come with the latest model. A simple fridge, stove, and dishwasher will do just fine for your kitchen. For your living room, look for a slightly used television at a secondhand store—you can find great deals on older model TVs that still work perfectly fine. You can also shop for furniture in yard sales around the neighborhood.
DIY Whenever Possible
Got a knack for DIY? Put your skills to use and tackle some easy (and inexpensive) home improvement projects, like painting cabinet doors or hanging floating shelves. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing that you did those beautiful projects with your own two hands!
You can build some furniture pieces from scratch if you have enough tools. If you’re not handy, there’s no need to worry. You can still find plenty of easy DIY projects that even a novice can handle, like stenciling walls or recovering old chairs. Perfecting your DIY skills is also a great way to offer your service and final product to others looking for affordable furniture. Talk about additional income!
Invest in Multipurpose Furniture Pieces
When shopping for furniture, look for pieces that serve multiple purposes—like ottomans that open up for storage or coffee tables with built-in shelves. A Murphy bed is also a great space-saving solution if you’re tight on square footage.
In the living room, for example, you can use a coffee table with built-in shelves to store books, magazines, and other knick-knacks. Or, you can get a sofa with a pull-out bed so that you have a place to sleep for guests. You can use a dresser with a mirror as your vanity in the bedroom. And in the kitchen, you can get an island that doubles as a dining table. You can get a bunk bed with a built-in desk for the kids’ bedroom, so they can study and do their homework.
Be Smart About Lighting
Lighting can make or break a room, so it’s important to be strategic about your lighting choices. If you have a small space, you’ll want to avoid using floor lamps and opt for wall sconces or pendant lights instead. And if you have a large space, you can use floor lamps to create different lighting zones.
In the living room, for example, you can use a floor lamp in the corner to create a reading nook. And in the bedroom, you can use table lamps on either side of the bed for a softer light. You can also get creative and utilize your windows as a light source. For example, you can hang sheer curtains to let in natural light during the day. Rooflights are also a great way to bring in natural light—ensure you get frosted or opaque ones, so you don’t have to worry about privacy.
To Summarize
When furnishing a home on a tight budget, it’s important to be creative and resourceful. There are plenty of places where you can find gently used furniture and home décor items, like secondhand stores, estate sales, and yard sales. And if you’re handy, you can tackle some easy DIY projects to save even more money. With the right TLC, you can turn your house into a home—regardless of your budget.
