Skip to content

Budget Furniture Shopping Tips

Shopping for furniture can be stressful. Do you pay more for pieces that you know are well built and last? Or do you pick up more affordable pieces that will be gentler on the bank account?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• How long do I plan to stay in my current home?
What is my design style?
• Are children in my future?
• What is my financial situation?
• Am I willing to spend time taking care of my furniture?

If you’re planning on staying in your house for a while, know that you love a certain type of design, and have the money to do so, then it absolutely makes sense to pay for high-quality pieces of furniture.

If, on the other hand, you’re living in an apartment, just had a baby, and have no clue what kind of design suits your personality, then you’ll want to pick up functional and affordable pieces.

What About Cheap Furniture Stores?

It’s true that you get what you pay for. A dresser from Ikea will not last as long as a walnut dresser with dovetail joints. That’s okay.

So are affordable pieces from places like Wayfair, Target, and Pier One. Consider Craigslist and even garage sales, especially for wood pieces that you can spruce up with a fresh coat of paint.

Estate sales can also be a great opportunity, as Baby Boomers are looking to downsize and get rid of their dining tables, bedroom sets, and armoires.

The bottom line is that if you’re not going to buy high-quality pieces that last, it’s smart to spend as little as possible. You can upgrade when the time is right.

What you don’t want to do is spend several hundred dollars on a nightstand that’s basically stapled and glued together.

How Do I Find My Style?

If you’re opting for more “disposable” pieces, this is a great time to experiment and find your style.

Do you lean toward contemporary or Artistic Decor? How about the uncluttered, sleek look of mid-century modern?

You might even experiment with the Danish art of Hygge, which is actually as much about how your environment feels as it is about how it looks.

Once your toddler isn’t spilling juice and you’ve bought your first house, you’ll know exactly what you want. You’ll also be in a better position to pay for pieces that last.

About StorageMart

Most of us do a lot of moving on the road to settling down. There are times when it’s helpful (and can actually save you money) to use a storage unit for a short period of time.

At StorageMart, you can rent a unit as small as 25 square feet or up to the size of a garage. Our self storage units can be rented on a month-by-month basis and are always clean and well lit. Need more info? Check out our storage unit guide or rent a unit online today.