Furnishing your home is a dauntless task no matter the situation – whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve relocated to larger digs. If you want quality pieces that aren’t built of plasterboard and glue, furnishing a home can be a time and money-consuming challenge. Finding great furniture, on the other hand, does not have to cost you your whole salary.

It’s no surprise that the costs of dining furniture, lounge furniture, and bedroom furniture may quickly pile up—not to mention the cost of all the decor pieces that will fill the nooks and crannies. Check out this list of ways to save on furnishing your home.

1. Get Thrify

The Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and other thrift and consignment stores frequently offer high-quality things at low costs. If you’re willing to look in a few different places, you can find some great offers.

Buying secondhand is (often) an opportunity to snag some major deals.

Shopping secondhand also allows you to find unique pieces that could assist in giving your space a distinct, charming look.

2. Freebie Lookout

On trash night, depending on where you reside, you might be able to find some good furniture. And if you notice a dumpster outside someone’s house, don’t be hesitant about stopping and looking for anything worth collecting and restoring. Almost any piece of furniture may be revitalized with a fresh coat of paint.

There are also Facebook groups and marketplace, which advertise free stuff. Find a local ‘Buy Nothing‘ group near you on Facebook. People want to get rid of things quickly, and with your imagination, you could turn their junk into your decor.

3. Scour the neighborhood

Bringing a space to life is a marathon, not a sprint. Go slowly. When you’re in the mood to buy new furniture, sometimes the excitement of the process and the goal to fill a space with all the pieces you want can cause you to rush through it, quickly racking up purchases that take you way past your budget.

Try to remember that there is no rush to finish your space. So check out local garage and yard sales every weekend. Slowly you could find the best pieces over time.

Also, when people move, get divorced, or lose a loved one, they frequently have to sell their possessions quickly. Estate sales are one of the easiest ways to do so, and they’re also a terrific way to furnish your home on a budget.

By scanning listings on EstateSales.net, you can find some solid deals.

4. Buy New, but on SALE

Purchasing anything new may appear to be an expensive indulgence. If you’re careful, however, you can get some fantastic prices. Sign up for email marketing to your favorite stores and you will be in the know for when things go on sale. Patience and creativity is key.

Or if you’ve spent weeks looking for something specific, it can be worth it to spend a bit more to find the right piece of furniture—even if it means paying full price. After you’ve purchased some furniture, you may need to spend extra to preserve a certain design or taste.

Similarly, you may want to splurge on specific goods to ensure that they are of high quality and clean. (For example, instead of buying a cheap secondhand mattress, buy a new one.) The key is to recognize when it’s worthwhile to spend the money. If you really need something and can’t locate it for a lower price, spending extra can be the way to go.

5. DIY

If you have your heart set on a piece of furniture but can’t find it in your price range while shopping, consider making it yourself. Options abound for ways to bring customized items to life, whether you create it from the ground up, change a budget-friendly piece (from IKEA or elsewhere), or refresh used furniture.

In the long term, a space that has been decorated slowly and thoughtfully will feel far more like a reflection of you than one that has been thrown together in a matter of weeks. The wait will be worthwhile, as it is with most things in life.

Furnishing an entire home (or even just a room) can be incredibly stressful. That’s why it helps to have a plan. Sit down, develop a numbered list of the furniture you need, and prioritize. That way, you’ll know what’s worth splurging on or if you should wait a bit longer for a better deal.

The post How to Furnish your Home on a Budget appeared first on Melissa Tucci.