Whether you are purchasing a new home or just revamping an old one, new furnishing can cost you a lot of money. From new furniture for the bedroom to finding entertainment in teh living room, we all strive to find ways to save money. Here are some tips to furnishing your home for cheap.
The Bedroom
If you need a new bed frame, search yard sales and thrift stores for a used one. If you cannot find one that is the right size, consider looking for a universal bed frame. Universal bed frames are inexpensive compared to its sized counterparts and will fit any size bed mattress you end up buying. It works great if you want to use it for another room later on, but have a smaller or bigger mattress for that particular room.
Hit discount and overstock stores such as Marshalls and Ross for sheets. These stores typically have a great selection of sheets, bed sets and comforters and most are made by recognizable names. You can find quality material with brand names to back them, at discounted prices.
If you are looking to maximize storage space, use risers under your bed. They are affordable, and do no use up any more floor space than you already are with the bed. Use long plastic storage containers that fit under the bed to organize your things.
If you like to create an ambiance in your bedroom and love candles, you know that they do not come cheap. Instead of purchasing designer candle containers, you can make your own. Gather clear containers such as crystal bowls or small vases and fill the bottom with decorative touches like shells, beads or pebbles. Place cheap votive candles inside your homemade containers for a nice way to beautify your bedroom.
The Bathroom
In the bathroom, you will need all sorts of cleaners that keep your appliances sparkling and disinfected. Rather than spending tons of money on many different cleaners, just buy one. Mix while vinegar, baking soda and water for a great all-purpose cleaner. Use it to clean the toilets, bathtub and even the floors. since you are no buying a bunch of different bottles and containers, an added bonus is that your cleaners will not take up too much room in your cabinet.
If your family tends to go through hand soap really quickly, switch to a foam soap pump. Purchase regular soap and cut it down with water and put it in a foaming soap dispenser. Fill the bottle about 1/4 with soap and the rest with water. It cleans just as well as regular soap, and the foam is even quicker to rinse off your hands. This trick will stretch your soap refills a long way.
If you typically have to empty out those little bathroom trash cans often, switch to a bigger trash can. Sure it will take up a little more space, but not much. The circumference of the trash can itself is not much bigger. You will be able to use regular trash bags, and you will not have to empty them out as often. If the big trash can takes up too much room, you can simply hang a plastic bag from the bathroom door knob to throw trash into, completely freeing up the floor space.
The Living Room
If you need to refurnish your living room, look at garage sales and thrift stores for couches, love seats and arm chairs. You may be able to find some that are in decent shape for a great price. Also, some warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club sell furniture as well.
To decorate your living room, look for cheap picture frames. If you have some handiwork experience, you can easily make them yourself. Have everyone in the family help with the painting and decorating for a nice family activity.
Since the living room will most likely be the gathering point for your family, you will need entertainment. Stocking up on board games is a fun and inexpensive way to make sure that there is always something fun to do. Shop thrift stores and after-holiday toy sales for new games.
If you are a family that loves to watch television together but your cable bill is weighing you down, consider getting rid of cable and rent movies periodically. You can also sigh up for Redbox or Netflix and for a small monthly fee, stream movies and television to your TV.
The Kitchen
Instead of buying dish clothes, rip up old t-shirts. The cotton from an old shirt is absorbent and great for wiping wet dishes and cleaning up spills. Also, if you had a cloth diapered baby, old cotton diapers are perfect for cleaning in the kitchen too.
The same cleaner you used in the bathroom, the mix of vinegar, water and baking soda, works well in the kitchen too. Pour some into a spray bottle for homemade, all-purpose spray cleanser.
When purchasing food, shop sales and clip coupons when possible. Combine sale prices and coupons for the best deals. If you find that the store brand items are even cheaper than sale prices, purchase those instead.