Where to find furniture for a great price
It's not just first-time homeowners who may have had to find budget furniture. Almost everyone, at one time or another, has had to furnish a home or apartment on a budget. Most people have stories about hand me down furniture from parents or grandparents or great finds at a garage sale. But eventually you will want to trade out the hand-me-downs from family and strangers for things that would actually help you create a more mature and coordinated home. If you are creative you can find ways to stretch even a mini budget without sacrificing your taste for nice things. There are several places that you can find bargains. Here is where to find furniture for a great price-
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- Garage sales-You just might be able to walk next door on a Saturday morning and find just the piece you need. What your neighbor is getting rid of may be just the piece you are looking for. It is important that when shopping at a garage sale, always bring cash, look for defects, and be ready to negotiate on the price. Keep in mind that it is usually expected and you can often get a great bargain.
- Flea markets-There are many communities and colleges that stage flea markets on weekend's at large parking lots. Vendors set up their wares and you can then wander around looking for what you need.
- Your neighborhood dumpster or curbside- As you take a walk around your neighborhood, you should keep your eyes open for furniture pieces left on the curb. The end of the month is a good time, since that is when a lot of people are clearing out their homes to get ready to move.
- Thrift and junk stores- Local charities, like Goodwill, and the Salvation Army often provide thrift stores where people can bring their household discards and unneeded furniture to donate for a tax deduction. The money that is raised from making sales goes into your local community to help those in need. Keep in mind that it might take a few trips and perseverance, but if you are successful you will really get a bargain.
- Consignment stores- A great strategy for shopping at a consignment store is to introduce yourself to the owner and ask them to call when your needed item comes in. Consignment stores work when people bring their things to be sold and they get only a portion of the sale.
- Model home furnishings- Most home builders contract with designers to decorate and furnish their model homes. If you see a model you like, you can ask the sales office when they will remove the furnishings. Many contractors even offer end of season sales with deep discounts at the end of the season or when their model home is being sold. You just might even be able to buy a roomful of furniture that is already coordinated by a designer. And you may just get the pieces well below market price. You should beware of fading, spots, or wear-and-tear.
- Design center showroom samples- Most large cities have Design Centers and Merchandise Marts that have "sample sales". These sales are most often monthly or quarterly where discontinued furnishings that have been used as showroom samples are sold. Keep a lookout for them since the sales are often advertised in local newspapers.
- Things to remember when looking. You should not expect to find exactly what you want or need. You might have to be creative and adapt what you can find to be what you need. Try to see pieces for the details and lines they have, not just for what you can put in them. Pass on buying a piece if you will need to do too much work on it. You need to think about your skills and the time you have and the space you have to work in.
