Buying furniture: What’s worth splurging on and what’s not

So you just moved into a new apartment and don’t have so much as a bed to your name.

Should you just go to IKEA and load up your car with everything you need there, or head to a fancy-ish furniture showroom to buy some pieces that have the potential to put your bank account in jeopardy?

Yes, the cost of furnishing a new home can add up pretty quickly, but buying cheap furniture that will likely fall apart in just a couple of years won’t necessary cost you less in the long-run.

Likewise, investing in sturdy, timeless pieces that you can move with from the get-go can end up saving you more money as well as a ton of misery, time and energy in the future.

With that said, how do you decide which items to save on and which ones you should splurge on?

Here’s our breakdown of your next moves:

FURNITURE THAT YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME ON: SPLURGE

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It can be tempting to splash your cash on a shiny new TV the minute you move in, but if you barely have time to watch TV, it’s probably worth making room in your budget for something else instead.

To start with, consider the areas of your new home where you plan to spend the most time in.

For example, you’d typically spend 7-8 hours a night sleeping, so it would make sense that your bed frame and mattress should deserve a healthy slice of your furnishing budget.

If you love curling up on your sofa to read for hours a day, then a long-lasting, beautifully-made sofa could be a priority for you.

Love cooking? Investing in a kitchen that will allow you to nurture your passion for whipping up home-cooked meals for friends and family should be on the top of your shopping list.

STATEMENT PIECES: SPLURGE

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These are pieces that catch your as soon as you enter a room and showcase your unique sense of style as well personality.

They’re the ones that make any space feel like yours, and you want to keep even as you move on from one property to another—the beautifully-embroidered armchair that reflects your love for all things intricate or the vintage coffee table that reminds you of your grandma’s living room.

While it’s important to take functionality first and foremost into consideration, never discount the way you feel about a piece of furniture before you drop cash for it.

STORAGE: SAVE

Photo: Brina Blum / Unsplash

Now that you know where to spend your hard-earned cash, let’s dive into the areas where you should pull back a little more.

Our first recommendation? Items in your home where pure function takes precedence. These include rugs, throws, cushions, shelves, cabinets and hidden drawers in your closet.

Remember: Some of these items will eventually break down, get soiled and need replacing, or you’ll likely outgrow them altogether, so it makes sense to look for affordable deals at IKEA, Target or sites like overstock.com rather than spend a pretty penny on them.

OCCASIONAL-USE PIECES: SAVE

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Unless you’re living with family or like to throw frequent parties, it’s best to save on items that don’t get much traffic like bedside tables, dining chairs as well as garden and guest room furniture.

If you’re on the market for old, hardwood pieces but are on a tight budget, consider skipping the furniture showrooms altogether in favour of thrift and discount furniture stores, as well as sites like Craigslist, eBay or Freecycle, where you can score used gems for cheap or even free.

Should you choose to go down the used furniture route, be sure to examine the pieces you’re considering for damage, wear and tear, and pests so that they don’t hitch a ride home with you.

Now that you’re armed with the dos and don’ts of furniture shopping, it’s time for you to start shopping around so that you can make the best call for your space and budget.

Remember: Cheap won’t always save you money and expensive won’t necessarily cost you more.

Have fun and good luck!

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Feature photo: Karolina Szczur / Unsplash