How to furnish your new home for less

White goods like fridges are best bought from stores. Image: Getty

Make a prioritised list of what you need

Walk around your new home and make a list of everything you think each room needs, from large items like beds and couches to small items like lamps and picture frames.

Next, rank your list by order of priority and assign a rough budget for each piece. Essential household items like a fridge, mattress and washing machine should be first, since you need them to fulfil your basic needs. Conveniences like a couch, TV set and dining table should come next, followed by decorative furnishings like cushions and throws.

Most of your furniture budget should be assigned to your ‘essentials’ list, as you want quality items that will last for years – after all, you’ll feel the difference between extra money spent on a mattress compared to a dining table. The money you’ll save on buying second-hand ‘conveniences’ and ‘decorative’ furniture can also be put towards white goods like a fridge and washing machine so that you can enjoy a longer warranty and better energy star ratings.

You can find some great furniture at curbside collections. Image: Getty

Search online marketplaces

Once you know exactly what you’re looking for (and have committed to a budget for each piece), it’s time to jump online and start the search for second-hand furniture. Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and local online Buy/Sell/Swap groups are all great places to trawl through affordable pre-loved pieces. If you’ve seen furniture at branded furniture stores that you love, you can even search for the brand and model on these second-hand sites for the chance to nab your ideal furniture at a great price.

Keep in mind that sales generally happen very quickly on second-hand websites. If you find something you love, make an offer that day. If you can’t transport furniture yourself, check lists to make sure that delivery is an option. While some items are completely free, others come with a price. Haggling is acceptable on these second-hand websites – just keep your offers reasonable.

Visit local op shops, flea markets, curbside collections and garage sales

Don’t forget to visit in-person sites like local op shops, flea markets and garage sales. Try visiting charity shops multiple times over the weeks before your move, as they will constantly be stocked with fresh donations. Curbside collections, or hard rubbish, also often have perfectly good furniture left out on the street that you can take for free.

Upcycling furniture can be both cheap and rewarding. Image: Getty

Upcycle furniture that isn’t quite right

Upcycling is giving a pre-loved item a second life by repairing, restyling or modifying it into something ‘new’. For example, you can often sand down and repaint tables, sideboards, end tables and anything else made from solid wood with nothing more than sandpaper, a paintbrush and some paint. Reupholstering soft furnishings like couches and chairs is also fairly easy and a great way to breathe new life into a piece, with upholstery services widely available if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Consider waiting for upcoming sales

If second-hand furniture really isn’t your thing, or if you have your heart set on a particular item, why not wait to buy during seasonal sales cycles? Black Friday, Boxing Day and EOFY (End of Financial Year) sales always abound with steep discounts.

You can also shop for basic furniture items at stores like Kmart, Big W, Target, and even Aldi. The Swedish homewares store IKEA always has a wealth of furniture at a fraction of the price of other stores.