How to furnish your new home for less

Tips on how to furnish new homes on a budget

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. You can use this list later to help create a home inventory.

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.

Reframe how you view secondhand furniture

Buying secondhand furniture is probably the cheapest way to furnish your new home. But ‘secondhand’ is sometimes seen as ‘second-best’. Most pre-loved furniture doesn’t deserve this bad rap.

Plenty of furniture pieces are still sturdy and attractive, and are simply being replaced to something bigger, or due to changing tastes. And purchasing pre-owned furniture doesn’t just save you money: it also reduces the number of unwanted items ending up in landfill and lowers the demand for the resources required to produce new furniture.

Look at budget-friendly places to shop for furniture

Large retailers, discount department stores, and second-hand stores are all places to source more affordable furniture, from bedframes and mattresses, through to couches, bathroom fittings, dining tables, outdoor settings, bookshelves and desks (not to mention a huge range of decor items). 

Hoppers Crossing and Werribee in Melbourne's outer west are home to large clearance outlets, while Bunswick and Coburg in the northern suburbs are known for their op shops and secondhand furniture stores. South eastern suburbs such as Dandenong, Narre Warren and Springvale also have large furniture outlets, with the DIY flatpack format being a popular way to save money. 

The inner-city suburbs of Collingwood and Fitzroy are hubs for vintage, retro and designer secondhand furniture but the scarcity of many of these items has driven up prices in recent years. That means you may decide to spend more on a one piece of high-quality furniture, like a couch or table, and save money on bookshelves, cabinets, chairs and lamps. 

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. Online market places and local 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.

Remain savvy and alert for scams when browsing for furniture in online marketplaces. Paying in cash only and arranging for the goods to be transferred at a designated online marketplace safe exchange location (such as at a police station) are some ways you can mitigate risk.

Save on home decor by visiting op shops, flea markets, garage sales and kerbside collections

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. 

If you have the time, cast a broad net when looking for secondhand goods in-store. While op shops in inner-city Melbourne suburbs often don't carry larger goods like couches or beds due to size constraints, outer suburban op shops in suburbs such as Hoppers Crossing and Dandenong often do.

Regional op shops and secondhand stores can be even better, but keep in mind that the more accessible a store is, the more people will be shopping there for goods. If you're thinking of combining a road trip with furniture hunting, the Mill Markets in Geelong and Daylesford have a vast collection of secondhand, vintage and antique treasures.

Kerbside collections, or hard rubbish, is one way to find salvageable furniture that's free. Many neighbourhoods also have their own 'Buy Nothing' groups on social media, where people post items they no longer need and are happy to give away.

Op shops are a great place to find one-of-a-kind small decor goods at bargain prices as well. For instance, if you spent the majority of your furniture budget on a new fridge, bed frame and mattress, op shops can let you stretch your remaining funds further when it comes to decorative home trappings such as rugs, cushions, vases and knicknacks.

Prioritising certain decor items can also help save you money on your energy bills. Thick curtains and rugs can help insulate your home a reduce heating costs. This tip is great for renters too, who may not be able to install a new heater or fixed insulation. 

Learn how to effectively upcycle furniture

Undertaking an upcycling DIY project can give a pre-loved item a second life by repairing, restyling or modifying it into something ‘new’. 

If you're new to upcycling start small: timber items like dining chairs, bookshelves, drawers or end tables can be refreshed simply by sanding back and restaining or painting. Laminate items, which are common in op shops also aren't too hard to revamp with a lick of paint (just make sure you prime them properly first). 

Reupholstering soft furnishings like couches and chairs is also possible and a great way to breathe new life into a piece. Anything with fabric is a more involved task, however, so be prepared to put in more hours learning the tools of the trade and applying them to your masterpiece.

Do not try upcycling plumbing or electrical fixtures unless you are a qualified plumber or electrician. Furthermore the installation of such appliances should only ever be completed by a professional tradesperson.

Wait for retail sales

If secondhand furniture 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 discounts. 

Price tracking website like BuyWisely can also compare the price of the same item of furniture across multiple retailers (online and bricks and mortar). They also track the price of the item over time, which can allow you to make an educated guess as to when they might go on sale.

If your contents insurance includes new-for-old replacement (like RACV Contents Insurance does in certain circumstances) be sure to include the full, not discounted, retail price of the object when calculating your individual insurance needs.