12 Realistic Tips for Saving Money on Furniture

Outfitting your home with furniture that you love can get expensive. Fortunately, Filipinos now have many more options for affordable quality furniture than ever before. If you’re on the hunt for affordable pieces, make sure to check out the tips below:

1.) Find Used Furniture Online

If you’re ok with buying used furniture pieces, online marketplaces can be a treasure trove of quality second hand furniture. You can often find fun and quirky pieces as well as furniture of classic and dependable designs for much lower than you would expect at traditional stores.

2.) Check Out Garage Sales

Garage sales are great places to find pre-loved furniture pieces at good prices. While these have been somewhat overtaken by online marketplaces, you should still check them out if you happen to find them being held in your neighborhood.

3.) Ask Family and Friends 

You’ll never know if there are people in your circles itching to get rid of a piece of furniture. You can ask around in group chats and social media groups to find out if someone you know is selling or giving away secondhand furniture that you could use. At the very least, your friends and relatives may be able to point you towards some low-cost options that fit your needs.

4.) Start a DIY Project

If you’re really interested in saving money on furniture, you can consider building your own. There are thousands of DIY furniture projects online that you could try, whatever your skill level. These projects may not only save you a bit of cash, but they could serve as a way to spark your imagination. 

5.) Consider the Furniture’s Durability

If you can, you’ll want to avoid pieces made of flimsy materials, especially if you’re moving to a different address in a few years. This is especially true of furniture made from particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). While these pieces can last long when given proper care, they are highly vulnerable to the high humidity of the Philippines. These pieces are likely to be damaged or become unpresentable with time.

When possible, choose furniture made from durable materials, including real wood, metal, or high-quality plastics. Choosing quality pieces means you replace them less often, saving money in the process. Also, they will survive your move to a new address and will be easier to resell, should the need arise.

6.) Watch Out for Closing Businesses

If there are businesses in your area that are closing or moving to a new location, check if they’re selling their old stocks of furniture. You just might score good deals on some heavy-duty pieces for not a lot of money.

7.) Don’t Buy Furniture You Don’t Need

The easiest way to say money is to be very deliberate with your purchases. The key to doing this is to avoid giving in to impulses. If you don’t need the furniture, hold off on buying it for a few months. If you still feel like you want it after, then you can consider the purchase more seriously. 

8.) Think about the Item’s Cost Per Use

An item’s cost per use is a useful way of figuring out whether something is worth buying. If you’re going to be using the piece regularly, it may be worth it to pay more if it’s going to be more durable—even if it’s brand new. 

Something that is cheap initially but needs to be replaced more because of poor construction, age, and subpar materials often may turn out to be more expensive in the long run.

9.) Upcycle or Sell Dated Pieces

If you currently own some furniture that you no longer like as much as you used to, consider updating it with a new finish or hardware. Upcycling your furniture in this way can help make it look more current and help breathe new life into it. If you don’t feel that doing this is worth your time and effort, you can try selling your furniture to offset the cost of a new piece.

10.) Buy Floor Stock or Returned Items

Large furniture retail stores will often have a section dedicated to slightly damaged but still functional items. These items are usually customer returns or slightly worn display pieces. If you don’t mind the wear and tear or like furniture that has a bit of character, buying these pieces is a great way to save money.

11.) Try Negotiating 

In many cases, the list prices for secondhand furniture can be negotiated. The prices of expensive antiques are almost certainly negotiable. Unless the seller has stated that the price is firm, you should at least try to give a reasonable counteroffer. This may allow you to offset the cost of transporting the piece to your home.

12.) Check Out Furniture Thrift Stores

While they aren’t as affordable as they used to be, furniture thrift stores are still good places to score good deals on all kinds of used office and home furniture. These places may also have delivery services and reasonable return policies, making them a relatively good bet, if you know what to look out for.

As with all bargain hunts, the more effort you put in, the more money you can save. By being patient and deliberate, you’ll soon have the perfect furniture collection to complete your home.