Cheap ways to furnish an apartment

After the excitement of getting your apartment wears off, reality sets in. How are you going to furnish that apartment? It can be overwhelming to think about all the furniture you need for an entire apartment. The rent may take up a big chunk of the budget, leaving very little for furnishings.

If you will be having a roommate, it may be that they will bring some furniture with them. Having a roommate can be a big help when it comes to affording an apartment. If you are on your own, here are a few tips for cheap ways to furnish an apartment.

Talk to Family

Family members can be one of the best sources of cheap or even free furniture for an apartment. Often there will be an odd piece of furniture in the attic, basement or garage that can easily become part of the apartment furnishings. Don't be afraid to tell everyone that you know that you are trying to furnish your apartment and are looking for any pieces that they are willing to donate.

Tag Sales

Tag or garage sales are a great way to find cheap furnishings. You need to have an imagination and you have to be willing to have pieces that might not all match perfectly. But if you are creative and if you are willing to do a little extra work, painting a table or fixing a dresser, you can get your apartment furnished in no time at all at a very cheap price.

Consignment Stores

Consignment stores are a great place to find all sorts of furniture. It will be much better priced than new furniture. You can also pick up lots of accessories that are next to new and some may even be new. Many gifts that just aren’t right will find their way into consignment
shops.

Thrift Stores

When it comes to cheap prices, the Salvation Army and Goodwill are among the lowest. Not only will you be able to find furniture but you can also find blankets, sheets, small appliances, decorative items and curtains.

Auctions

Estate and regular auctions are a great place to find cheap furnishing for your apartment. There are many auctions that sell high quality used furniture for a cheap price.

IKEA

If you are looking for new furnishings and you like simple, clean lines, IKEA is great. Just shopping there is fun not to mention the Swedish meatballs. They have a great selection of sofas, tables, bookcases, kitchen implements, storage solutions and so much more. They have a nice selection of lamps as well. You literally can furnish your entire apartment at IKEA at a very cheap price.

Marshalls/TJ Maxx/HomeGoods

These three off price retailers can have really  nice pieces of furniture. The problem is, you 

never exactly know what will be in stock. The certainly have lamps and wall décor, usually have chairs, rugs, and tables and may even have more, you just really have to check back frequently to see what they have.

Walmart

Depending on what type of furniture you are looking for, Walmart carries a lot of well prices items. If you are looking for a futon for your living room, a dresser for your bedroom or bookcases these are all available at very low prices.

Target

Target carries some interesting furniture items. The prices are low and the style is updated.

Overstock.com

Overstock has a constantly changing selection of furnishings. There really is no guarantee of what you will find but you should be able to find some things to help you to furnish your apartment cheaply.

When it comes to furnishing your apartment cheaply, if you combine getting some donations with some well-priced pieces from other sources you should be able to come up with a beautiful apartment in no time at all.