By Indiana Lee,

You’ve just crossed the all the “T’s” and dotted the all the “I’s” on your new place, and you can’t wait to move in. But now that you’ve come out of your fog of excitement, you realize furnishing your new small house might be a bit of a financial hassle. Luckily, you can do a few things to make your move easy on your wallet while still getting all the items you need to turn your new house into a home.

Creating a Budget

When you want to achieve a high-end home on a budget, you start by creating a budget. Doing this before your move can ensure you put yourself in a good financial position after buying your furniture.

Now, you probably have a maximum amount of money you’d like to spend in mind, but a budget is so much more than attempting not to reach your limit when shopping. When figuring out a budget, consider how purchasing this furniture will affect how you’ll pay the rest of your bills and other costly situations that may come up during your transition to the new place.

Tip: Calculate your household income after taxes, subtracting your monthly bills, weekly expenditures, and savings amounts. Then consider an initial amount you’d be willing to spend on new furniture. Factor this into your monthly payments and review your income. Do you still have money left over, or are you cutting it close? These calculations will allow you to see whether your budget is realistic or not.

From here, you can start by creating a budget plan that will more than prepare you for those larger purchases. Some people like for the 50/30/20 system, which allocates 50% of their income for routine costs (rent, utilities, etc.), 30% for personal purchases (skincare, trips, restaurants), and 20% for their savings account.

You can also get more specific and divide your money categorically using the envelope method. Doing so is great for tipped workers who often receive their income in cash, but you can also create digital “envelopes” for this method too.

With the envelope method, you divide your weekly pay into categories, like “rent,” “pet supplies,” and “new furniture.” You are only allowed to spend the money in those envelopes for those categories, ensuring you always have the funds for exactly what you need.

Mapping Out the Basics

Once you’ve got a clear budget in place, it is time to figure out what furniture to purchase! Ideally, you should focus more on function than fun when creating a list of furniture must-haves for your new place. What items are essential and will immediately make your life easier? These are a few items organized by area that you might need, if you don’t already have them:

• Bedroom: Bed, wardrobe, bedside table.

• Living Room: Couch, curtains, television, coffee table.

• Bathroom: Towels, toiletries, shower curtain, bathmat.

• Kitchen: Appliances (toaster, microwave, coffee machine), plates and bowls.

• Dining Area: Dining table, chairs.

Focus on these general items instead of getting too focused about wall decor, rugs, candles, and other smaller things. Remember, you don’t have to purchase everything for your home on move-in day! In fact, it may not be the best idea for your wallet to do that... Consider which items it takes for you to function comfortably throughout the day and then spend the money you’ve allocated in your budget on those things first.

Once the basics are down, you can begin planning for smaller items that are still important for your comfort in your space. Lamps and lighting fixtures make a huge difference in the ambiance of your home and should be one of the first things you purchase after your functional essentials.

The right accent lighting cannot be understated – it can take a lifeless millennial gray apartment and turn it into a warm oasis of total enjoyment. Instead of resorting to overhead lighting, line your apartment with wall lights, table lights, and floor lights in eclectic shapes to add dimension and flair to your space.

Choosing Where to Shop

Okay, so you’ve worked out your budget and created a firm list of essential furniture. Now, here comes the fun part: deciding where to shop.

Your imagination is probably running wild as you fantasize about outfitting your new home with bespoke furniture from the boutique down the street. But, in order to stay within budget, consider shopping at budget-friendly places like thrift stores.

Often, thrift stores have a wide selection of authentic hardwood furniture and vintage finds that are sure to last you a while. As most contemporary “affordable” furniture stores tend to carry items that must be assembled by hand and aren’t quite so durable, you may find yourself re-purchasing these items more often than you’d think.

Other options include using digital marketplaces, like Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

These platforms give you access to local sellers who are likely trying to get rid of things as soon as possible. Some listings even include free furniture, or certain items are available for swapping. You may be able to negotiate prices on these platforms too, saving you even more money in the long run. Better yet, many sellers are either a short drive away or are willing to deliver the items to you, so you don’t have to wait weeks to receive the things you need to get settled into your new home.

Other places to find affordable furniture and decor include:

• Yard sales

• Auctions

• Furniture store clearance sections

• Warehouse clubs (Costco or BJ’s)

• Through friends who are also moving.

If you live near a college or university, it can be useful to check out these areas during May or June, when students are moving back home. Items like TV stands, lamps, chairs, and more tend to be scattered across the sidewalk, often in excellent condition! Just a little bit of TLC, and they’re as good as new.

Making the Most of Small Areas

Since you’re moving into a small space, it is crucial to purchase furniture that’s multi-functional. For example, consider purchasing a bed with storage so you can place items like shoes, blankets, and books out of site to prevent clutter. Or turn your vanity into a workspace by adding shelving over your “desk” to store your makeup and skincare while you attend to your daily work tasks.

In your living room, choose a TV stand with multiple storage compartments to place picture frames, video games, and even snacks for get-togethers and sports games.

Every home, no matter its size, can be a palace — with a well-made budget, and you don’t have to be wealthy to afford it, either. When you start your furnishing journey, always be creative and honor your tastes. That’s the difference between a house and a home!

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I write about small space design and decorating, sustainable furniture options, positive self care and a variety of do-it-yourself home décor.

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Indiana Lee is a passionate writer and avid puzzle enthusiast hailing from the serene landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. With a deep appreciation for aesthetics and a strong preference for designs that seamlessly blend comfort and functionality, she brings a unique perspective to the world of interior decor. Connect with her on LinkedIn.