Furnishing your new home on a budget

Make your new house feel like home without breaking the bank. Get started with our top tips for furnishing your new home on a minimal budget.

Make a list

When you have a whole home to furnish, you can quickly find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. Before you start shopping, sit down and make a list of the basics you'll need for every room. You can also include dream items you'd love to snap up if you have the chance – but make sure they're marked as a secondary priority to the essentials.

Search for second-hand deals

Invest some time pre-move to checking out second-hand shops, markets, garage sales and car boot sales. You can find some real gems tucked away in unlikely places, but you need to be prepared to put in plenty of time. There’s also plenty to be found online through sites like eBay and Gumtree.

Carry out price comparisons

Make sure you never pay over the odds by taking the time to carry out price comparisons for your most important purchases. Let easy-to-use comparison sites help you work out the best deals before you start shopping.

Hunt for freebies

Sourcing free furniture can be easier than you think. Sites like Freecycle and Gumtree are good places to start – you’d be surprised how many people are giving away furniture simply because they want to avoid the inconvenience of selling or delivering unwanted furniture themselves.

Keep your eyes out for sales

Skim catalogues and follow your favourite brands and stores on social media. That way, you can keep on top of any sales or deals happening that might help save you some money when buying new furniture.

Future-proof your future costs

Furnishing a new home gives you the perfect opportunity to make sure your purchases will help you cut costs in the future. Choose energy-efficient appliances to reduce your bills and see how you could save with our big energy saving ideas.