How to Furnish a New Home or Apartment on a Budget

Moving into a new home or apartment is exciting but financially daunting. Here’s how to create a cozy, stylish home without breaking the bank.

All you need is the right plan and a savvy shopping strategy! Let’s walk through the essential steps to furnish your home or apartment on a limited budget, including taking advantage of Bed Bath & Beyond’s Memorial Day sales and special discount coupons.

Furnishing a New Home or Apartment on a Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide

Michael and Ellie are getting married this fall, and they have more exciting news! They bought a home. As you can imagine, furnishing a new home can be overwhelming, so I put together a guide to help them (and you!) furnish a new home or apartment.

I am also partnering with Bed Bath and Beyond and cannot wait to share how easy it is to find excellent options and deals on their site.

Step 1: Organize Your Thoughts and Set Your Priorities

When furnishing a new home or apartment, it’s crucial to have a clear plan. Start by considering your lifestyle and how you use each space. There are many things you can think about.

Daily Activities

Which rooms do you use the most? Prioritize furnishing these first. Bed Bath & Beyond offers essentials for every room, making it easier to focus on your priorities.

Michael and Ellie identified three priority areas in their home: the dining area, a guest bedroom, and the deck off the main living area.

Essentials vs. Non-Essentials

List the items you need immediately, such as a bed, sofa, and dining table, versus things that can wait, like decor and extra seating. Check out Bed Bath & Beyond’s website for deals on these essentials, especially during Memorial Day sales.

Budget Allocation

Decide how much you can spend and allocate portions of your budget to each room or item.

A budget is essential when furnishing a new home or apartment. Whatever the amount, remember that you can add to it over time. You don’t need to furnish everything all at once; start with the areas you will use often.

Step 2: Create a Floor Plan and Measure Your Space

Before buying anything, measure your home or apartment and create a floor plan. When I remodeled our Waco Airbnb, I was overwhelmed as I had an empty house that needed everything. My sister-in-law created this furniture plan before I bought anything. I started with the living room, dining room, and front bedroom, all furnished with Bed Bath and Beyond and Overstock items.

A furniture plan helps in two ways: it ensures you buy the right size of furniture and optimizes space.

Avoid Buying Wrong-Sized Furniture

A plan ensures that everything fits perfectly. I made a few mistakes when furnishing our Pasadena home in 2000, so make sure you make cutouts of your furniture to scale so that you can make sure everything will fit your floor plan.

If you are already in the space, use newspaper or butcher paper to cut out the pieces of furniture and lay them out in the room. This will allow you to “feel the room” to ensure everything fits. Bed Bath & Beyond provides dimensions for their products online, making planning easy.

Optimize Space

This helps plan the best layout to maximize your space. It’s a lot easier to move the templates around instead of the heavy furniture!

Step 3: Decide on Furnishing Strategy: Room-by-Room vs. Whole Apartment

There are two main strategies to consider when furnishing your new home or apartment on a budget: a whole-home approach or a room-by-room approach.

A Whole Home or Apartment Approach

A whole-home approach involves purchasing essential items for each room first, then gradually adding more pieces as your budget allows.

A Room-by-Room Approach

A room-by-room approach involves fully furnishing one room at a time. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and immediate comfort. Start with the bedroom and living room, using Bed Bath & Beyond’s sales to get critical items at lower prices.

Step 4: Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips

To stretch your budget further, consider these tips.

Second-Hand Shops and Online Marketplaces

Thrift stores, garage sales, and websites like Craigslist can offer great deals on gently used furniture.

DIY Projects

If you’re handy, consider building or refurbishing furniture. Bed Bath & Beyond has materials and tools for various DIY projects.

Discount Stores and Sales

Watch Bed Bath & Beyond’s sales, especially during Memorial Day. Use their 17- 20% off coupons to maximize your savings.

Multi-Functional Furniture

Choose furniture for multiple purposes, such as a sofa bed or a dining table that doubles as a workspace.

Step 5: Prioritize Comfort and Functionality

When working with a limited budget, it’s essential to initially prioritize comfort and functionality over aesthetics. Focus on pieces that will improve your daily life.

Bedding

Good mattresses and bedding are crucial for your health and well-being. Bed Bath & Beyond offers a variety of quality options, often at discounted prices.

Seating

A comfortable sofa or chair is essential for relaxation.

Storage Solutions

Invest in storage options to keep your space organized and clutter-free. Bed Bath & Beyond’s storage solutions can help maximize your space efficiently.

Step 6: Personalize with Affordable Decor

Once the essentials are in place, you can add personal touches without spending much.

DIY Art and Decor

Create artwork or decor pieces. This is cost-effective and adds a personal touch to your space.

Plants

Houseplants are relatively inexpensive and can bring life to your apartment.

Textiles

Use pillows, throws, and rugs to add color and texture to your rooms. Bed Bath & Beyond has a wide variety of affordable options.

Step 7: Incorporate Existing Furniture and Accessories

Using what you already have can significantly reduce your costs. Michael and Ellie have a lot of existing furniture for their living area, primary bedroom, and office.

Here’s how to integrate your existing furniture into your new home or apartment:

Assess What You Have

Take inventory of your current furniture and decor. Determine what can be reused, repurposed, or updated to fit your new space.

Repurpose Old Furniture

Get creative with your existing pieces. An old dresser can be repainted and used as a TV stand, or a coffee table can be refurbished with a new paint or stain.

Mix and Match

Don’t forget to mix your old furniture with new pieces. Eclectic styles can add character and uniqueness to your apartment.

Step 8: Update with Accessories

Sometimes, all an old piece of furniture needs is a little refresh. Add new cushions, throws, or slipcovers from Bed Bath & Beyond to give it a new look.

Furnishing a new home or apartment on a budget is feasible with careful planning, strategic shopping, and creativity. By taking advantage of sales and discounts at Bed Bath & Beyond, using existing furniture, and prioritizing your needs, you can create a beautiful and functional living space without overspending.

Remember, it’s about making your space feel like home, one step at a time.

Stay tuned, as the furniture Michael and Ellie ordered from Bed Bath and Beyond is on its way. I can’t wait to update you with the finished looks!

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