Basic Furniture to Fill a First House

Finding and purchasing your first home can be such an exciting time, but there are dozens of decisions to make that can affect your comfort. Once you pay everything that needs to be paid in order to move in, your funds may be somewhat limited for furniture, accessories, and other furnishings. Here are some tips to help you choose basic furniture to fill a first house when you are on a tight budget.

1. Kitchen

The kitchen is one room where you will spend a lot of your time. An eat-in kitchen is a great way to save money on furnishings, as it means one less room to decorate and furnish. For those with a workable countertop or bar, barstools can easily and cheaply replace a table and chairs, and most secondhand stores and similar retailers have barstools available for purchase. Discount retailers also have inexpensive tables and chairs if the configuration of kitchen is more suited for that.

2. Bedroom

A bed is the only must-have basic for your first home. You can use closet space for clothing storage, and closet organizers are much cheaper than the average decent dresser or chest of drawers. Under-bed storage can be used for hiding unmentionables and other things that will not or should not be kept in the closet, and jewelry boxes and other personal items can sit on a nightstand or end table. These are much cheaper to purchase, and do the job just as well until your budget improves.

3. Living Room

This is probably the most important area to furnish, as it is the space that guests and friends will occupy. Comfortable seating, such as a loveseat and armchair or couch/armchair combo, is a great starting point, depending on how much you have available in your budget. Most of us choose to use the bulk of our budget in this room, so if there is any wiggle room, add a great coffee table or television stand.

4. Accessories

To make your first house really feel like your home, save a small amount in your decorating budget for accessorizing and personalizing your space. From picture frames to a colorful shower curtain, these personal touches will make your first house start to feel like a real home, and they should be added whenever possible. The same can be said for lighting, as your lamps, candles, and other light fixtures say something about your individual tastes. Inexpensive but attractive decorative wall art, such as framed prints and affordable wall mounted candle holders, can be found online, at discount stores and resale shops.

5. Outdoors

It may not seem like a real priority at first, but your front yard is the first thing that people see when they come to your home. Adding a few touches, such as seating or shade, can make your home feel more inviting and welcoming for any guest. You can add creative touches to a first house’s outdoor space with plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs. These can serve as great accessories for this area, and can really add to your home’s curb appeal.

When your home looks good, you get a boost of self-confidence in other aspects of your life as well. Basic furniture to fill a first house may not always be the furniture that you keep forever, but it is a great start that will help you make do until more stylish and beautiful pieces can be added as a replacement if necessary.