| Furnishing your home doesn't have to be expensive, | | | | If you can fix a broken couch leg, repair an |
| and saving money doesn't mean you have to | | | | upholstery tear or know how to get out a small |
| sacrifice quality. In this article, we'll cover 7 tips you | | | | stain, you can save a lot of money buying damaged, |
| can use to save money on furniture and how to | | | | distressed or simply returned furniture. |
| make your furniture purchases last longer. | | | | 5. Go straight to the manufacturer. |
| 1. Always buy outlet. | | | | If you live near a furniture factory or manufacturer, |
| The easiest way to spend a lot of money on | | | | you can save a lot of money by going straight to |
| furniture is to walk into a department store | | | | the source and buying factory-direct. You won't have |
| showroom and buy the first thing you see. When | | | | to pay shipping, advertising or retail markups. |
| buying furniture, you're going to have to drive out of | | | | 6. Try used furniture. |
| town a bit and look for those warehouse outlets | | | | Whether you're using online classifieds' sites like |
| where you can often save anywhere from 20-70 | | | | Craigslist or cruising garage sales in high-end |
| percent. | | | | neighborhoods, used furniture is extremely affordable. |
| 2. Shop at the end of the month or quarter. | | | | Look for pieces that are, above all else, clean and |
| Because dealers need to make room for new | | | | well-maintained. |
| inventory or hit sales quotas, you can often save and | | | | Remember, you can always reupholster that ugly |
| negotiate a better deal if you go shopping at the end | | | | pattern, paint over that bland color or replace those |
| of the month or a fiscal quarter. | | | | boring drawer pulls. But if a piece is dirty and poorly |
| 3. Don't be afraid to negotiate. | | | | kept, you don't want it. |
| Admittedly, you can't negotiate at a place like Ikea, | | | | 7. Learn to work with what you have. |
| but you can negotiate at "Bob's Furniture | | | | Like the last tip suggests, there's a lot you can do to |
| Warehouse." Ask your sales clerk for deals such as | | | | refresh and update an old piece of furniture. From |
| including a side coffee table if you're purchasing a | | | | upgrading the cabinet pulls to sanding an item down |
| living room set or maybe throwing in the fabric stain | | | | and applying a new stain or paint, you can make an |
| treatment for free. It doesn't hurt to ask. | | | | old piece of furniture seem new again. |
| 4. Look for seconds or damaged merchandise. | | | | |