In a previous blog post I talked about furnishing your home on a shoestring budget. This included spending any extra dollars you have on buying core items that will last. But what are those core items?
Your Bed
And by bed, I mean mattress! Anyone who has slept on a wafer thin mattress with slats sticking into them all night long will know exactly what I’m talking about. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to functioning at full capacity in the real world.
You can get really cheap bed frames, plenty of cheap and cheerful sheets that you can replace later, but if at all possible, buy the best mattress you can afford. Even if all you do is put the mattress directly on the floor for now, your body will thank you for it.
Your Couch
Most people spend a lot of time sitting on their couch. Your living room is also where you have visitors, and it’s often one of the first rooms you see when you walk into a house. Which makes an attractive, comfortable couch a core item of furniture.
If you have a comfortable couch that’s seen better days, then at least spend the money to style it using throws and cushions. But if it’s uncomfortable as well as ugly, it has to go.
Dining Chairs
This one’s a little more optional, as it depends on how important it is for you to sit together with other people when eating a meal. Dinner parties can go for hours, so comfortable chairs become very important!
A modern trend is to use bar stools at a kitchen bench, but even they need to be comfortable. Don’t just go for a stylish look – sit on them and make sure you feel safe and secure, rather than worried that if you do anything other than lean on the bench you’ll tip off backwards.
Next time we’ll take a look at how to save money styling your home when it comes to the non-essentials.