Getting a new apartment can be fun, unfortunately our entry level salaries can put a damper on the situation. 60 dollar pillow? Yeah I’ll stick with Mom’s old ones. 1000 dollar tv? I’d rather watch Hulu on my computer. The good news is there are lots of ways to furnish and decorate your apartment on a limited budget. I recently moved into a new apartment and found these resources to be very useful:
EQ3: This is a really fun store for nearly everything for your home. The company aims at providing alternative furnishings for young people. Check out the Value Price section.
Ikea: If you can brave it through Ikea, you will find some great finds. I just got a nice modern lamp for my room for 6 dollars, and a fun jewelry holder for 5. For the larger items, be prepared to do lots of building, but for the price its well worth it.
CB2: This is a hip new affordable store by Crate and Barrel. It has modern and fun kitchenware, furniture, bedding and decor. (Just opened one up in San Fran!) Check out their web site- I recommend the sale section.
West Elm: This is a great place to find wall decor, furniture and bedding at affordable prices. (From the founders of Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn)
allposters.com. If you are like me and love art but don’t have thousands to spend, this is a great source. They always have discounts and sales in addition to their already low prices.
20×200 One of my all-time favorite sites which offers new prints by emerging artists every Tuesday and Wed. You can purchase the small prints for 20 dollars.
If you are looking for electronics, ask your local electronics store if they have any open-box deals. These are either returned or display items that are on sale for as much as half off to customers. I got a great new tv this way for really cheap! Check out Best Buy or Circuit City, but be prepared to check in everyday for updates.
Also, don’t let high prices scare you away for shopping from your favorite stores- just go straight to the sale section. Stores like Anthropology and Urban Outfitters have fun stuff for your home that can be up to 75% off. I found some beautiful plates from Anthro the other day for 1.99 each.
Tags: 20x200, allposters, anthropology, apartment, art, artwork, cb2, cheap, decorating, electronics, Eq3, furnishings, furniture, ikea, open-box deals, posters, sale, urban outfitters, west elm
If you are decorating your home or apartment there is this site that has a great selection of wall decor furniture as well as other furnishings or home decor with fun stuff as well. Its great to have so many options.