Furniture for first flat (2024)

We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Slimchandi Posts: 8 Forumite

13 February 2011 at 5:05PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

I'm moving into my own place in a week or so. I've opted to go unfurnished, but I still need to buy a few essentials to get started, notably:

  • bed frame and mattress
  • wardrobe
  • sofa
  • coffee table
  • optional table and chairs for living room

Does anyone have any suggestions where to get the best value for money on these items? Any view on whether the big box stores (Ikea, Homebase, B&Q) will be any good? Any chains to particularly avoid as well? I don't mind paying a little money to make sure I get something which will last for at least a couple of years, but I'm not looking for solid oak credenzas yet! I'd figured for a budget of around £800 to £1000 total.

«12»
  • italiastar Posts: 1,448 Forumite

    13 February 2011 at 5:19PM

    Ikea are Ok - look at their "damaged" stock near the checkout - you might pick up a bargain. John lewis have better starter furniture - have a look online, but might be a bit more expensive. Otherwise why don't you try freecycle - you should find a bed - if wooden, just get your own mattress - and other items.

    Good luck

  • yumyums Posts: 686 Forumite

    13 February 2011 at 5:22PM

    The basic stuff in Ikea is really cheap but tends to be bland looking. I had this in my first flat and it all lasted fine but I got rid of it all as I don't think it's furniture you want to keep for life!
    You can get nicer stuff in Ikea if you spend a bit more. If you buy a bed from Ikea be aware that their frames are not standard British sizes so it might be hard to find a non-Ikea mattress to fit.

    In my current home I've got some really nice stuff from Ebay very cheaply. Cheaper and nicer than you could get from Ikea I'm sure. We got an entire dining suite - table, chairs, sideboard & coffee table for £300! Some of it needed a bit of work (eg I had to reupholster the dining chairs but I did this myself and it was fairly easy and didn't cost too much). Also look in department stores for ex-display furniture. We saved £400 on our sofa this way.

  • mkaibear Posts: 162 Forumite

    Furniture for first flat (5)Furniture for first flat (6)

    13 February 2011 at 5:46PM

    Slimchandi wrote: »

    I'm moving into my own place in a week or so. I've opted to go unfurnished, but I still need to buy a few essentials to get started, notably:

    • bed frame and mattress
    • wardrobe
    • sofa
    • coffee table
    • optional table and chairs for living room

    Does anyone have any suggestions where to get the best value for money on these items? Any view on whether the big box stores (Ikea, Homebase, B&Q) will be any good? Any chains to particularly avoid as well? I don't mind paying a little money to make sure I get something which will last for at least a couple of years, but I'm not looking for solid oak credenzas yet! I'd figured for a budget of around £800 to £1000 total.

    Freecycle / Freegle. See what you can pick up over a few weeks. There's usually some stuff on there. Then spend the £800 to £1000 on a small number of decent bits of furniture that will last.

  • mr_rush Posts: 597 Forumite

    13 February 2011 at 5:46PM

    buy the best mattress you can afford. a good night sleep is priceless.

  • ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite

    13 February 2011 at 8:37PM

    for that sort of budget youre stuck with ikea and argos etc...
    of all the large shed, cheap places, ikea is hard to beat.

    Get some gorm.

  • soupdragon10 Posts: 967 Forumite

    Furniture for first flat (10)Furniture for first flat (11)Furniture for first flat (12)

    14 February 2011 at 12:00AM

    How about the dreaded e-bay if you have a largish car? I've picked up some really good quality bargain furniture from sellers local to me. As others have said if you get a reasonable bed base you can spend some of your budget on a really good matress which is one area you don't want to cut corners.

  • Russe11 Posts: 1,198 Forumite

    14 February 2011 at 12:06AM

    local auction houses, second hand funiture shops

  • scubaangel Posts: 6,600 Forumite

    Furniture for first flat (15)

    14 February 2011 at 12:17AM

    The boy and I moved in to our first flat last month so far we've spent just over £1k
    Bed frame - £135 (bensons for beds)
    Mattress - £120 (amazon)
    Suite (sofa, chair and pouffe) - £750 (dfs)
    Coffee table -freegle
    One tall and one short bookcase - £93 (homebase)
    We've got wardrobes and bedside tables priced up at Homebase for £200 which will be next months purchases.

    If you can be disciplined about it order sofas and use interest free credit but only if you know you can have it paid off by the end of the deal, we didn't but I used a 0% credit card for the same effect.

    TBH we've found its the small stuff which has crept up on us cost wise, things like pots and pans, bedding (we bought a king size bed when we both had doubles at our old places), rugs, kitchen electricals like the kettle and toaster etc.

    It’s not worth doing something unless someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing it.
    Sir Terry Pratchett
    Find my diary here

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5135113

  • sharkie Posts: 624 Forumite

    14 February 2011 at 12:33AM edited 14 February 2011 at 1:24AM

    my list:

    Only things that fold, disassemble and can easily be stored, go up stairs and around corners. My mum had an £800 two seater setee that now a neighbours cat sleeps on - the setee did eventually go up my stairs, but would not go through my front door - no you could not dissemble it.

    A decent matress - even if it goes on the floor, fridge, kettle, microwave.

    The rest from ebay, gumtree or freecycle. picked up an £80 ikea kitchen table of ebay for 60p. picked up a solid pine kitchen table with 3 chairs for £1.20.

    futon, so friends can sleep over

    The odds are that you will be moving quite a bit, so perhaps you want items that incure no expensive removal vans or can be chucked to avoid storage costs.

  • italiastar Posts: 1,448 Forumite

    14 February 2011 at 12:37AM

    eBay is a fantastic idea - avoid the 0% pay in 5 years sofa merchants as you'll still be paying for it when it's long past it's best. Stick to what you can afford - for example Ducal furniture is dirt cheap in eBay - watch the chairs though - the joints tend to weaken with time, but as long as they are not broken you can re-glue them.

«12»

This discussion has been closed.

Meet yourAmbassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 345.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451K Spending & Discounts
  • 238K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 612.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 174.4K Life & Family
  • 251.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.

Update Your Picture

Furniture for first flat (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5433

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.