Furniture can be expensive, especially if you are looking for a large piece such as a couch, desk or dining room table. If you are struggling to find room in your budget to furnish your home or office, skip the traditional furniture stores. There are several different ways to find the furniture you need at prices much cheaper than what large furniture retailers have to offer.

Shop on Discount Websites

You don’t have to sacrifice quality for price. When you shop online using a discount website, such as Black Friday furniture deals, you will find pages and pages of beautiful furniture at very reasonable prices. The Internet offers endless options, so you will be sure to find your ideal item.

Attend Estate Sales

Estate sales are great places to shop for furniture, especially if you prefer a classic look. You can look online to find sales in your area and even browse pictures of the available merchandise in advance. Since the furniture on sale is used, you will be able to get a bargain. In many cases, you can even haggle with the sales representative running the sale, especially if you plan to buy multiple pieces. Make sure to arrive at your chosen sale early, since the best items often sell quickly.

Check Out a Consignment Shop

Your local furniture consignment shop is a treasure trove of great finds. Unlike other secondhand stores, the nature of consignment means that the owners only accept pieces that are likely to generate a decent amount of money for them and the original owners. Similar to the merchandise at estate sales, many items available at consignment shops have the allure of being antiques which are no longer manufactured today.

Reupholster or Refinish Something You Already Own

Do you really need to replace that old chair or table? A fresh coat of paint or new upholstery can make a piece of furniture that was showing signs of wear look brand new. There are plenty of online tutorials available to show you how to go about this project, step by step. You can also enlist the help of a crafty friend or family member.

It’s expensive enough to pay for the rent or mortgage and the utilities needed to keep your home or office up and running. Why spend any extra cash on furnishing the place? By going to nontraditional sources like discount websites, estate sales or consignment shops or giving an old piece of furniture a makeover, you’ll both save money and make your space comfortable, functional and beautiful.