After you’ve negotiated, made it to the closing table, and successfully pocketed your new keys, it’s time to celebrate with a housewarming party. But before you start popping corks, you may want to make sure there’s a comfortable place for friends and family to sit, and a nice table to rest their champagne glasses on — especially if you’ve sold your apartment-era furniture and have been making do with lawn chairs and a folding table. If you’re ready to invest in some new furniture, now could be the perfect time. But the amount of money you need to budget can depend on quite a few factors.
Make a list
Start by listing each room you need to furnish and the pieces you plan to buy for those rooms (it’s best to write down everything, even if you don’t plan to purchase that foosball table right away). Then consider the quality you’re looking for in each item. You may be more willing to sink money into quality furniture for your living room, where you plan to spend most of your time, than in a spare bedroom. Or if you know you eventually want to convert the dining room into an office, don’t spend too much on a dining set.
Research price points
After laying out your furniture needs for each room, browse furniture retailers online or in stores to get a realistic picture of how much each item will cost based on your taste and quality preferences. Nothing’s worse than having sticker shock at the store. If you can hold out, many furniture and mattress stores have sales around holidays — think Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, etc.
Factors like how long you can use an item should play an important role in how much you spend. For instance, mattresses should be replaced every seven years at a minimum, but high-quality couches may last 20 years or more. Also take into consideration how long you plan to live in the house. If this is a starter home, don’t invest too much money in curtains, custom-sized rugs, or other items you probably won’t bring to your next house.
The one thing you absolutely shouldn’t forget to include in your budget? The hidden costs of furniture. Make sure you’re budgeting for taxes, delivery, installation, and maintenance if needed.
