Moving into your first apartment is often a stressful time, but it can also be exciting. Finding an apartment isn’t easy but your reward is the freedom to create your own space and allow your personal style to shine through.
One of the biggest mistakes new apartment owners make is rushing out to department stores and buying the cheapest furniture all at once. A tight budget doesn’t mean having to sacrifice quality. To really make your apartment feel like a home, it’s best to find pieces you’ll love and add one piece at a time, as your budget allows.
Not sure how to add quality to your home on a budget? Here’s how:
Pre-Owned Sites
Buying pre-owned means being able to afford mid- and high-end pieces from places like Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware and Design Within Reach. These stores have beautiful, well-built items but for those starting out, whose budget limits them 
from purchasing furniture new, directly from the store. Pre-owned sites like AptDeco are just the smart way to go!
Vintage
Purchasing a vintage or antique piece means having something unique in your home. Since these pieces are older and sometimes hard to find, your guests will definitely appreciate the originality that it provides.
Hand Me Downs
Do take advantage of the furniture your family has in the basement. The beauty of style today is that anything goes. Be bold and mix and match genres to create your own eclectic style. If you get a piece you absolutely don’t want to live with, consider repurposing or upcycling it to make it your own.
Thrift Stores
Anyone who has shopped for furniture at a NYC thrift store knows that while the store may not have anything amazing, there are always exceptions. Places like Housing Works tend to get in high-end pieces and sells them for a fraction of their retail price. If you live near a thrift store, take a peek when you pass by to see what they have. After all, sometimes it’s the thrill of the hunt that makes it worth it.
This post is contributed from our friends at AptDeco. AptDeco is an online marketplace for quality pre-owned furniture. With a verified community of buyers and sellers and pre-arranged pick-up and delivery, AptDeco is a simple and reliable way to buy and sell furniture without the hassle
