Furnish on a budget
We are setting up a rental home for our youngest daughter for (likely) three years of her university program. I wanted to share some of the challenges and solutions for furnishing on a budget, in a small space and with roommates.
Budget
Your best bet for affordability and quality is second hand. First, solicit friends and family who may be looking for an opportunity to let go of some extra items for a good cause. Once you have tapped your network, there are some great second hand shops. My favourite is Habitat for Humanity Restore. Their furniture has all been donated and proceeds from the sales support their fantastic work providing affordable housing for families in need. I like to donate to Restore as well as purchase from them - hooray circular economy! We found a solid wood dresser for $25 and a funky coffee table for $15. Another second hand spot to check is the As-Is Marketplace at IKEA. Here we found a desk and chair for under $40 and it was already built! For smaller household items such as dishes and appliances, support good causes and help the environment by shopping at Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift stores.
Small space
The other common challenge that we faced was a small bedroom. Lacking room for a bedside table, we opted for a floor lamp with a small tray table. It comes with a charging port for your phone and enough room to place a book. For storing clothes in a tight space, an affordable option is a bookshelf that provides increased vertical storage and is more narrow and cheaper than a dresser. You can fold and stack larger items like sweaters and pants and use bins for smaller items. We were able to tuck a narrow bookcase behind the door. Finally we packed in more clothing storage with bins under the bed for off season or less frequently worn clothing.
Roommates
With four room mates sharing the common spaces, adding in some extra storage was key. In the bathroom, the IKEA VESKEN shelf unit gives each person a shelf for their toiletries at the great price of $14.99. The IKEA HYLLIS shelf ($29.99) in the kitchen has four shelves for pantry storage and with the metal frame you can use magnets for fun and flexible display. To keep the counter top clear for cooking, we used a paper towel rack that hangs under the kitchen cabinets. We used Umbra’s Squire Paper Towel holder that can be removed when they move without any damage.
I’m so excited for these four amazing young adults to settle in to their new space. When your mom is a professional organizer, you are ready to go from day one!
