Fine furniture is nice, but think practical too. Some of the nicer dining room sets, especially the older ones, have leaves that have to be stored. Our IKEA table has leaf storage inside the table – very practical in a small apartment.

And while it’s nice to have things that last forever, if something lasts 20-30 years, then something that costs 5 times as much might outlive you, but your children might not have the same tastes, and might end up selling it for $15 at a garage sale someday, so I wouldn’t invest big bucks in it.

@deRuiter: Have you cleaned vomit out of a wool rug? Because I’m told it’s not as easy as cleaning it out of acrylic (which I had to do twice last week… ah the joys of motherhood)

The one thing we will NEVER buy cheap quality is bookshelves. Cheap or even mid-price bookshelves are usually pressboard, which will bend and warp after only a year or two of use under heavy books. We buy solid wood shelves from the unfinished furniture store instead, and finish them ourselves so that they match the decor of the room.

Also–bear in mind that used is often cheapest and best. Case pieces from 40s-60s are better made than most of what is available now. I got two end tables for $20/each.

Also buy furniture and accessories that can be put into any room or would even be appealing to others. I have a group of close friends that I swap furniture with regularly, whenever I am craving a change I call up a friend and ask her if she’s got an item that would look good on my bathroom wall or call a friend mentioning I have a 5 x 8 cranberry persian rug I’m getting rid of if shes interested. Allows changes to be made easily without spending any money.

I also agree that rooms can be easily freshened by a coat of paint. Sometimes just painting one wall can make all the difference. Also, rearrange the accessories you already have to create new looks. Or, if you have lots of stuff, box some of it up and switch it out every few months.

Paint your walls a light neutral color, upholster your stuffed furniture with a solid neutral color (doesn’t need to be light, though,) and be careful about placement of furniture. Balance is the key to having a room look great. Put your largest piece on the longest wall; place a piece of furniture opposite a door or window; hang a mirror opposite a window for reflection of light into the room. Accessorize with throw pillows, candles, works of art, books, interesting objects that you enjoy.

When I go to a paint store, I always check the mis-tints that they always have on hand. You can get a gallon of paint for a few dollars. I’ve mixed several of these together to achieve some lovely colors. Save the labels from the cans, and if you have to match it, just take these to the store and get the same shades, mix together, and paint away.

Be creative, think outside the box, don’t be shy, and enjoy the face that you’re saving a LOT of money that you can put toward your kid’s college fund, a savings account, a better car, landscaping (a whole other area where you can scrounge and save hundreds of dollars).

You can also buy fabric and make your own pillows. My wife and I did this as sort of a fun arts and crafts activity. Cheap pillows that matched the couch exactly.

I have been slowly decorating our farmhouse using ideas I have found online and the house is becoming extension of me and I have spent less than $100. Of course it helps to be slightly crafty and living in the country with access to natural objects…

Also Shop clearance centers at the “high” end furniture stores. The most expensive piece of furniture in my house is a chair I paid $700 it was a $4000 chair got it at wharehouse sale. The most I paid for something was my Matress it was about $1000 but its one thing I will pay “retail” for althoug I did wait for a sale.

It is fairly cheap, and if you go for the slightly higher quality stuff, it REALLY lasts. Trust me – I’ve had a Poang chair for almost 6 years now that has gone through two moves in which it was completely taken apart.

My entire house has less than $1000 in furniture in it.

I decorate with art! Photographs make great art – but don’t forget that if you frame something you love, it’s worth showcasing! I have a letter from a friend I got for Christmas that includes a tree colored on notebook paper in purple and orange and it is framed and hung above the TV in the living room. It never fails to grab attention!

The couch I have is the only furniture piece I did not purchase from IKEA. Simply because, IKEA had not opened yet! I bought it from Ashley’s – and I financed it. I bought the couch on a 6 months same as cash policy, and had it paid off in 3 months. We had just moved to Florida from Houston and we needed a place to sit.

Since then, I have made my own slip covers to change the look of the couch over and over, in addition to making new pillows to ‘spice it up’ every so often. Chair and couch coverings go a long way in changing the feel of a room (not to mention keeping dirt and grime off your actual furniture)

I’m also kind of a minamalist with furniture. I don’t have a lot of space, so I don’t stuff it with uneeded furniture. (Another way IKEA is my friend.. hello space saving furniture ideas!)

And of course the tablecloth itself is an easy way to change the mood and look of the room.

Moving is very hard on furniture. If you are a transient person (we’ve moved at least a dozen times in the military), expect and plan for some losses. The quality pieces that we have are Maple, which will scratch slightly, but will likely never break courtesy of movers. Other pieces were purchased cheap on purpose – the thinking being if it was broken, oh well.