Where to shop for nice but cheap home furnishings

[hellenbackagen]

I find myself at almost 50 having to start again.

I'm going to need to furnish a 2 bed bungalow from scratch with very little money.

I have a sofa
A bed
A washer/dryer
A mini hi fi thingy

And that's literally it.

I'm going to need wardrobes/bedroom furniture
Pots and pans
Kitchen equipment like kettle/toaster/microwave
Fridge/freezer
Towels
Bedding
Curtains
Tv
Tv stand

Basically absolutely everything. I want nice but cheap - does that exist? Where should I look?
Thanks in advance

Asda is quite good for kitchen equipment
Tkmaxx for curtains and bedding- very reasonable prices.
Aldi has the occasional treasure- pillows, sofa cushions, bedsheets

British Heart Foundation have furniture shops.

Ikea for kitchenalia, rugs, bedding.

And try Facebook Marketplace for furniture. There seem to be lots of ( 2nd hand - good for the environment) bargains on there.

My sister left her abusive husband carrying just a small bag of clothes and had to replace every single household item she needed. She actually really enjoyed it, not having to please anyone but herself. Her bedroom was very girly.

Amazing things on eBay

It's nice if you have the cash to splash but I'll be living in fairly rough circumstances financially for 3 years. After that world can get ready! I'll take holidays again and be able to buy things!

I'm finding this really hard. I'm try to be positive. I wasn't quite ready for this. And it's hard when you've still got feelings for someone . Even when you know it's for the best.

Sleepless

Don't quite trust eBay and I don't have an account.

I like to see things before I buy.

Go to an auction! I've seen amazing furniture go for next to nothing (I still regret the gorgeous oak dining table I didn't leave a bid for, which went for £10😢 )

You will need to arrange your own transport for larger items, but a man with a van is usually cheap.

Look at H&M Home for things like mugs, other crockery, cushions, plant pots, candlesticks, place mats etc. You don’t need to go bonkers but a couple of things you like (and can add to over time) will make it feel like your home.

Good luck with your new chapter.

IKEA has pretty much everything for kitchen/bath. Also linens, cushions, bedding etc, fairly decent quality overall. Look in their markdown section where sometimes you can get amazing deals.

IKEA, auctions, gumtree and eBay are all good options.

QD, if you have one near by is good for bedding, cushions, rugs, crockery, cutlery etc. They usually have hidden gems.

B&M

Also The Range is a good option.

I second @Soola. The British Heart Foundation shops are brilliant. I've got lots from there (I'm in an unfurnished flat) at really really low prices & they deliver too. I pop in regularly & pick stuff up if they've got things to my taste. My home's looking so lovely now & I don't think anyone would guess it's all second hand from around a fiver up.
I'm in Birmingham & lucky to have the rag market nearby. I made all my curtains & most of the material was 50p/£1 per meter. Again, it doesn't look like it & I've had some very nice compliments about my home.
I'm in my 60s & having to "start again" on buttons but good taste costs nothing & it carries you far. Tbh I enjoy the challenge. I'd prefer more money lol but life's what you make of it.
You'll do just fine

Wilkinson's for kitchen stuff

Wilko tk maxx Asda .. look at Pinterest then get an idea of what you fancy .
Near us we have a big charity supermarket and I like to have a look and get the odd thing I love or upcucle some things. Car boot sales and low key auctions .
Even Ikea have some lovely bits but I don't their decorative bits are cheap really.

I think Asda is your best bet or you can get some really good quality cheap kitchen stuff at Home Sense ( it's the TK Max home shop).

Agree with looking at charity furniture stores and Facebook market place also gum tree, you can look before you hand money over. Although some might be a little battered or not to your taste painting and upcycling furniture is really in at the moment. We are planning to do this with the dc (secondary age) who want really bright colours, the compromise will be that the walls and carpet will be paler but that they will be able to paint their furniture how they want it. You might also find it is quite therapeutic.

Free cycle , Wilko , Ikea and ranges aimed at students starting at uni .
Charity shops too.

I really rate Sainsbury's for kitchen stuff - like John Lewis without the price tag!

Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle and charity shops that have furniture outlets (most hospice charities seem to have these), car boot sales & auctions.

I'm sorry for your circumstances, but try to embrace the challenge - there is something very cheering about getting a bargain and you may get some enjoyment out of it, once the essentials are covered!

I love Facebook marketplace. Our house is furnished pretty much exclusively in eBay / FB stuff.

In the past I always bought things new but life changes and now I love my gumtree, facebook marketplace bargains.

I'd much rather buy something good quality that's been preloved rather than new, lower quality tat. Think of the planet too!

And there's a huge satisfaction in the challenge. I look at my brand new Laura Ashley curtains that I got for a fiver, a huge gorgeous matching custom made lampshade for a tenner (from someone else!), expensive Roman blinds that I cut down and stitched up the edges, saving myself £600 on custom made ones.

Circumstances change and we are now in a better financial position but I don't think I'd change my home shopping now! I get such a buzz from it.

Probably the only thing I wouldn't buy secondhand now is a mattress.

Sorry you're having a hard time OP, but there's excitement to be had!