Starting from scratch - what would you buy?

[GetTheFudgeOutOfRodge]

Let's say you were moving into a house and owned nothing.
You need to buy everything that a house needs, furniture, soft furnishings, decor etc.
Your budget isn't limitless, more 'average' so everything can't be made out of solid gold

What specific, good quality items would you buy? What stores would you go to?

The best bed and mattress I could afford. John Lewis perhaps, especially when they have a sale on.

I am doing just this soon, anyone else have any suggestions?

I did this after I walked out on my ex. I agree buy the best bed you can afford. John Lewis good but others such as warren Evans also great. Also find something lovely to sit on - an armchair or sofa. Then just use eBay or ikea for the rest and upgrade slowly.

I love upcycled furniture so I would scour local shops and annie sloan the bejaysus out of stuff

I do like independent furniture shops as I think you get good quality

ikea for the useful kallax, billy etc

We got beds and mattresses from Warren Evans and lots of guests have gone on to buy from them as the mattresses are so comfy.

Then combine pieces from John Lewis or IKEA with eBay sourced vintage or whatever your taste is.

Laura Ashley do nice good quality bedlinen, and I get all my towels from TKMaxx.

Agree that Ebay, Preloved and local FB selling groups are your friends. You just have to be careful, check everything is in excellent condition. Don't be afraid to say no if its not pristine.

I have used Ebay for solid oak furniture (console table, chest, side tables) and if you put some time in, you can usually find local suppliers that sell end of lines / returns (but brand new) on Ebay for sofas / armchairs. We bought our M&S sofa bed from an Ebay supplier, perfect, brand new, for about a third of the RRP in store.

Ask for recommendations for a curtain / blind maker locally, get fabric in the sales / cheap online (again, Ebay is very good for Sanderson / Harlequin / Designers Guild fabric that might be the end of the roll etc) and have it made into curtains, blinds, cushions etc again much more cheaply than you'd pay for ready made items.

I have also had some bargains from the local FB group when people have just got fed up with items / moved house etc and for things like ottomans, picture frames, mirrors, shelves, its great. People often get rid of items too when their children grow - have bought children's bed frames (would always but new mattresses) from local FB group (and once bought 2 matching Laura Ashley white wooden bed frames from a local lady after seeing an advert in the supermarket!).

TK Maxx and Home Sense are good for bedding / lighting / kitchen utensils. Ikea great too for all those practical bits. The large supermarkets (Sainsburys) often do good deals on their home ranges and certainly at Sainsburys, they had events a couple of times a year where your nectar points can be doubled up - we bought a TV from there relatively cheaply by using points off 2 different Nectar cards last time they did that.

Wallpaper / paint - some of the brands / manufacturers have factory shops so worth googling to see what you have locally.

And yes, invest in a bed and good quality mattress

I would look what is available second hand and start from there. When I moved in my first flat, I found an amazing stove (and still going strong) second hand and with the saved cash baught the best new fridge I could afford. There are really good stuff second hand and if leaves you with more money to buy better quality elsewere. However because of bed bugs risks I would not buy soft furniture second hand.

I'd get the walls plastered and some nice wood flooring. If the setting/background looks good quality I think you can get away with cheaper furniture or second hand stuff.