When to Splurge vs. Save on Home Furnishings & Decor

Since we all have a budget when it comes to decorating our homes, it’s a question that comes up often in our minds: do we splurge or save on this item? No matter what your budget is, let’s talk about how much it costs to furnish a house.

I’ve spent the last couple years debating whether or not to splurge on a bed for my guest bedroom/office. I have spent hours looking at the bed of my dreams – pun intended ha! – and waffling back and forth on taking the plunge.

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Splurge vs. Save: When to Spend on Home Furnishings and Decor!

In the end I purchased a more budget-friendly bed and had planned to put it together this weekend when we opened the box to find pieces broken. Womp. Womp.

I immediately wished I’d bought the more spendy bed. But I started to think about when I am willing to spend more money when I furnish my home and when I’m willing to save a buck.

Splurge vs. Save: Room by Room

1. Bedroom

Splurge: Mattress. 

Since we spend a third of our lives sleeping, I believe it’s super valuable to purchase a quality mattress. My husband and I recently started sleeping on these Saatva mattresses (the luxury firm comfort level) and it has changed our lives! (Update in 2022: we STILL love that mattress!)

We spend way less time tossing and turning, subsequently waking ourselves up at night. Sounder sleep equals a better functioning human. So, we love them and shared more about the mattresses here.

Coastal Master Bedroom
Our Primary Bedroom – learn how to make a bed like a pro!

By the way, I don’t think the Saatva mattresses are especially pricy. They are the same price you’d find in a mattress store. But my point is you don’t want to go cheap on a mattress you’re going to be spending so much time on!

Save: Bed Frame or Headboard & Nightstands.

While I don’t always want to go the budget route on the bed frame or headboard, it can be done if you need to. We’ve had a DIY headboard in our master bedroom for 10 years now and it’s been great!

And as far as night stands go. You can always splurge on them if you want something specific, but if funds are tight you can buy something secondhand or DIY something budget-friendly.

I hacked these $35 IKEA dressers back in 2012 to create beautiful night stands for my husband and me. We still use them to this day!

Splurge vs. Save: Ikea Rast Hack Nightstands | farmhouse nightstand | white and wood nightstand with faux lambs ear and wooden turned lamp

Budget-Friendly Nightstands (most are less than $100!):

2. Living Room

Splurge: Sofa

Just like the bed, we spend a lot of time on our sofas. Probably not a third of our life (hopefully we’re more active than that 😂), but a quality sofa to rest on at the end of the day is something worth investing in.

Our couch is the PB Comfort Grand from Pottery Barn and it’s super comfortable. and while we found it new on Craigslist, I’d buy it again at the store when the time comes to replace it.

Beautiful Summer Home Tour with Pottery Barn PB Comfort Grand Sofa

When we moved in 2019, we upgraded to the PB Comfort Sectional and love it, too!

Save: Rugs and Throw Pillows

I’ve never spent more than $600 on an area rug, even my 10 x 14 rugs. And my other smaller rugs have been much cheaper! I have found that expensive rugs aren’t worth the money to me right now since I have younger kids.

So I keep things budget-friendly, which there are tons out there, like mine at Wayfair. I may someday splurge on a rug when my kids are grown, but not yet! I love my Ruggable runner in the kitchen, too!

The Best Place to Buy Rugs Online

A navy, gray, oatmeal distressed vintage rug. Abbeville Eclectic Dark Gray Area Rug

You can find inexpensive throw pillows anywhere from HomeGoods to Target. I have even used my super basic sewing skills to whip up a pillow or two!

Splurge vs. Save | What to spend on furnishing your home | cheap ideas for throw pillows!

Tip: If you want to make your own pillow cover and just need the pillow insert, find a throw pillow at a home decor store on clearance and toss the pillow cover.

3. Kitchen

Splurge: Appliances & Dinnerware

There is nothing more frustrating than a broken appliance, so do your research and buy the best quality appliances that your budget will allow.

Thankfully since we moved in, we have only had to replace the dishwasher! But I knew I was going to buy a Bosch dishwasher the moment it went out, because they are the best, quietest machines on the market. I really love my dishwasher. Worth every penny!

A dinnerware doesn’t have to be too fancy, but you don’t want to have plates that chip or get those ugly gray marks. We love our melamine dishes that look like real ceramic and come in 4 beautiful colors!

I also recently updated our old, chipped Target dishes with this gorgeous Emma Beaded Dinnerware set. I should have registered for it when we got married. Lesson learned!

Save: Tables

The tables in my dining room and kitchen cost me less than $300 – combined! I know, right?! When we moved into our home we couldn’t afford to buy brand new tables.

So, I scoured Craigslist and found our kitchen table, then re-stained the top and painted the legs. I love it!

Fall Eat-in Kitchen with Farmhouse Decor | Spend vs. Save - when to spend money on furnishing your home

And when it came time to buy a large dining table, I learned how to DIY one!

This large DIY Farmhouse Table seats 8+ and is super easy to build! You'll love this super easy project for your home!! | Save money when furnishing your home by DIYing!

They’ve both held up beautifully! And while I’d love to just waltz down to Pottery Barn at buy a table (I will do that someday), until then I’m super grateful for my budget-friendly tables! Definitely always check second hand stores or Facebook Marketplace for tables!

4. Bathroom

Splurge: Toilet and Shower Head

You want your bathroom to function well, so make sure those items are top notch and something you will want to live with for a long time.

New Modern Light Shades for Girls' Bathroom Makeover | Globe Light Shades | Bathroom Vanity Light

Save: Mirrors and Lighting

When we gutted our bathrooms in our old house, we used inexpensive mirrors from Hobby Lobby (purchased when they were half price) and they looked beautifully high end! In the bathroom pictured above I framed out the builder-grade mirror to give it a custom look.

I shared a post recently all about budget-friendly bathroom lighting. And I didn’t even replace the lights in my recent bathroom refresh. I just exchanged the light shades for some modern shades and they look great!

5. Accessories:

Splurge: Candles

Candles are kind of a funny splurge, right? Well, think about it. If you’re going to be burning something in your home, you want high quality products. Not some cheap, toxic junk that your family is breathing in all the time.

Splurge vs. Save | When to Spend Money when Furnishing Your Home | Antique Candle Co. has the best candles around that are worth the price!!

My favorite candle company, Antique Candle Co., is a small shop that uses only the finest ingredients. And I find that they burn longer and have a consistent scent throughout the life of the candle. The scent doesn’t go out after the first 30 minutes of burning it. Yay!

Save: Art

There’s a time for spending money on art, but high-quality art doesn’t have to break the bank. Artists have taken to Etsy and Minted with their work, and have listed their art at great price points. And if you’re the least bit creative, you can make your own custom art for your walls.

DIY Abstract Art on a Budget | Splurge vs. Save on Home Decor | Everrett Console Table | Summer Home Decor

Save: Lamps

I love finding a lamp on clearance because lighting adds so much to the space for not a lot of money. I’m on the hunt for some new lamps in my entry way, so I’ve been shopping and found some great budget-friendly choices!

I will say that in my older age, I’ve started splurging on more lighting. But the truth of the matter is that you can truly get a similar look for less when it comes to lamps and overhead lights!

Shop Affordable Lamps:

In your experience, do you agree with me? What would you add?

What items do you think are worth splurging on? Which items can be more budget-friendly? Let me know below in the comments!

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11 Comments

  1. I don’t think the mattress and the sofa are that expensive and are definitely worth the money. We just moved and the consignment stores and estate sales are killer. I don’t think I can ever pay full price again, I’m ruined. But a second hand mattress? NO. Sofa, maybe. But almost everything else, yes.

  2. This is such a great post! I love how you broke it down into rooms in which are best to save or splurge! I think it is a liberating concept to get permission to “splurge” on certain items. It is *so* expensive to furnish and decorate a home, just for the basics, and then if you tack on seasonal decor too, it really can be financially burdensome! However we can tend to think that we need to always get the cheapest price for everything we buy because we have to stretch that dollar, but what is a splurge to one person is a save for another. Sometimes I think DIY-ing can be a splurge because of the tools and materials (think shiplap walls) but buying a piece of art can be a save compared to that shiplap! Anyway, I like this post and it is helpful to put home furnishing/decor into a larger budget awareness of getting the look you want, at the quality you want for the price that works for you.

    1. Aww, thanks so much for the thoughtful reply! I agree with your sentiments exactly! It really does depend on the person and what they think is “worth” the splurge. I know it’s different for every person, budget and home. It’s so expensive furnishing a home, as I’m learning right now. Little by little and bit by bit!

  3. Splurge on bed and bath linens! My mother-in-law had the most awful bed sheets I have ever slept on! They were either too cheap, or they came over with her on the Mayflower! It was like sleeping on sand, all pilled up! Low end bath linens tend to fray too soon. It’s worth every penny to at least buy middle of the road.

  4. I always splurge on candles too because if i don’t , i end up with ones that i cant even smell!

  5. Thanks for a great post. I agree with all the major purchases being higher quality. I believe young people getting marriage should take note. I believe you should have great quality in your living room T.V watching chair.

  6. Thanks for a great post. I agree with all the major purchases being higher quality. I believe young people getting marriage should take note. I believe you should have great quality in your living room T.V watching chair. Enjoy your posts

  7. Totally agree with mattress and sofa. I’d add also chairs if you sit in them for an extended period of time, like desk chairs. Also back to the bedding I splurge there for comfort. Good pillows and comfortable sheets make a difference in sleep quality. Although I do watch for sales on sheets, etc.

  8. I totally agree. I splurged on my mattress and sofa, bought other things on sale price or refurbished old stuff.

  9. I agree! I’m a proud member of saving a buck when it comes to furnishing my home, but I’m also all about the quality. For those home decor, or furniture purchases I know I’ll get tired of in time, I look for knock-off’s, or convince myself I’m happy with a less-expensive purchase : ) I’ve bought our bedframe’s (with headboard/footboard) from Wayfair & they’ve been great. However, I go top of the line when it comes to my mattress. It’s definitely worth it. I’ve also learned a lesson about buying cheap… found a cute chair from Target, which was the perfect size, color, style for my bedroom, but the quality wasn’t there. It’s now the “don’t sit in that chair”, and basically just holds my decorative bed pillows at night! haha!

    1. Yes! Chairs are a good thing to splurge on too. If they aren’t comfortable, you’re right, we don’t sit in them!

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