Good places to find cheap furniture

THEPAIN73

So I got approved for an apartment with a fellow forumer here (Kirbith).

Now we need cheap furniture. Any Ideas?

I definitely want the following:

Patio chairs w/ tiny drink table.
Couch.
Dining table
living room table
comfy chair

I also might want a plant or two. What are some good ones that won't require a lot of attention. (no plastics)

Six

Craig's List.

bowen

Check out any local thrift store, they sometimes carry some awesome furniture you can get cheap and just stain and turn them into some high quality pieces.

Things like Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, places like that.

RUNN1NGMAN

Ikea, Target, Walmart, Goodwill/other thrift stores, Craigslist.

World Market (or whatever it's called on the West Coast, Cost Plus or something) also has relatively cheap furniture.

It's also yard sale season, so hit the suburbs on a Saturday morning and look for signs.

Smurph

I would check out Ikea for the tables at least. I got a dining room table + 4 chairs from them for like $120 and a decent coffee table for cheap too. I wound up furnishing my whole apartment for <$1000 not including couches.

rfalias

I've gotten some tables and stuff from the trash.
Never a couch though, just patio furniture and a coffee table, things I wouldn't sleep on.
trash picking is fun... and legal! Plus you get the added bonus of looking like a Hobo...

Other than that hit up some of them whole sale stores if you are a member (BJ, CostCo, Sams) they usually have some cheap stuff. Yard sales are a good bet too.

Spherick

As mentioned earlier - Craigslist is amazing for used furniture. I got a 5 piece bedroom set, a leather sectional couch, and a coffee table all for $100. The couch alone retails at 1k easily and after a scrub down with a magic eraser (TM) and some febreeze its just like new.

Dont buy Wal-Mart furniture, it sucks and you will hate your life.

I dont know if you have any Big Lots near you, but their furniture is pretty cheap and good.

Also Salvation Army

Improvolone

If you can refinish stuff, you can do some nice things with used furniture.
I used to love Ikea, but a lot of their cheap stuff scratches really easy, and sometimes breaks even easier. Really pay attention to what you're buying.

a penguin

If you live in a college town or anything like one, then there's alot of people trying to get rid of furniture/ large appliances at the end of school years. I picked up a damn-near new washer and dryer for dirt cheap that way, and a friend picked up an entire living room set in excellent condition.

So yeah, Craigslist.

THEPAIN73

Any ideas on plants?

rfalias

Chinese evergreen's are easy, low light plants
Ponytail palm's are good, and don't need constant watering (but eventually can get big)

THEPAIN73

Are Bonsai Plants easy to maintain?

rfalias

THEPAIN73 wrote: »

Are Bonsai Plants easy to maintain?

Well, bonsai isn't really a plant species, it's basically keeping trees tiny. It can be done with a lot of plants. I don't know much about it personally. But the ones you always see in such classics as Karate Kid and other Americasian movies are most likely cedar or juniper plants. But I believe it can be done with almost any plant that has a trunk. It's more of an art really.

KalTorak

THEPAIN73 wrote: »

Are Bonsai Plants easy to maintain?

The instructions that came with mine were relatively simple. It died a slow painful death in my care, but I also managed to kill those sticks of green bamboo that stand up in jars of water and stones and are supposed to be able to live through anything, so don't take that as any indication. If you're good with plants, you can probably handle one.

bowen

Plants you get from big chains and stuff (we had a bamboo plant that came from walmart) tend to die slow painful deaths. Our other bamboo plant is fine. Probably because walmart is shit and you'll hate your life if you buy things for your house from them, like was said earlier.

rfalias

Yeah, get your plants from local nursery's. (This in no way is influenced because my father owns/operates one)

But, be aware that some local shops can be in pretty bad shape. When shopping around at a nursery make sure it is clean, well organized and relatively weed free. (Impossible to be completely devoid of weeds, but it shouldn't be overgrown).

That aside...
Might be worth a google if you are interested in bonsai, it can be more involved to start from a cutting or regular plant if you don't get one from some kind of dealer.

mts

if you are anywhere near Davis,CA. i am moving cross-country and getting rid of a lot of furniture soon

THEPAIN73

mts wrote: »

if you are anywhere near Davis,CA. i am moving cross-country and getting rid of a lot of furniture soon

Nope, central Indiana. Thanks though.