Collecting a houseful of furniture sometimes doesn’t suit the lifestyle of a military family. It’s common for civilian families to buy furniture as long-term investment pieces that stay in the family home for many years, but often that just doesn’t make sense for military families. With frequent relocations, owning too much furniture — and figuring out how to make it fit into your next home — can become a hassle.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up the hope of having a beautiful, comfortable, and relaxing home, all while staying within your budget. Knowing which items to splurge on and where to save money is a key part of balancing your belongings.
Buying quality furniture doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. Here are four tips to help you create a beautiful military home.
Shop Strategically
Before you start shopping for furniture, it’s always a good idea to identify your priorities and know which items you absolutely need and which are optional. Decide beforehand the piece or pieces you want to focus on, and then build the room around those items. This keeps you focused as you shop and prevents you from making costly impulse purchases.
Set a Budget
When you have a clear idea of how much you can spend, you will find it easier to determine your budget for the main pieces. Set an amount for your primary pieces, and then look at what you can spend on optional or complementary items.
Look for Quality
When you visit a local CORT Clearance Center, you might be surprised to see the wide selection of quality used furniture available. One of the great things about buying secondhand is that many stores, including CORT, have a stringent set of guidelines when it comes to what they sell, so you’ll always be buying furniture that is in like-new condition.
Know When to Rent
Of course, the best way to have flexibility is not to buy something, but that doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of enjoying it. When you rent furniture instead of buying, you get the best of both worlds. You have the opportunity to enjoy the perks of ownership without the long-term commitment.
As a member of the military, frequent PCS moves can be a fact of life, so renting certain items that are difficult to move — such as sofas and shelves — just makes sense. Consider buying accent pieces like art, tapestries, and other items that can move easily from one city to the next, and then rent some of the necessary bulky pieces to make moving easier. It also gives you the opportunity to refresh your home’s décor each time you move.
CORT Furniture Rental ensures you can enjoy the furniture you love for as long as you need it. Furnish your new home with your next move in mind, and you’ll find that you have everything you need, no matter where that next move takes you.
