How to fully furnish a flat?

amrad

We've just bought a flat (first time buyer!) in London which is in good condition but completely unfurnished. We want to rent it out for a year then move in and am looking to furnish it up over the next couple of weeks. What are the usual suggestions on where to get furniture? A big ikea run is a possibility or is there anything better?

We are going to need 3 x double beds, bedroom wardrobes, sofas, dining table and all the other bits and pieces.

Given we will be doing it straight after xmas there may be some good opportunities for sales etc. Anywhere that usually does a good xmas sale?

Thanks in advance

[Deleted User]

Argos isn't that bad anymore.. they deliver very cheaply also

timnicebutdim_2

Hi there we've found argos/homebase, same company, good for a dining table and sofas -sometimes you can find the same product on the homebase website and combine this with a discount code. In terms of wardrobes, chest of drawers, side tables etc I'd say Ikea has a bit more edge as the quality is generally better in terms of flatpack stuff.

Don't know if you've heard of the smaller retailers such as the Range, Harveys etc sometimes they've got some good deals like curtains and general bits n bobs. Don't know about beds sorrym probably a localish one is your best bet.

Sexy_Legs

I bought dinning table and chairs from homebase and they are very good, the delivery came from Argos.

I do like the IKEA furniture, I have a chest of drawers in solid wood and it is very stirdy, their sales starts soon, and you can sometimes pickup bits in there bargain basement.

Also have a look in B&Q we picked up wardrobes and bedside tables in the sales for nothing. You can alway re-inforce the flat packed furniture with a few extra screws and if you have an electric screwdriver dril set it make the job much easier.

Good luck

Sexy_Legs

Just a thought, have you looked on Freecycle you can subscribe to your local area, you would be quite suprised at the quality of thing people are giving away.

Gumtree is also good.

I'm just thinking that if you are going to be renting it out you don't want to be spending lots on it.

HappyMJ

Sexy_Legs wrote: »

I'm just thinking that if you are going to be renting it out you don't want to be spending lots on it.

That's what I was thinking... rent the flat out unfurnished or with stuff of minimal value (they'll only use your brand new furniture and make it look old-to me anyway) then buy your own new stuff a month or so before you want to move in.

Idiophreak

We just furnished our flat - 99% of stuff we got from either Ikea or Argos - shop about and the stuff looks nice and doesn't cost a lot - a number of people have commented on how expensive certain things look...and they *really* weren't

lucky11_2

Ebay. I got a brilliant double bed frame a few years ago, next day delivery and all for about £69. I also bought a mattress off 'mattressman' online for £100, it's absolutely the most comfy mattress ever - and stripey, not one of those horrid flowery things
Ikea are very cheap on some things too, but not on others - worth a look for their basic furniture though

amrad

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Has anyone ever used one of the package companies eg http://www.davidphillips.co.uk/ ? The letting agent recommended these to us.

To get the type of renters/rent (eg people working in the city) we are looking for the furniture would all need to be quite good quality, stylish and coordinated. Otherwise as suggested here the option would be rent unfurnished and then buy when we move in. I think IKEA would work, but probably nothing lower quality. Any other suggestions in this sort of range?

lucky11_2

Are you going to keep the same furniture for yourself when you move in, or replace it?

Adaline

I used Tesco Direct during the sales, and got a lovely large wooden dining table and six chairs reduced to £200! It's worth checking during the sales. Divan beds, cupboards and chest of drawers from Argos. Bookshelves and sofa from Ikea. All delivered. The only thing I spent a lot of money on and a lot of time looking for was a really good bed for myself, which I ended up getting from a local discount place. It's got a fantastic mattress, and not the kind of thing I'd scrimp on!