Buying a new sofa? Look for one with loose covers – it will last longer purely because you can wash it when it gets dirty. Having a sofa re-covered is very expensive, as is having new loose covers made. Do the really sensible thing, buy your new sofa with two sets of loose covers – that way, it should last forever.
Most of us have… but if your sofa or armchair is looking abit worn, you can find replacement covers from Bemz, which sells a fab range of inexpensive covers for Ikea furniture.
Perhaps you don’t – perhaps a new mattress will do the trick instead. If you’re buying a new mattress, get a mattress protector to go over the top – it will lengthen its life. Fancy memory foam but can’t afford it? You can buy memory foam ‘mattress toppers’. Take it from us, they’re fab… and a fraction of the price.
Okay, it’s cheaper, it’s not always well made and it can look like, well, flatpack. But, if you’re a dab hand at DIY and can put it together well (and by well, we mean you might have to add a few extra screws and bolts here and there to make it really sturdy), it can be just as good as more expensive pieces. The trick is to choose wisely and customise it – just check out our feature on Ikea Hacks if you don’t believe us.
We know that fitted furniture is a better use of space, but it’s more expensive. Freestanding furniture (flatpack or not) is cheaper and can be just as sturdy. Tall shelving unit or wardrobe abit wobbly? Screw it to the wall at the top and back and it will be just as good as fitted… but cheaper.
Choosing to buy bigger packs of everything from cleaning products to cans of paint is usually always better value than buying lots of smaller packs – and don’t forget to keep your eyes open for ‘buy one, get one free’ offers – you can even find these when you shop online.
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