Moving house soon? It’s an incredibly exciting time. However, it’s also a period of your life that will be full of stress, worries and near-constant measuring. After all, despite our best-placed plans and our dreams of moving into a beautiful new space, we often come across problems that can make the moving bills skyrocket. For example, that comfy corner sofa you have probably doesn’t fit into the new lounge, and your dining table probably doesn’t fit as snug into the corner as you'd hoped it would.

However, if this is the case, then there’s no need to panic because help is at hand. Here are five simple ways you can keep furnishing costs down when moving house.

Buy furniture online



It’s often far cheaper to buy furniture online than it is to buy it from brick-and-mortar stores. This is because online retailers usually have much lower overheads than physical stores, so savings can be passed directly onto customers. You can also compare prices easily from a range of suppliers.

In addition to this, you’ll experience the added benefit that many online retailers sell all forms of furniture, so there’s no need to stop in hundreds of places and spend days deciding what’s right for you. When we take a look at the range of furniture from VidaXL, for example, we can see how easy it is to buy everything you need from one place. So, not only is it cheaper to buy furniture online, but it’s often more convenient, too.

Cost effective accessories



It’s easy to cut costs without sacrificing style. So, if you’ve already invested large sums in statement pieces of furniture, then you should look for cost effective accessories to make sure you’re getting the best possible value.

For example, your throws, rugs and pillow cushions can all be bought cheaply because they’ll likely only last a few years anyway before they’re damaged by the dog or red wine is spilt on them. You can ring the changes then too.

Keep a close eye on fitting costs



If you’re looking to tile a few rooms or lay new flooring in the house, then it’s well worth picking one tile or flooring style and sticking to it throughout. This is because, if you buy flooring or tiles in bulk, you’re more likely to be able to negotiate a great price.

Similarly, if you have lots of different flooring and tiling options that need to be fitted, this will be time-consuming for a fitter because they’ll need to keep checking plans. If they charge by the hour (as most fitters do), then this cost will rise quickly. For the exact same reason, you should choose plain tiles and flooring options where possible. This is because, if your fitter needs to line up intricate patterns, you may find the fitting costs skyrocket as a result.

Consider DIY



Any time you walk into a furniture showroom or a shop, you could spend £1,000s on beautiful items. However beautifully-made items will often sell for a premium, particularly if they have a designer name attached. If you are happy to take on some DIY yourself you could create the same look yourself if you have the skills.

For example, a simple wooden table can be made cost-effectively and easily if you’re willing to invest the time. As this guide from The Guardian shows, it’s actually relatively straightforward to build a dining table from reclaimed wood, and all of the equipment will cost you under £100.

Buy things over time


As renowned designer Laurie Blumenfeld says, ‘your house doesn’t have to be all created at once’. As a result, you should assess what’s really important to you and prioritise your spending. After all, if you’re willing to wait a bit longer for non-essential items and pieces of furniture you’re happy to upgrade, then you’re likely to be able to pick up these pieces in the sale, which will bring your total furnishings cost down. It often pays to be patient.

Moving house is a fun and exciting time, so make sure you enjoy the experience. By following these five tips, you’ll ensure that your furnishing budget looks after itself. This means you can sit back, relax and enjoy your new space.

*Collaborative post

Investing in antiques has become very popular in recent years. TV programmes like The Antiques Roadshow, Flog It and Cash In The Attic are never off the screen and low savings rates mean investing in antiques can be more profitable that putting your money into a savings account.

Money can be made in antiques as long as you realise that the return is not guaranteed, and this can fluctuate with supply, demand and even what is fashionable to collect. 

It's most important in my opinion to invest in what you like. Having a beautiful piece of art, jewellery or furniture can give lots of pleasure for years to come even if the value drops due to market conditions.





According to Deloitte, in 2014, 76% of art and collectibles were purchased for an investment. 

To determine the fair market value, of an antique, find the sale price of comparable works. Look at previous auction house sales, and speak to art and antiques specialists to help in estimating the potential price. For a free online valuation Barnebys is one site that can help.  Documented evidence of provenance (a history) for a work of art can help establish that it is an original and not forged, stolen or a reproduction. It can also help maintain the true value of the item. A collection of art is usually worth more than the sum of its parts as well, and this is important to factor into your investment.





With jewellery, you almost can't go wrong with the major designer brands, that have the emphasis on craftsmanship. Tiffany, Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels are particularly excellent makes that are highly collectible. Diamond jewellery with a large carat centre stone, that is of excellent quality also holds it's value well.

If you have an eye for modern up-and-coming designers that could make a profit in the future then artists at the Goldsmiths Fair are worth watching, being recognised as the premier showcase in the UK for contemporary designer jewellery. 

With furniture, well maintained pre 19th century furniture performs well. It's important with furniture to watch out for signs of restoration, and look for the original patina. If old furniture looks too new it will most likely affect the value, and not for the better.

Finally if you have found that exciting investment, and bought that perfect antique, don't forget to insure it, and keep an up-to-date valuation. Accidents can happen and you want the piece to continue to bring you pleasure in the future as well as increasing in value, so don't forget insurance.

In conclusion, investing in antiques can be profitable - study the market, take advice from experts, but most importantly buy what you like so you can enjoy it into the future.

* This article is for information only, always seek guidance from an industry expert. In collaboration with Barneby's auctions.

• Copyright: Marko Poplasen Shutterstock

Copyright: Santiago Cornejo Shutterstock

I have a confession to make, come closer, let me whisper in your ear... I haven't spent much money on my flat at all and it's in serious need of a makeover. My flat is lovely and a decent size but in the time I have lived there we have never spent that much money on it and it really needs a lick of paint, some new furniture, a new bathroom and a new kitchen. 

We went looking for bathrooms this week. They were reasonably priced but how much did they want for labour!? I was shaking in my boots when I heard. So that is one thing on the back burner for now.

We have been in our house for 12 years and in that time we have painted a few walls and carpeted some rooms but I have to admit we would rather go on holiday. But now we have decided we should do something about our living room.

My sofa is in a right state, I cover it over with a throw and it hides the ripped material, but I really need a new one and my living room has blinds that are the beigest of beige and that are quite austere for a living room. I want to soften the windows with some curtains and bring some life back into the room. Some new soft furnishings would be the icing on the cake.



So to look for a sofa, I have seen a few nice ones on the Furniture Choice website. I like the classic contemporary look and this Mission sofa below, ticks all the boxes. I think I may order a swatch of the material, and if do place an order soon I could have it in time for Christmas as well. When I bought my old leather sofa 12 years ago it was over £700 and this sofa below is half that price.





For the curtains I want a weighty pair and I like these natural and black luxury velvet curtains from Next. They also fit into the black, brown and cream colour scheme of my lounge. These curtains look beautiful and what I save from buying the sofa I can spend on these curtain for a touch of class.









* PR collaboration

I am in desperate need of a new sofa. Don't believe me? Check out my sofa below.



I normally have it covered with a throw. This makes is comfy and hides the ripped leather. But I think you will agree with me I certainly could do with a new one.

I have been recently looking around for a reputable company that sell leather sofas and I came across SCS.

What appealed to me is that they have a wide range of sofas and many designs are exclusive to them. In store they have over 200 sofas and also carpets, rugs and other accessories. I've been in my local store in Bridgend, and I must say the sales person was quite cheery which took me by surprised! So often the customer service in big stores is not the best, but he couldn't do enough for me. SCS also have over 100 stores so there should be one near you. I didn't realise they have been around for over 100 years as well, that fact alone is reassuring.

Whilst I was there browsing the leather sofas I spotted a few bargains.





Classic and stylish I feel this leather sofa will fit into most modern houses. I liked the fact that this is made from 'Endurance' leather. As you can see from my old sofa, leather sofas don't always last as long as you think. The 'Endurance' composite leather has the look and feel of natural leather but a much improved resistance to scratching and marking. Particularly good if you have kids or there are pets in the house. They also state that no treatments are applied so it's kinder to the environment than treated leather. This sofa also comes in a range of colours to fit into your living room.





I liked the Santiago 3 seater leather sofa as it has a modern European style. Constructed with a hardwood frame and with great support from the pocket coil sprung foam I think this sofa would be extremely comfortable. Again this sofa is available in a range of colours from chilli red to black. I am certain chilli red would look great in a neutral living room.

SCS call themselves the sofa carpet specialist and they have a huge choice of leather, fabric and corner sofas. All sofas have 4 years interest free credit too. That is great to know in these times of recession and perfect if you are think of buying a sofa for delivery before Christmas.