We have one or two expensive looking pieces, but nothing over $1000. HHI $500k.

OP -- what is your HHI and how much do you want to spend?

Anonymous wrote:You don't go into debt for furniture, if that is what you are asking, OP.

No, we have plenty of cash, just wondering what others do since I like nicer pieces but don't know what is reasonable. Also grew up with parents that got beautiful furniture that was from an expensive model home for free, so I've never been around someone actually buying furniture.

Anonymous wrote:This is kind of a hard question because we don't know how much or what kind of furniture you need. I can tell you that when we made 140 K, we had a mix of IKEA and inherited furniture. When we made 350K, we had mostly Ethan Allen furniture. Now that we make 800K, we have furniture picked by a designer from various furniture designers we saw at the Washington Design Center. I think that this progression is pretty common as people move up the income ladder.

Similar situation. Our HHI is 500-600k and living room, family room, dining room, and master bedroom were done by a design. I think it cost about $150k total, including all furniture, carpets, drapes, painting, lighting, and labor. We plan to stay in this house for 20+ years, so we decided it was worth it.

HHI 130K and we spend more money on the key pieces such as sofas from Crate and Barrel. Then fill in with World Market, Ikea and Target end tables, coffee tables and occasional chairs. I inherited many mid century modern tables and chairs that my father made when he was young and I have no room for them - they're sitting in the basement...

Our HHI is about 450K and I go to Greenfront in Farmville or Manassas. When I go to Manassas I go to the back where everything is on sale and I always find great stuff. I also have help from an interior designer/stager and will buy really nice pieces from him that have been used in stagings and a very reduced price. My house looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting topic. We have a HHI of 140k and buy mostly used from CL (10 year old $200 sofa, for example) with an occasional new IKEA dresser thrown in. Our house is not winning any decorating contests, but I don't worry much about the kids ruining anything.

This is us too. HHI is $150K, 2 kids, houseful of Craigslist buys and Ikea.

For a bit more detail: Ikea sofa cost $400 (I'm scared of bedbugs so I don't buy upholstered stuff on CL anymore). Kitchen table and chairs from CL, $100 total. Bookshelves (nice ones originally from Scan) were about $100 on CL too, I think. Bed bought new on overstock for $700 (this was a big splurge for us). Coffee tables, end tables, etc, all CL buys, maybe in the $20-$50 each range?

Our house isn't going to be featured in any magazines either, but I think it's comfortable and pleasant, which is really all you can ask for with toddlers around anyway.

None. My mother keeps showing up and "giving" us furniture she no longer wants.

A Mixed Blessing.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting topic. We have a HHI of 140k and buy mostly used from CL (10 year old $200 sofa, for example) with an occasional new IKEA dresser thrown in. Our house is not winning any decorating contests, but I don't worry much about the kids ruining anything.

This is us too. HHI is $150K, 2 kids, houseful of Craigslist buys and Ikea.

140k, mosty crate and barrel and higher end ikea. We purchase furniture rarely and wait a long time for the right piece.

HHI is $220 and we buy a lot (almost all) off craigslist so not sure how helpful this is - but the stuff we have purchased has mostly been from C&B or Pottery Barn and in extremely good condition. If I were to add up everything it would be about $3,500 for a 3 BR house, plus rugs, two cribs, LR, and DR (including shelves, side tables, etc. We do have a few family pieces, so that helps. I am looking for new rugs for the LR and DR right now and have no intention of spending more than $700 each.

BUT we have 2 kids under 5 so we didn't want to invest 'real' money in furniture/rugs until the kids get older.

This is kind of a hard question because we don't know how much or what kind of furniture you need. I can tell you that when we made 140 K, we had a mix of IKEA and inherited furniture. When we made 350K, we had mostly Ethan Allen furniture. Now that we make 800K, we have furniture picked by a designer from various furniture designers we saw at the Washington Design Center. I think that this progression is pretty common as people move up the income ladder.

You don't go into debt for furniture, if that is what you are asking, OP.

Interesting topic. We have a HHI of 140k and buy mostly used from CL (10 year old $200 sofa, for example) with an occasional new IKEA dresser thrown in. Our house is not winning any decorating contests, but I don't worry much about the kids ruining anything.

Just curious what people's HHI is relative to what they spend on furniture. We are looking to buy and will need a lot of new furniture when we do. I have no idea what is reasonable.