Nobody wants a home that looks “cheap,” but most of us don’t have a ton of extra money to spend on home decor or home improvement. This is especially true when you’re raising a family, so it’s important to save money where you can.
It helps if you can cut corners in the right places, which will allow you to spend more in other areas. For example, purchasing quality pieces of sturdy furniture generally requires a bit of an investment. It’s worth the cost because high quality pieces will last and they can stand up better to the demands of a busy and growing family. Cheaper pieces may break down quickly even under normal wear and tear and end up needing to be replaced frequently. Even though they cost less, they are not a good value. It is better to cut corners elsewhere and spend the additional money where it really counts.
On the other hand, there are certain items that are exposed to heavy daily use, such as area rugs, that may need to be replaced regularly even though they are high quality pieces. With the entire family walking across an area rug many times each day, wear will occur quickly.
Instead of investing a lot of money on a designer rug, consider purchasing a less expensive one, but one that is still made from quality fibers. Many department stores, carpet stores, and even super centers offer good quality area rugs at affordable prices. They are generally made from remnants of good quality carpeting, and you can find them in nicely textured styles, great colors, and many different sizes.
These rugs will hold up well under regular use, even though they are reasonably priced. You could save hundreds of dollars, which can be applied to a furniture purchase. Then, when your kids are older, you can splurge on something a bit more dramatic.