How to Beauti-FULLY FURNISH your studio unit for P100k or less!

Your home is an extension of who you are; a place where you can be yourself and a space for memories. Suppose you’ve just acquired a new studio unit —congratulations, you have a blank page to tell your story! The question now is, how much will it take to do that? Furnishing your home with only PHP100,000 seems a bit impossible, but this restriction can lead to surprising results. Having limits helps you be more thoughtful about choosing the things that foster your well-being.

We sat down with Team Vendo Corp. Property Management Founder and B&P Property Group’s very own Marketing Consultant, Ms. Aya Montebon. She has extensive experience in furnishing AirBnbs that are cozy and feel like home for only PHP100K. Her recommendations come from a wealth of insight gathered over the years, and we hope that they will help you create the home of your dreams without breaking the bank.

B&P: Where do we start?

Aya: I would say, prioritize the things that are for long-term use such as:

Appliances – These are your aircon, microwave, induction stove, range hood, to name a few. You don’t have to get the top-of-the-line brands. Nowadays, even mid-range to cheap brands can serve you for a good number of years as long as you take care of them. A great time to be alive, don’t you think?

An excellent mattress - Home is where you rest, so the bed is one of the most, if not THE most important piece of furniture. It should be the kind where you just melt into horizontal bliss at the end of a long day. And just like appliances, you can get a reasonably priced one from Salem, Uratex, or Mandaue Foam.

Good quality water heater – This deserves a special mention, and believe me, you’ll thank me for it. What can be more soothing than having a shower set at just the right temperature?  Don’t worry, with a little patience and research, you’ll find that they often go on sale and have free installation promos if you buy one from the major hardware stores like The Handyman or Ace Hardware.

B&P: How about the decor can they still fit in the budget?

Aya: Of course! A good rule of thumb is to take it slow. You don’t have to get all your decor and accessories in one go. Enjoy the process of collecting and curating pieces over time. Get inspiration from a website or a magazine and identify the essential items that speak to you and slowly build around them. As you collect memories, your story evolves through the years, so should your home.

Many people don’t know about this, but you can actually “haggle” at the department or appliance store. What I mean is, they can give bigger discounts for bulk purchases of some items. So yes, asking for a discount is not just for the tiangge or palengke. For example, merchandisers sometimes give secret discounts on beds. And when it comes to appliances, if you’re buying more than one, you can ask for big discounts. They’ll be happy to inform you of promo items not on display. I had an experience when I told a merchandiser that I couldn’t go higher than PHP1,500 for an induction stove, and I needed three, so they gladly informed me of a Buy-Two-Take-One promo. So don’t be afraid to ask, you might get a terrific deal and leave more than enough for your decor budget. Just be prepared to wait a bit because the merchandisers often have to call their supervisor or their head office.

B&P: Where do you usually shop?

Aya: My favorite stores are Wilcon Depot, Lazada, SM Home, SM Appliances, Mandaue Foam, Robinson’s Department Store, Ace Hardware, True Value, and The Handyman — They have inexpensive but tastefully designed pieces. Sometimes they would have similar items, so I would choose the nicest one at the price I want. They hold a lot of promotions, so the chances of getting your money’s worth are pretty high.

Choosing the right store will save you both time and money. Maybe like me, you like moving efficiently. Then I would first go to the biggest store, which is SM Home because they usually have most of what I need so I can make just one shopping trip. Store-hopping can be tiring, especially now, so if you can realize your vision in one place, go ahead.

Below is my cheat sheet. It’s a rundown of what you can buy at my favorite stores. SM Home is at the top of my list. Besides their extensive inventory,  SM Home in Megamall has tie-ups with delivery apps like MoveIt so you can buy all items (big and small) and have them delivered. They can coordinate it in-store for you.(https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F860a20e0-cb23-4f0b-8e30-d897822de70c_1800x1800.jpeg)

Aya: It would also be good if the condo unit you bought has high quality built-in kitchen storage and bath fixtures when turned over so you wouldn’t have to spend on those. Having a high ceiling is also very important, so it doesn’t limit your lighting fixture options. These are some of the reasons I love B&P Property Group developments —the unfurnished units already look very stylish and move-in ready. In fact, I bought several units in Prosperity Heights Condominium Tandang Sora.