Most college seniors aren’t talking about finding the perfect couch when they say they “got lucky.” But Medill senior Nathan Eddy still calls a two-year-old, 13-foot green couch from a thrift store in Chicago his $25 masterpiece.

Like many NU students looking to furnish an apartment on a college budget, Eddy and his three roommates were in search of reasonably nice, affordable pieces for their place. The discount retailer delivered.

“My roommates found this enormous green couch with plush cushions – it’s very tasteful, a really beautiful couch,” Eddy said. “The wooden runner and its four legs had become unattached somehow, and for that reason it had a sign on it that said, ‘Please take me home – $30.’ And there was a 10 percent student discount.”

After the roommates brought the couch home, Eddy said they reassembled the wooden pieces as best they could, and the runner hasn’t broken off in the entire two years they’ve had the couch.

“It’s the couch that ties the room together,” Eddy said. “We fight over who’s getting it when we leave.”

Eddy also said freecycle.org is a good resource when funds are limited.

“(The main consideration is) money, hands down,” Eddy said. “Nobody’s got any.”

Communication junior Lindsay Finocchiaro saved money by taking items such as couches and dishes from friends who were getting rid of furniture. Although she looked for the cheapest prices, Finocchiaro said she wanted her place to have a little character.

“I wanted a certain look,” Finocchiaro said. “Once I went with something, I tried to match it. But I also wanted a reasonable price, because I’m not going to use it when I leave.”

Finocchiaro’s concern is a common one. Dropping a lot of money on pieces to be used for one or two years is difficult. At Crate and Barrel, 850 W. North Ave. in Chicago, night manager Alicia Gwinn said the furniture from the housewares section, which comes unassembled, is cheaper. This furniture is ideal for a student on a budget.

“It’s furniture that can last a few years, but you might do a step up when you have a house,” Gwinn said.

In addition to the main stores, Crate and Barrel also has an outlet in Chicago which sells discontinued merchandise at markdown prices. Gwinn recommends asking a store when their retail season ends because this is the time when most stores have sales.

Jamesdavid Lahiff, a studio executive at Design Within Reach, 1710 Sherman Ave., said floor samples – display items that may have suffered minor wear-and-tear from customers – are a great way to get quality merchandise for a lower price. Although the store is among the pricier retailers in Chicago, Lahiff said there are some things that students should buy at a higher price and quality.

“Buying the cheapest thing possible is the biggest mistake that people make,” Lahiff said. “There’s a reason why it’s inexpensive. Going upper end and taking care of it is a great investment.”

According to Lahiff, there are two essential pieces that students should be willing to spend a little more on: a great lamp and the chair they use most frequently for working.

“A cheap sofa is fine, but a chair is where you should put your money, especially if you’re a student,” Lahiff said. “You want the best work chair you can afford because you’re spending two or three hours a day in it. You need to be comfortable and be able to concentrate.”

Lahiff recommends students purchase multi-purpose pieces like stools that double as storage containers to save money and space.

Students also shouldn’t completely avoid expensive retailers, he said.

“When you go into a high-end store, don’t be afraid to ask about things that fit your budget,” Lahiff said. “Some price tags are big, but not all.”

Reach Kristyn Schiavone at [email protected].