There are many places to shop for those needed items without spending a fortune.
The type of furniture that you place in your formal living room would be different than the type you put in your informal family room. If you pick your furniture first, you will likely pick furnishings that are too large and do not allow for other decorating items, so you should pick it last.
In many cases the older items are nice and would be perfect to decorate a home. Many people overlook the thrift stores as a resource for furnishings. Everyone knows people and some of those people might be getting rid of unwanted items.
Yes, you can definitely find furniture online. For one, buying furniture through the internet saves you so much hassle. Take advantage of those online companies or stores which free delivery. Consider the size of your vehicle, will the furniture fit, or if it doesn't will you have to hire a trailer. The shipping costs can sometimes add a huge amount to the final cost and end up costing more than buying in-store.