Relax, a home doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful

Prioritise your needs, don't spend too much time over every appliance, furniture item

- Rosalind Ang

You never know just how many things you need to buy for a house until you're furnishing one for the first time.

As a first-time flat owner, I was overwhelmed by decision fatigue over the sheer number of furniture items or appliances I had to buy. Fridge, washing machine, microwave oven, sofa, dining table, chairs - would it ever end?

I had thought, for instance, that choosing a coffee table would be a piece of cake.

I quickly realised how wrong I was. Before I knew it, I had spent several nights scrolling through Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao until I am, with no idea of what to buy. There are hundreds and hundreds of coffee tables online, with a wide range of prices. Did I want a round table? A rectangular one? Did I want a table with storage or one with wheels? I was really spoilt for choice.

It has been a four-month battle but I have learnt the hard way how to get through house furnishing on a limited budget.

First, don't spend too much time looking at each piece of furniture or appliance - just shortlist three items as quickly as you can and narrow it down to one on another day.