Kmart, Target, Big W and Reject Shop: Where to Buy Cheaply for Your Room

Setting up a room in Australia can cost you $300 or $3,000 for almost the same result, the difference is knowing which budget store to use for what. Kmart, Big W, Target and The Reject Shop each dominate different categories, and the cheapest, best-looking setup comes from mixing all four rather than loading up at one. This is the complete 2026 guide to furnishing and stocking your room cheaply: a full room-by-room breakdown of what to buy where, real example prices, three ready-made budgets, a sample shopping list, the best time to buy, and the tricks that make a budget room look expensive.

It is written for students and new arrivals setting up a share-house room or first apartment, and it is built to save you the most money for the least effort.

Prices are real 2026 examples that change with ranges and sales. Always confirm current prices in-store or online.

TL;DR: The Quick Verdict

Use Kmart as your main store for furniture, bedding, storage and decor, it is the cheapest all-rounder, with most furniture under $200. Use Big W for manchester (sheets and towels), kitchenware, small electronics and its Openook homewares, and watch its catalogue specials. Use Target for a few more stylish bedding and decor pieces (it is the same group as Kmart and now sells through Kmart online). And rely on The Reject Shop for the cheapest basics, utensils, crockery, storage, cleaning and laundry, mostly $2 to $20. A bare-bones room costs around $880, a comfortable setup about $1,500. Never buy before you have signed the lease and measured the space.

First, the Smart Way to Shop

Before you spend a dollar, three rules will save you the most money and regret:

• Do not buy before you have keys. Students commonly buy 4 to 6 weeks early, then the place falls through or the room is a different size and the money is wasted. Sign the lease, get a move-in date, then shop.
• Measure first. Check the room and wardrobe so furniture and storage actually fit. It takes two minutes and prevents costly mistakes.
• Buy essentials now, extras later. Get the basics that let you sleep, eat and clean, then add nicer pieces over the first couple of months once you know your habits.

Kmart vs Big W vs Target vs Reject Shop

The ownership detail answers a common question: Kmart and Target are part of the same company (Wesfarmers), which is why their ranges and prices are so similar and Target now sells through Kmart online, so they are close cousins rather than rivals. Big W is part of the Woolworths group and is a separate chain. The Reject Shop is its own discount variety store. On durability, all four are comparable for budget homewares; the real differences are range and price, so shop on value and on which store actually stocks what you need.

Store Deep-Dives: What Each Does Best

Kmart — your main store

Kmart is the cheapest place to buy the bulk of your room, with a huge, on-trend range under one roof. Real 2026 examples give a feel for the prices: a Hazel 3-drawer chest around $115 with a matching bedside table about $65, a reversible linen-look quilt cover set around $62, an Aleks occasional chair about $65, a Nico portable rechargeable lamp around $19, soy candles about $18 and decor accents like a chrome-look vase from around $10. Most Kmart furniture tops out near the $200 mark, so you can furnish a whole room here for a few hundred dollars. If you only shop one store, make it Kmart.

Big W — manchester, kitchen and homewares

Big W is strong on manchester (sheets, quilts and towels), kitchenware and small electronics, and its own Openook homewares range is genuinely stylish for the price. Real examples include an Openook stonewashed quilt cover set from around $40 to $90, a jute braided round rug about $25, a striped linen cushion around $29, a boucle throw about $22, a tiered shelf around $39.50 and ceramic candles from around $12. Its catalogue specials regularly beat Kmart on bedding and appliances, so always compare those before you buy.

Target — a step up in style

Target is where you add a few nicer pieces: more stylish bed linen, towels, cushions and decor that lift the look of a room without costing much more. Because Target now sells through Kmart online, you can often compare both ranges in one place. Use Target to add character and a more grown-up finish to an otherwise budget room.

The Reject Shop — the cheapest basics

For all the small, practical things, The Reject Shop is unbeatable on price. Think kitchen utensils and spoons from around $5, drinkware from around $4.50, storage canisters, plates and cups, coat hangers, storage tubs and baskets, cleaning supplies, laundry powder and bathroom bits, mostly between $2 and $20. It does not sell furniture, but it will save you a surprising amount on the dozens of little items a new room needs.

Room by Room: What to Buy and Where

This is the heart of the guide. For each part of your room and home, here is the checklist of what you need, the best store for each item, and an approximate budget price. Mix and match across the four stores to get the lowest total.

Bedroom essentials

The bedroom is your biggest spend. If a bed frame and mattress are provided, you save a lot; if not, buy those second-hand where you can. Kmart covers almost everything here.

Kitchen essentials

In a share house the kitchen is often shared, so check what is already there before buying. For your own basics, The Reject Shop is cheapest for utensils and crockery, while Big W and Kmart cover cookware and small appliances.

Bathroom essentials

Big W and Target do the nicest towels; The Reject Shop covers the cheap practical bits.

Laundry and cleaning

Almost all of this is cheapest at The Reject Shop or the supermarket. Only buy a vacuum if your place does not have one.

Study and desk

A workable study setup matters more than decor for students. Kmart has cheap desks and chairs; prioritise good light.

Decor to make it look good

A few well-chosen pieces lift a budget room. Big W’s Openook range and Kmart both do affordable, stylish decor.

Before buying furniture, run a tape measure over your space, our guide on how to measure a room for furniture shows how, and fold these costs into your upfront moving budget.

Buy These 12 Essentials First

If money is tight, these twelve items are the ones that stop you sleeping on the floor or eating takeaway every night. Buy these before anything else, for around $180 to $280 total, then add the rest over your first weeks.

Wait until you know your real habits before buying nice-to-haves like a toaster, blender, full cookware set or extra furniture, surveys find a large share of new renters never even use the toaster they rushed to buy.

Three Budgets: What Each Gets You

Sample Shopping List with Running Total

Here is a realistic comfortable-room setup from scratch, item by item, with a running total. If your bed frame and mattress are provided or bought second-hand, knock around $300 off and the rest comes in under $700.

That is a complete, comfortable room and home setup for around $1,065 brand new, and easily under $700 if you reuse a bed and a few pieces. Estimate the rest of your moving costs with our guide to bond and upfront costs.

When to Buy: The Sales Calendar

Timing your bigger buys to a sale can save 20 to 50 percent. Here are the key Australian sale periods and what they are best for.

More Money-Saving Tips

• Check the catalogues. Big W and Target run weekly specials; compare before buying bedding or appliances.
• Use click and collect. Picking up in store avoids delivery fees, which add up on bulky furniture.
• Price-check between Kmart and Big W on the same item, they often differ.
• Buy big items second-hand. A desk, drawers or bed frame can cost a fraction of new.
• Shop the student moving periods. The end of each semester floods Marketplace with cheap and free furniture.
• Stick to your list. It is easy to overspend on cute decor, add character slowly.

For everyday savings on food and household basics, see our budget shopping tips and our Coles, Woolworths and Aldi student shopping guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even Cheaper: Second-Hand and Op Shops

The cheapest room of all mixes budget-store basics with second-hand finds. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are full of cheap or free furniture, especially at the start and end of semesters, op shops are great for homewares, lamps and decor at a fraction of new, and council hard-rubbish collections can turn up usable furniture for free. See our guides to buying second-hand furniture and finding gems in op shops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The cheapest, best-looking room comes from playing each store to its strength: Kmart for furniture and most of it, Big W for manchester and electronics, Target for a few stylish touches, and The Reject Shop for cheap basics, then topping up with second-hand finds. Sign your lease, measure up, buy the essentials first, and use the room-by-room lists and budgets in this guide to set up a comfortable space without overspending.