Moving into a new apartment is exciting, but there sure is a lot to do! Unless the place is already furnished, one of the main apartment essentials is furniture.

How to Start Choosing Furniture for Your Apartment

You may already have a first apartment checklist underway. So, first see what items are the need of the hour. If this is your first apartment, you may have a long list of items to buy. For most people, a first apartment also means that they have to save money as much as possible.

If you are already moving from an independent living space, chances are that you will have the basics – a bed frame, coffee table, dining table, bedside table, and other apartment essentials. Even if you are moving directly from your parents’ home or a dorm, chances are that you have a couple of items, such as a toaster oven, throw pillows, etc.

Once you have your first apartment checklist, start crossing off the things you already have. After that, list the furniture items according to priority. For instance, having a shower curtain and coffee table is probably more important than decorative pillows.

How to Get More Furniture for Your Apartment on a Budget

The process of finding an apartment is tough enough, but what if you don’t have much to put in it? Those bare spaces hardly make your apartment feel like home. So, it is essential to get some furniture.

Hit Up the Thrift Stores

Your local thrift store can be a treasure trove for a lot of first apartment essentials. It might take a little bit of effort to browse through the range of items, but chances are you will find something at a throwaway price.

Look Up Local Garage Sales

You might be surprised at the potential of garage sales in your vicinity. Join some social media pages that give you notifications about local yard sales or garage sales going on. You may have to drive some distance to some of them, but it is worth it if you can pick up bed frames, picture frames, coffee tables, and other apartment essentials. For smaller items, such as a flat head screwdriver, you may not want to bother going too far.

Look Up Prices Beforehand

A word of warning here; some garage sales and thrift stores might not actually have good deals when you compare their offers to market prices. Before you make a final decision on any sale, try searching for the item in question and seeing how much it would cost online. If the price difference is not significant, you might be better off buying that item brand-new. For more tips, check out this guide on how to shop for your first apartment.

What Furniture Do You Need for an Apartment?

When all is said and done, you still have to decide just what furniture to put in your new apartment. While the ultimate first apartment checklist will depend on your needs and existing belongings, there are some essentials to keep in mind.

Not sure where to start? Let’s help you make the process stress-free with the following ideas!

1. Set Up an Entryway

Even if your apartment front door opens right into the living room, do look into setting up a small entryway space for everyone’s convenience.

This could have the following:

• A Storage Bench: A bench with storage can serve multiple purposes in an apartment entryway. You can put your shoes in there, have a place to sit while putting on or taking off footwear, or collect your essentials there before going out.
• A Clothes Tree: This will not take up as much room as a bench, but it is a great place to hand your backpack, purses, coats, raincoats, umbrellas, etc.
• A Coat Rack or Hooks: Most regular apartments do not have coat closets. So, a simple rack is a great alternative. You can use this for hanging your hats, coats, jackets, and so on.

Other Essentials for the Entryway

• Small Table: Put a pretty dish or platter here as a catch-all for keys, chargers, phones, mail, and anything else you want in a convenient place. For more storage, you can consider a console table with shelving or drawers.
• Mirror: Having a full-length mirror in an entryway does not take up much room, but it is a very convenient touch. This allows you and your guests to check themselves out when going out or coming in. If you can’t find a full-length mirror at a good price, a regular one will do for those final makeup touches, straightening hats, or tying a scarf.

2. Equipping the Kitchen

The kitchen may be the heart of every home, but it also requires a lot of effort to maintain and keep clean. When you are in an apartment, try to minimize the amount of kitchen items and only get the essentials to start with. As you start cooking at home more often, you can always buy what you need along the way.

Here are some things you need to move into an apartment:

Essential Items

• Several Food Storage Containers: These are necessary for storing your leftovers or for any meal prep you want to do. Eating home cooked food is a really healthy choice. The right containers can make things much easier.
• Spice Jars: It may seem counterproductive to pour spices from their original packets to spice jars, but it helps keep everything organized and in one place. A well-stocked and neat spice rack or cabinet can also make cooking more attractive.
• At least One Chef’s Knife: No kitchen should be without at least one high-quality chef’s knife. The real deal can be expensive, but it is worthwhile for the performance and durability.
• Bar Stools: If you have a kitchen island, bar stools can be a great investment. These might eliminate the need for a dining room table and make eating together much easier.

3. Make the Living Room Your Own

Buying some window coverings can help in making a living room space more private.

Other factors to keep in mind include:

The Seating Arrangements

Depending on the kind of space you have, an apartment living room needs some chairs, couches, and other seating options. If you want a lot of seating, a sectional couch might be best. There are also convertible sofa options that can change into a bed for guests.

If you have a small living room and don’t mind a casual vibe, beanbags and throw pillows can be very comfy as well. For proper seating, consider a love seat, an accent chair, or an ottoman.

Other Essentials

• A Range of Tables: You can have a coffee table or at least an end table by the couch. These are useful for holding drinks and books. Some table models might have hidden storage for more functionality.
• The Entertainment Center: Do not waste space or money on a TV stand; go for an entertainment center that has more storage and functionality. Here, you can store remotes, video games, consoles, board games, and much more. Learn about fun things to do in your apartment

4. Eke Out an Office Space

With more and more people working from home now, a home office is often necessary for many apartment dwellers.

If you are one of them, consider the following items:

• Standing or Sitting Desk: A standing desk can help you stay fit and active while working a desk job at home. Some desks may also be able to adjust both ways.
• Ergonomic Chair: An ergonomic chair is a great investment if you have to sit for long periods. This will hopefully ensure a healthy posture and less chances of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Room Divider: A first apartment is not likely to have an extra room just for a home office. In such cases, a room divider can be useful in marking out a set space for getting your work done.

Miscellaneous Items for Your First Apartment

A first-time apartment renter guide should tell you a lot about moving into your new living space. Apart from the furniture items, your first apartment checklist should include certain important things like the following:

• Cleaning Supplies: No matter how much or how little furniture you have, cleaning is a part of life; make sure you have the basic cleaning supplies you need for an apartment for both daily cleaning and deep cleaning
• Window Treatments: While these are not technically furniture, they do make your rooms seem more home-like and stylish
• Paper Plates and Cups: These might not be absolutely necessary, but you might want to get a few for the initial days after moving when the regular dishes are still packed away (or if you want to avoid washing dishes for some time)
• Adhesive Wall Hooks: These might be necessary for most apartment dwellers; they will help you hang decor, keys, clothing, and other items without risking your apartment security deposit

At the end of the day, there are numerous things to do before moving into an apartment. Whether it is your first apartment or not, having the proper items is necessary for a comfortable living space.

The Takeaway

Choosing furniture for your first apartment might be a challenge. Prices are rising with every passing day, so we recommend buying second hand or thrifted items whenever possible. It may also be a good idea to limit your furniture, as this is one of the best ways to reduce dust in an apartment.