Buying Furniture for Your Apartment: the Checklist

So you’ve signed the paperwork and you are getting ready to move into your new apartment. Whether it is your first time living in an apartment or if you are expanding to a bigger space, figuring out what you need to fill your new living area can be a daunting task.

If you haven’t bought your own appliances or furniture in the past, you may also want to figure out which items are worth spending a bit more on, and which you can try to save some money on.

Figure out Your Budget

It’s best to start by figuring out how much you’re able to spend on furnishings. This will give you room to spend more on items that are essential and useful, and less on items you may not use as much. If you know how much you have to spend, you might also avoid buying items that later become unnecessary.

Start with the Essentials

Everyone has a different idea of what they want in their apartment, so start with what you need over what you’d like:

• A bed
• Sheets and comforter
• A couch
• Kitchen basics: silverware, plates, glasses, and appliances you use often.
• Pots and pans
• Shower curtain and liner
• Towels
• Dining table and chairs
• Trash can
• Cleaning supplies for your kitchen and bathroom

Once you have the basics down, you can figure out what other pieces of furniture are important. Make a list of furniture and appliances you frequently use in your current living space. This way, you can skip buying appliances like a Panini press (and other novelty appliances) if you don’t make sandwiches often. Stick with the basics and you can improve what you need to later, especially if you’re aiming to fill your apartment on the budget.