This post is all about first apartment furniture essentials, what you need, and how you can get it on a BUDGET.
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Getting everything you need for your first apartment can be SO overwhelming. Trust me, I was so overwhelmed. There’s furniture, cleaning products, kitchen appliances, etc. So many little things that you wouldn’t even think about needing until it is too late (like a toilet brush and toilet cleaner lol).
That is why I made a checklist of everything needed for moving into your first apartment so that YOU don’t have to stress about missing anything. My first apartment essentials blog post can be found here. All the essentials are listed out with my fav picks for each!!
But today I want to discuss all things FURNITURE. I want to share with you the furniture pieces I purchased that I know you will love. They are all super budget-friendly, ideal for small apartment living yet still fit that neutral, cozy interior design style.
Shopping tips you need to know…
Here are a few general tips when moving into your first apartment. These are what I found to be super helpful when it came to furnishing, decorating, and moving on a budget:
- Spreading out my larger furniture purchases
- Asking for either gift cards to these furniture stores or the furniture itself (if it’s within a reasonable price range)
- Could also be a group gift if multiple family members/friends wanted to pitch in
- If furniture is too expensive, you could ask for other first apartment essentials as gifts for Christmas or your birthday (check out that list here)
- Shopping the SALES *ALWAYS*
Let’s get into it…
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #1: Bed Frame & Mattress
I put this one first as it is quite essential for living in your first apartment (unless you don’t mind sleeping on the floor). There are a bunch of cute bed frames that are super affordable and budget-friendly.
The one that I found for my first apartment is the one YOU need ASAP. It is the Dean Sand Queen Upholstered Panel Bed from Living Spaces. I love upholstered beds because they can provide a nice base for your interior design style. You can build on top of them and add in other textures, décor, and colors to bring your room to life. Additionally, upholstered beds can align super nicely with so many different interior design styles, you can’t go wrong!!
Check out my blog post Top 5 Neutral Upholstered Beds on a Budget for more bed frame options that are budget-friendly yet still aesthetic.
The mattress I purchased was from Living Spaces as well. They have so many different mattresses that you can choose from, depending on if you like your mattresses more firm or more soft.
All their mattresses are within a reasonable budget. The main reason why I purchased my mattress from here was that I was already getting my bed frame from Living Spaces as well. It made the delivery process a lot easier knowing they were coming together. Additionally, because my purchase reached a certain threshold, I received FREE ASSEMBLY! If convenience is important to you, this would definitely be the route if possible!!
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #2: Couch
When it comes to couches, I have a small apartment so there weren’t very many options. I knew I wanted a sectional that would fit nicely in my apartment and be super cozy/comfy to relax on. That is when I found the perfect sectional couch that you NEED, especially if you also live in a small apartment. It’s a perfect size, neutral color, and within a reasonable budget.
It is the Cambrie 124″ 2 Piece Dual Chaise Sectional With Right Arm Facing Sofa Chaise from Living Spaces (they also have Left Arm Facing depending on your apartment layout). When I got it at the beginning of the year, it was actually $400 cheaper. It was insane, such a great STEAL. The current price is $1,495.00, which is still such a great price for the size of this couch.
This couch comfortably sits four people. I’ve had it for almost a year now and I’ve noticed no wear issues. The couch hasn’t sunk and the cushions still feel firm. The couch has held its shape really well. Also, my dog loves it so that’s what really matters lol!
Another couch that I was looking at has a very similar structure to this Cambrie one from Living Spaces. It’s the Cambri 2-Piece Sectional with Chaise from Ashley’s Furniture. Ironic that they literally have the same name. These couches look super similar and they are also at very similar price points. The Ashley’s Furniture one is currently $1,547.99, which is the sale price (original price: $1,719.99). With Ashley’s Furniture, never get anything from there at full price as they ALWAYS have sales that come around (a small little shopping hack for ya)!!
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #3: Coffee Table
As we go down the list, the essentials become less “essential” if you know what I mean. BUT, they are great to have and this is sort of the order I bought my furniture in. Which worked super well for me!!
Coffee tables are a must if you’re the type of person who likes to multitask. I normally will sit on my couch, watch TV, work on my laptop, and drink a cup of coffee or eat some snacks all at the same time. For a while, I went without a coffee table. It was lowkey rough having to set my coffee on the floor or just hold my snack bowl in one hand while trying to type something on my laptop with my other hand. It’s just so much more convenient to have a table for you or others to place things on while sitting on your couch.
I got my table from World Market and it was on clearance for only $100. SUCH A STEAL. This is why I’m such an advocate for SHOPPING THE SALES. Unfortunately, they don’t have this exact table anymore, but I’ve linked a few below that I love and are very similar.
**Another tip that I learned! If you plan on getting the same couch as me, a smaller, round table will make it easier to maneuver around and sit on the couch. Square tables will still work, however, it just might be a bit harder to move around and you’ll have to be extra cautious about those corners!!
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #4: Desk & Office Chair
This next one is super important if you’re working from home! That is currently me, so I knew I wanted at least a decent desk and office chair to get me through my daily work routine. I found this amazing standing desk from Amazon, which was sooo budget-friendly and allowed me to both sit and stand while working. It also had great reviews and I’ve personally had no issues with it so far (and it’s been over a year of having it).
I also got my office chair from Amazon. They have some great options for all budgets and styles. I’m not too picky when it comes to chairs, I just knew I wanted it to be comfortable and so I went with a safe bet (linked below).
Overall, I knew this wasn’t going to be my most aesthetically pleasing room. However, it was fine by me as no one really goes into my office. I wanted it to be comfortable as I spend so much time in there and at my desk. This was definitely a category I SAVED my money in so that I could SPLURGE in other areas. For example, my living room if you can tell 😂.
I would totally check out Amazon for any work-from-home necessities you may need!! Since I’ve purchased most of my essentials already, I’m thinking about purchasing some aesthetic items to decorate my desk area a bit. To make working a little more pleasant lol. If so, I’ll create a post and link everything I end up loving 😊.
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #5: Bar Stools
A lot of apartments and homes nowadays incorporate spaces for bar stools or counter stools, specifically at the kitchen island. That is where my current counter stools sit and it is perfect for eating meals or just doing some work if I need to get away from my office/a change of scenery).
What is the difference between bar stools and counter stools?
This was the question I asked when I was moving into my first apartment and started furnishing it. Bar stools are often a bit taller than counter stools and they are meant for “bars” lol. Counter stools are often shorter and meant for kitchen islands or “counters”. A lot of counter stools nowadays are made at a standard height to fit builder-grade kitchen islands. But to be safe, always take measurements to ensure accuracy!!
My plain black barstools are the Cobbler Black 26″ Counter Stool from Living Spaces. I got them for around $75/stool because I had a coupon from previously purchasing my bed frame and mattress. They are currently on the site for $95 each, which is still SO AMAZING as finding cute bar/counter stools under $100 is almost impossible. The 26” height fits perfectly in my builder-grade kitchen island.
First Apartment Furniture Checklist #6: Dining Table & Chairs
Lastly, if you have bar/counter stools and you don’t have visitors often, a dining table and chairs might not be as essential. This would only be super relevant if you’re planning on hosting and having friends/family over. I would save this large furniture piece for last, but it is still more essential than say a media console or entryway table.
Finding budget-friendly dining tables and chairs can be difficult. I’ve seen some really great cheap dining tables and chairs from Wayfair, World Market, and Home Depot. I’ve linked a few dining tables below for y’all to get a better idea of the options and price points (all under $1,000):
If you’ve made it all the way to the end…
I hope you found this list helpful! Check out my previous blog post, Interior Design Trends: You need to know for 2022, for more of my content. Happy shopping everyone ❤️.
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