How to Furnish an Apartment on a Cheap Budget
Moving into a new place, may it be your first or fifth apartment is often an exciting but costly time! The expenses can really add up quickly before you realise it. But don’t worry too much, there are ways to furnish your apartment on a cheap budget.
But before we dive into the different tips and tricks you can use to save on furniture and other accessories, there are a few important steps that you should do.
Table of Contents
The Prep Work
1. Create your budget
Knowing how much money you can afford to and should spend to furnish your new abode is a great start.
Allocate a sum to cover everything, for example, $3000 for the entire apartment. You can then be more specific and organised by breaking your budget room by room. For instance, put aside $600 for the living room, $800 for the bedroom, $500 for the kitchen and so on.
It is also good to consider whether you will be living in your place long-term or short-term if you plan to take the items with you when you move and what items are non-negotiable.
If this is your temporary home and plans to leave bulky items in the future, then it makes sense not to buy high-quality pieces. Settle with the budget to mid-range items so that you can quickly sell them off. And if you fail to do so, you and your wallet won’t be disappointed as much.
2. List down essentials
When deciding what furnishings to get, having a list of essentials is helpful.
Although everyone’s essentials list will look different, some things are commonly required to live comfortably. Some basic items that most people need are a dining set, mattress, seating (sofa or chairs), kitchen appliances, kitchenware, and bedsheets.
Don’t forget to create a “nice-to-have” or the non-essential lists as well.
Separating what is essential and isn’t helps you prioritise what to get first, especially on a tight budget. If you have extra cash after sorting out the essentials, you can look at getting some of your non-essentials.
3. Measure your space
Determine how much space you have so that you won’t waste time, effort, and money returning furniture and other bulky items or even selling at a loss. Use a measuring tape and record the apartment’s dimensions.
You may also want to create a floor layout for your furniture. A floor plan will help you ensure you have the appropriate room for every piece and help you design different areas in your apartment.
4. Decide your colour palette and style
Your home can still look aesthetic even if you are trying to furnish an apartment on a cheap budget.
Have a particular scheme in mind early in the process. Perhaps you like a boho or a modern minimalist themed apartment? Following a theme helps you narrow down choices when you start to shop.
Not sure what design style to go for? I found a great article to inspire you here.
5. Look around
Visit physical and online stores to check any items that suit your style and needs. Many designs can look very similar across various sellers yet the price difference can be massive.
As per point 4, make sure to check each items’ measurements. Again, this will help you evaluate if the pieces you are eyeing fit your space.
6. Stage the process
You don’t have to buy everything all at once. Take it one step at a time, room by room or by order of priority.
Furnishing your apartment in stages can ease some pressure and help you keep up with your day-to-day bills especially if you are financially struggling.
When I moved into my apartment, it took me at least five months to fully furnish the place. During that time, I was a struggling working medical student. I had to work more and wait for sales to afford things.
My essentials which included dining table and chairs, mattress, and sofa were the first items I bought. Then, I got a new bed frame and a study table when I had more money.
Now you’ve got a budget, a list of the items you need, the measurements of the place and a theme. You’ve also had a little look around and have a plan to do this in stages.
Perfect! Below are some tips to save and furnish your apartment on a limited budget.
Ways on How to Furnish your Apartment on Cheap Budget
Buy second-hand
Purchasing pre-loved furniture, appliances and home decors can save you a lot of money.
Buying second-hand goods have become easy throughout the years. Online marketplaces like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist allow easy trades between buyers and sellers. Garage sales, opportunity/charity shops and flea markets are alternatives.
There will be times when you will get lucky and score slightly used items for less than half the retail price. But there are also occasions when you will get ripped off and be given things that should go to the bin. Always investigate the seller’s reason for selling and the condition of the item. Additionally, inspect the goods if you can, before locking the deal.
Be careful and selective as well when buying second-hand. Keep in mind that some things are best bought new for hygiene and health purposes, such as pillows and quilts.
Obtain donations and gifts
You will be surprised how many people have things lying around their house that they want to get rid of. Ask your friends or family, they may have a set of dinnerware they rarely use or a dresser which has been kept in storage for months.
Again, Gumtree, FB marketplace and Craigslist are some of the platforms where people post items to gift. You may also find “Buy Nothing” or “Swap and Sell” Facebook groups in your local area.
Curbside pickup is another way to obtain free things. In major cities, people often leave furniture on the street side to be taken for bulk waste collection or picked up by whoever wants it. When you spot them, act fast as they often disappear in a flash.
If you are throwing a housewarming party, give your guests some idea of some stuff you need. Make a wish list or gift registry. Remember to request low and mid-priced items only. You shouldn’t expect people to get you a robot vacuum costing $1000.
You may also want to ask your landlord for some furniture and appliances as part of the lease agreement if you are renting. Use your negotiation skills. Any pricey item you successfully get for free such as a refrigerator or a washing machine can save you heaps.
Upcycle or recycle
If this is not your first apartment, chances are, you already have some items lying around. Be sure to account for what you already have.
Sometimes though, we get tired of our stuff, or the style doesn’t suit our taste anymore. Try to upcycle furniture either by changing the handles or painting them. Youtube DIY tutorials can be your friend in this.
You can also upcycle or repurpose any furnishings you got free or second hand if they are looking dated.
Shop during sales
Nowadays, retailers have regular sale periods. Sales usually happen at the end-of-season, mid-year and end of the year.
You can’t always time when you’ll be moving into a new place. Nonetheless, you can choose to wait for sales, particularly for items you don’t urgently need.
Periodically, shops would put a discount on products that were returned by customers, have slight cosmetic damage, ex-displays, are discontinued, or are overstocked. A good example is Ikea. Their as-is section is always worth checking.
Use coupons, discounts and gift cards
If waiting for regular sales is not your thing, then at least use coupons and discount codes. You can do this mainly by shopping online.
Platforms like Shopback and Cashrewards can help you find the best codes.
Just like with groceries, you can save money by using gift cards. Credit card providers, insurers, unions and banks usually have a portal where members can avail discounted gift cards. You can save anywhere from 1 to 15 per cent.
Opt for rentals
Renting furniture is another effective way to furnish your apartment on a cheap budget. People who move and travel a lot find this less hassle because they don’t have to worry about getting rid of any furniture when they leave.
Should you find a piece you would like to keep, you can buy this from the rental company.
So, there you have it. I hope these tips were helpful and can save you some bucks!
Do you know other hacks on how to furnish an apartment on a budget? Please feel free to comment it down below.
Affiliate Disclosure: I may earn a small commission when you sign-up or buy a product using my links. This is at no extra cost to you.
