We have all been here: You’ve finally moved into your new place. You are slowly starting to unpack, but you don’t have any furniture!
Finding furniture can be a really expensive process if you aren’t sure where to look. I recently had to set up my first unfurnished apartment. I was shocked when I went to a furniture store and saw the prices on basic items.
Some of the questions running through my head were:
- Is paying $500 for a couch normal?
- Should I start a payment plan for simple things like a dining room table?
- Do I even need furniture at this price? I think the floor looks comfy enough.
After the initial shock wore off, I decided I still did need real furniture in my apartment. I really did not want to pay more than $300-$400 for all of the furniture in the apartment. So I started looking in other places and made a list of where I checked below:
Craigslist.com
Tons of options. I did not find a small enough couch for my apartment, but there were plenty of bigger ones available for a reasonable price. My best friend found an amazing couch on Craigslist for about $50 and it is probably the most comfortable couch I’ve ever sat on. If you do find something you like on Craigslist, be careful when picking it up. I’d recommend bringing a friend to help move something big.
Facebook groups
There are plenty of “Free and For Sale” groups, just find one in your area and take a look around. You may find something great and be able to negotiate a great price.
It is easy to find these groups just search “Free and For Sale and your city.” It should pop up fairly easily.
Thrift stores
A great place to look for some furniture. The prices are usually great, the options may not be that extensive though. It is unlikely you’ll get help with delivery, so make sure to bring a friend for moving it.
If you find something that is a little bit worn, you can always refresh the look of a piece with a fresh coat of paint. This gives you a chance to have something very unique in your apartment.
I found a couple of little things that added to my apartment on Amazon. I bought a projector stand for the projector I already had, instead of getting a TV. A friend of mine ordered a dining room high top table on Amazon and recommends it highly.
Wayfair
If you don’t have a way to transport the items you buy, then online shopping is a great option. Wayfair will ship items right to your door. I didn’t have a way to move a couch with my car, so I ordered this one on Wayfair and I love it.
Wayfair is not the absolute cheapest option, but if you factor in moving costs it may be worth it to just have your furniture shipped right to your door. Just makes sure to shop the sales and have Ebates installed on your browser to ensure maximum savings.
Etsy
If you are looking for decorations that are special and just your style, then check out Etsy. Or make your own decorations by picking up some canvas and paint from your local craft store. I would not consider myself crafty, so luckily there are tons of decoration options and they are all handmade. Having cute and crafty items hanging around your apartment can really help to brighten up the place.
A final tip is to bring measurements of the space you have. Nothing is worse than buying a piece that doesn’t quite fit.
