How Much Does it Cost to Furnish Your First Apartment
Written by: Weida Apartments
How much does it cost to furnish an apartment? If you’re thinking you just need a sofa, desk, mattress, and a few odds and ends, you may be in for a surprise. Recall the home where you grew up, and you’ll realize there are lots of items you took for granted. You’ll need them now.
There isn’t an accurate total cost you can pull out of the air. There are many variables, including the unit’s size, your tastes and priorities, and what you already own.
Here are some of the expenses you might face, room by room if you choose new medium-quality furnishings.
Living Room Furnishing Costs
If you’re buying all new furniture, you could spend $2,000 or more. However, buying used could cut this by 50-80%.
Sofa and Seating
A combination of sofa, sectionals, and chairs can cost $1,000 to $2,500.
Coffee Table and Entertainment Center
Coffee tables, end tables, and a TV stand or entertainment center can easily run $1,000 or more. Budget another $200-$500 for a TV if you don’t have one.
Additional Decor and Lighting
Don’t treat lighting as an afterthought. Many apartments don’t have good overhead lights, and you’ll need floor and table lamps to make your place pleasant and functional. Plan on $200-$400. Weida apartment buildings have overhead lighting! If you have hard floors, you may want to spend $200-$300 for an area rug. Plan a few hundred more for miscellaneous decor if you want some.
Bedroom Furnishing Costs
You can easily spend $2,000-$3,000 for everything you need in the bedroom.
Bed and Mattress
A bed frame might be $600-$900, and you don’t want to skimp on your mattress. A satisfactory one is likely to be $700-$1,200, and there’s almost no upper limit on what you can spend for a top-flight modern mattress.
An alternative is a futon, with the frame and included mattress costing $500-$1,500.
Dressers and Nightstands
You’ll probably spend $700-$1500 on a dresser (or chest) and a nightstand or two.
Desk
Whether your desk is in the bedroom or elsewhere, it will cost you $200-$800. Figure another $50-$200 for an ergonomically sound chair.
Kitchen and Dining Area Costs
You’ll need close to $1,000 and possibly more to own it all, but you can slash that cost by half or more with used items.
Dining Table and Chairs
A basic dining set, with a table and chairs for four, will be $500-$1,200.
Cookware and Utensils
This is something people don’t always consider, and the expense may surprise you. You’ll need cookware, bakeware, and eating utensils. You’ll also require cleaning supplies. You may want a coffee maker and other small appliances. You might spend $500 or more.
Bathroom
This is easy to forget, but you’ll need towels, a bathmat, and a shower curtain, not to mention soap and cleaning supplies. There goes another $150-$250.
Budgeting Tips for Furnishing Your Apartment
If you simply run out and start buying, you could be down $5,000 before you know it. For many college students, that simply isn’t realistic. You need to be deliberate about what you’re doing.
That starts with making a list. It’s okay to include everything you might want or need, at least on your first cut. There’s a lot, but you don’t have to go to a premier furniture store or kitchen supply shop.
There are less expensive alternatives. The big box stores often have suitable furniture at a lower price. The assemble-it-yourself stores, the overstock stores, and the online retailers are money-saving choices.
Finally, furnishing an apartment along with a roommate or two is a way to cut down expenses considerably. You may each need a bed, but you’ll require only one sofa.
Setting a Realistic Budget
If you’re in college, you may already be piling up too much debt, and you don’t need more. Pick a dollar amount you can afford and stick to it. The luxurious sofa you’ve dreamed of may have to wait until you’re earning a serious paycheck.
Your budget might include a per-room budget and even a per-item budget. Once you start buying, create a spreadsheet and keep track of everything.
Prioritizing Essential Purchases
What if you have a dream list that costs $6,000, but your budget says you can afford $3,000? The good news is, that you don’t absolutely need everything on your list, and you certainly don’t need it on day one.
Here’s where your spreadsheet becomes useful. Identify the items you need right away, those you need pretty soon, and those that can wait longer or possibly indefinitely. Now you’ll know where to begin.
Shopping for Deals and Discounts
To get the best prices, start early and don’t worry about having everything at once. Bargains and sales come and go, and the longer your purchasing window, the more likely you’ll find them. Labor Day sales are an ideal time for college students to find some low prices.
Considering Second-Hand/Used Furniture
Not everything needs to be new. Family and friends often have items they’ll sell cheap if not give away. Yard sales and garage sales yield bargains. Scour online sources like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. There are also brick-and-mortar used furniture stores and consignment stores.
Total Estimated Cost: What You Should Expect to Spend
For a one-bedroom apartment furnished with all new items, you might spend $5,000-$7,000, even if you’re careful. People who don’t insist on everything new are more likely to keep it in the $2,000-$5,000 range, even less if they aggressively look for secondhand deals. Sharing the cost with a roommate lowers whatever number you have.
Find a Furnished Apartment With Weida Apartments
There’s a way to drop your furnishing expenses to a few hundred dollars and avoid the hassle of locating, buying, and moving furniture. That’s to rent a fully furnished Weida apartment. Weida has
plenty of options, many within walking distance of Purdue University. If you’re looking for a new place with easy move-in,
contact us for an up-to-date list of available units.
