Apartment Furniture Checklist
- A sofa is an essential piece of apartment furniture.sofa image by Dmitry Nikolaev from Fotolia.com
If you are moving into your first apartment, you may be overwhelmed by thinking about what you need right away. Because furnishing an apartment can be expensive, shopping for the essentials is the best way to start out in your apartment without spending all your money. Whether you go to a flea market to find some pieces or you head over to a furniture store, think about what will fit in the room and what you can wait until later to purchase. - According to MyFirstApartment.com, there are some basic pieces of furniture you may want for the living room. If you are on a budget, choosing only one or two pieces of furniture might be the only option. If so, think about first getting a sofa. This will give you a place to sit and watch TV, read, socialize with friends or just relax after a long day. Sofas can be pricey, so wait for a holiday sale or think about getting a futon at a local retail store. Futons not only provide seating, but they also extend into a bed that is suitable for overnight guests. If there is no overhead lighting in your living room, you need a lamp, and you can choose a floor or tabletop model. If you have extra money in the budget, pick out a coffee table or side table to complete the room. ApartmentTherapy.com also suggests purchasing a bookshelf to hold any books or knickknacks you need to store.
- While having somewhere to eat is necessary, the type of dining set you choose should reflect your budget and needs. If you are living alone, a simple bistro-style set that only has two chairs may be suitable. If you have a built-in bar near the kitchen, you may be able to forgo a dining set at the moment and purchase two bar stools to make do. ApartmentGuide.com suggests finding furniture that fits the scale of the room to keep it from appearing overly cluttered or overbearing.
- Obviously, the most essential piece of furniture for a bedroom is a bed. If you do not have the budget for a bed frame, simply place the mattress on the floor and think about creating your own headboard using fabric, batting and plywood from a home improvement and craft store. Making your own headboard is economical, and you can custom-design it. MyFirstApartment.com also suggests buying a side table on which to place a clock or radio and a lamp, so you have a place to store everyday items. If you have a walk-in closet, you may be able to forgo a dresser and hang up all your clothes. If you need extra space, purchase a dresser with two or three drawers to store extra clothing.
