When furnishing your new apartment, you’re given a blank slate. The odds are that the property management company has painted the walls white. When entering your apartment for the first time, you’ll be able to see all of the space before you start adding furniture and other items, allowing your imagination to take hold.
Your living space can have a significant impact on every aspect of your life, from your mental health to your productivity, so it’s important to furnish and decorate it well. Here are tips to help you furnish your new apartment.
1. Budget Wisely
Before you start making any purchases, make sure that you have a budget and stick to it. Rent is expensive, and you’ll have tons of other bills on top of that, so you’ll need to make sure that you leave yourself enough room to cover your total expenses. You can set an overall budget or budget for certain items by doing the necessary research to understand price points.
2. Consider Function and Purpose
When prioritizing what you need for your apartment, make sure to think of function first. These consist of the items that you need the most, including a bed, a sofa, storage options, cooking and eating utensils, and a place to work, especially if you work remotely. Don’t forget to purchase the items that go with these pieces of furniture to make them function correctly. For example, if you purchase a new bed, you’ll also need quality bamboo sheets so that you can sleep comfortably in smooth, soft sheets.
Review your list and see which items you think you can save on. For example, you can shop around for desks that fit any space, even the smallest of apartments, so that you can work comfortably from home. If you’re working with a budget, consider the functions that you can combine. For example, a futon works great in studio apartments because it operates as both a sofa and a bed. You can also use coffee tables as a place to eat until you’re able to afford a dining table.
During the initial phases of furnishing your apartment, don’t get drawn in by items that you don’t need. While it may be an exciting time, try to avoid temptation and only purchase the items that you need the most.
3. Splurge Smart
There are some items that you don’t want to purchase cheaply. Two of these items are your sofa and your mattress. When you buy these furniture items for cheap, you’re likely purchasing cheap quality materials that are not going to last. If you want a sofa that you can rest on after work every day for the next few years, you can expect to spend a little bit of money. Similarly, while mattresses may look similar to one another, they are not all the same. Cheap beds may seem comfortable at first, but this comfort will fade over time. The best mattresses are built to last for at least a decade before they start degrading and becoming less comfortable.
These are just two things that you should splurge on. However, you may not need to purchase the most expensive variations of these products in order to get the best use out of them. Make sure to comparison shop so that you can figure out the right furniture for you.
4. Don’t Forget the Kitchen
When furnishing your apartment, don’t forget the necessary kitchen appliances that don’t come with your apartment. This may include a microwave or coffee maker that can make your life easier. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on these items to get the best use out of them. If your kitchen is large enough for a dining area, you may want to consider getting bar stools or a small table to help you fill the space and make the entire apartment seem more complete.
When it comes to furnishing your apartment, you don’t have to blow your budget on one item. With the proper planning and budgeting, you can have the apartment of your dreams.
With these four tips on how to furnish your apartment, you’ll be on your way to creating a comfortable living space, even if it’s just a rental.
Photo by Nathan Fertig on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
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