Furnishing an Apartment From Scratch? How Much To Spend?

Are you looking to move into an apartment soon?

Do you find yourself balking at the high cost of renting a furnished apartment? If so, then chances are that you’ll be looking at signing a lease on a place with minimal, or zero, included furniture.

Thus, you need to be able to factor furnishing expenses into your move-in budget. If you save up just enough for the security deposit and the first month’s rent, then you may be sleeping on the floor or the couch when you move in!

That’s a recipe for long-term back problems. 

brown leather 2-seat sofa

In this article, we’ll help you avoid that unfortunate situation. We’ll give you info on the average cost to furnish an apartment so you can better plan your real estate future.

Average Cost to Furnish an Apartment

Obviously, the costs that you will realize to furnish your apartment will be dependent on several factors. This includes your location, the kind of furnishings you purchase, and the quality and brand name of the furniture products that you choose.

black table lamp on nightstand

However, the estimated average cost of furnishing an average-sized apartment across all industries is right around $3000

Basic Furnishings You Will Need

Now that you know the total amount of money that you will need to set aside for your furnishings, let’s get into the specifics of what pieces you will need. Remember that some pieces are more important than others — for instance, a bed is far more crucial than an end table. Thus, you can save some on the upfront cost by buying your pieces over time.

The first piece of furniture that you’ll need is a bed.

On top of that bed, you’ll want a mattress (duh), and a mattress topper (optional, but highly recommended if you like to sink into your bed as you sleep). 

assorted-color clothes

Many apartments may have some kind of built-in storage option, like wardrobes, but if none are available in your unit you’ll have to put money aside for a dresser.

The next item to order will be living room furniture so that you can accommodate guests. This will be a basic sofa set or sectional, plus a coffee table and TV stand.

As time goes on, you can add end tables, lamps, lounge chairs, and nightstands to the list. 

How Will You Finance Your Furnishings?

The next question that arises is how you can finance your furnishings. There are two options here — first, you could save up for a while and then just buy your furnishings with that saved money. However, if you don’t have the money yet saved, then that could delay your apartment move-in.

If you really need to move in ASAP, though, consider getting a personal loan to pay for the furniture upfront, then pay back the money over time.

Find out how to apply here. 

Furnishings Cost a Lot!

At the end of the day, the cost to furnish an apartment is hardly trivial! Thus, make sure that it is a big factor in your financial decision to rent an apartment.

For more home improvement advice, check out the rest of the website!