Home » How to furnish an apartment cheaply (or even for FREE)
How to furnish an apartment cheaply (or even for FREE)
Everyday Ape is a participant in the Amazon Affiliate advertising program which means that we may get a small commission on any purchases made from our links.
If you’ve just moved and need to know how to furnish an apartment cheaply, you’re in the right place!
When it comes to furnishing your apartment, we usually hear the same old advice. To look online, consider used furniture, and above all be patient. Although that’s not bad advice, there are many other ways to furnish an apartment on a budget.
How much should I spend on furniture?
You’re just about ready to move into your new apartment. You’ve signed on the dotted line, have your new keys in hand, and you’re ready to furnish the place! The next thing to consider is how to furnish your apartment cheaply and that is the aim of this article.
Buying new furniture sounds like a lot of fun but, it can be extremely expensive without research and planning. The average person spends around $8000 on furniture when they move into a new apartment according to www.forrent.com. Do you really need to part with $8k to get your place fully kitted out?
In this article, we look at ways you can furnish your apartment without breaking the bank. With a bit of forethought and effort, you should be able to grab all of the essentials for a fraction of what most people spend.
Where can I find free furniture?
The Free Section of Craiglist
Depending on where you live, Craigslist can be a great place to find cheap (and sometimes free) furniture. Many of you haven’t noticed the “Free” section under the “For Sale” heading on the main page of Craiglist.
A quick search of the Los Angeles free section of Craiglist turned up several sofas, mattresses, shelves, a hot tub, a few old-school TVs, bedroom cabinets, and even kitchen appliances such as stoves and refrigerators.
Freecycle
Like Craigslist, except absolutely everything is free. Freecycle is an online forum with more than 9 million members from around the world.
This website is grassroots and entirely nonprofit. This is a movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and neighborhoods. The philosophy is to reuse and keep good items out of landfills. Each local group is managed by local volunteers and membership is free.
Facebook Marketplace
Not so well known is Facebook Marketplace. Using the Facebook app on your phone, you can find the Marketplace tab on the menu bar.
You can filter to see “only furniture” and you can even search for very specific items. You can save your searches so that you get a notification when something suitable comes up. Most of the items have a price but again there is a “free” section. You can save your favorites and also receive alerts when prices change.
Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a private social network for your neighborhood, but you can also report break-ins, find babysitters, hire tradesmen, or even get help to find your lost cat.
Through the app, people can advertise their upcoming yard sales and when they’re giving away free furniture and other household items.
One thing to note about Nextdoor is that every member has to verify their address and use their real name. That makes it much safer than using sites like Craiglist.
Other options you could consider are; charities, churches, and furniture banks. There are also other apps and websites that you can use by searching for “free furniture” on Google.
Where can I find cheap furniture?
Thrift/Charity Stores
Contrary to popular belief, thrift stores are not necessarily nasty or just for poor folks. Yes, there’s a lot of junk, but you can find usually find some real bargains if you look hard enough.
eBay
Loved by millions, eBay has some incredible bargains. If you are looking for furniture for your new apartment, check out the “auction” listings. In some cases, there is no reserve price and with a little patience, you can snatch up some incredible bargains.
Ikea
Ikea is a great place for buying new furniture at very reasonable prices. Some of their products are pricey but you can also find some bargains.
It’s probably a good idea to check out their website before driving there. The stores are usually massive and it helps to know what you are looking for.
Amazon
Yes, Amazon is a pretty amazing place to find affordable furniture to furnish your apartment cheaply. Prices vary from the top end to bargain basement but with a little filtering, you can find great deals on furniture. Their Daily Gold Box Deals also often include huge discounts on everything you could need for your new apartment.
What is the best time to find cheap furniture?
While January is a great month to buy furniture, July is also a good time to find bargains. New furniture styles are often released in August so this is a great time to find stock clearance furniture.
If you plan, you can make all your purchase on the big sales days of the year. Grab a pen and mark your calendar, here are America’s biggest sale days of the year;
Best budget furniture for your living room
Sofa bed
The Best Choice Products PU leather convertible futon sofa bed is made with a sturdy wooden frame and is one of the cheapest sofa beds available. It’s simple yet stylish and is designed with detailed stitching in tufted, white PU leather upholstery. This futon can be converted into multiple positions for a perfect slumber in front of the TV. See price at Amazon
Shelves
The TomCare cube storage organizer is a perfect alternative to traditional shelving. It’s large enough to organize clothes, books, shoes, or toys. Made with a minimalist design and elegant black color, it will look good in your bedroom, living room, or office. The cube organizer is made of high-quality, waterproof, lightweight, and environmentally friendly fabric. See price at Amazon
Desk
This Vogue Carpenter computer desk is a great size, sturdy, and very easy to assemble. The assembly is pretty much just taking it out of its box, opening up the legs of the table (which are already screwed on), and snapping the tabletop into the frame. It’s that easy! This desk is lightweight, portable, and above all cheap!!! See price at Amazon
Office chair
This mid-back mesh ergonomic desk chair features a heavy-duty metal base (unlike many other cheap chairs that use a plastic base). This great value chair is comfortable, attractive, supportive, and breathable. It’s made with a mesh back and mesh fabric seat and has comfortable armrests and a 360-degree swivel. See price at Amazon
TV
Samsung’s UN24H4000 24-Inch 720p LED TV is the bargain of the century. Yes, it’s Samsung’s 2014 model but it is a very sensible option for those on a budget. This 720p Samsung HDTV has bright colors and a crisp, clear picture. You can also connect your USB device directly to the TV for instant access to your photos, videos, music, etc. See price at Amazon
Room dividers
The Nicetown room divider also functions as curtains. Their Microfiber thermal coating keeps the room at a set temperature by insulating it against either heat or cold. These babies are made to last, are machine washable, and are a great way to break up larger rooms. See price at Amazon
Best budget furniture for your kitchen
Fridge
If you need a reliable but super-cheap fridge, you could do much worse than the Igloo eraser-board mini-refrigerator. At just 3.2 cubic feet, its interior is arranged very neatly to maximize storage space. It’s quiet, lightweight (for a fridge), and only takes an hour to get cold from when it’s first turned on. We challenge you to find better for the bucks! See price at Amazon
Stove
The Secura 9100MC Cooktop is a perfect starter stove that is built to North American electrical standards, is energy-saving, and is transportable. It has 15 power levels from 200 to 1800 with temperatures ranging from 140°F to 460°F. It has digital controls and incredibly makes the cooking vessel itself the original generator of the cooking heat by way of an electromagnetic field. See price at Amazon
Microwave
With a straightforward design, this compact microwave oven keeps things quick and simple. The compact 0.7 cubic foot size and lightweight construction, with a comfortable grip handle and curved edges, make this unit perfect for a small apartment or college dorm. See price at Amazon
Kitchen table & chairs
The Coavas 5pcs dining table set looks great, is made from high-quality materials, and above all, is very competitively priced. It’s elegant, durable, and easy to assemble and clean. What more could you ask for? See price at Amazon
Coffeemaker
What apartment is complete without a decent cup of joe available 24 hours a day? The VonShef 1.8L filter coffee maker has a clear backlit LCD with a programmable timer. It comes with a removable funnel and removable filter which will save you a ton on buying paper filters. This fantastic budget coffee machine has a 1.8L glass jug with cup markings and holds enough for up to 12 cups of coffee!! See price at Amazon
Best budget furniture for your bedroom
Bed
This sturdy modern studio platform is designed for strength and style. The extra strong steel framed mattress foundation (by Zinus) features wooden slats that provide strong support for your memory foam/latex/spring mattress. The Zinus modern Studio Platforma is 10 inches high, easy to assemble, and arrives in a narrow box for maximum convenience. See price at Amazon
Mattress
LUCID’s 5-inch gel memory foam mattress is dual-layered, CertiPUR-US Certified, and comes with a 25-year warranty backing its premium materials. This budget mattress has a 1-inch comfort layer of gel-infused cooling memory foam and four inches of supportive base foam. This means that it feels firm and quickly conforms to the body to support and relieve pressure. It also has a soft, breathable cover that creates a cozy air layer on the surface. See price at Amazon
Hanging closet
If you’re looking for a cheap closet, this compact zip wardrobe might be a cheap alternative to an old-fashioned wooden model. It has a sleek black finished metal structure that can hold up to 420 lbs. of evenly distributed weight. It has two small shelves and three large shelves. You can leave the closet open or close it with the included Oxford cloth cover. It’s tear-resistant, long-lasting, and breathable to keep your clothes fresh. See price at Amazon
Dresser
The mDesign Fabric three-drawer dresser offers modern storage without taking up a lot of space. This cheap and cheerful dresser is a great addition to smaller spaces like dorm rooms, apartments, and other living areas with limited space. It offers endless storage possibilities with its deep fabric drawers, sturdy frame, and sleek looks. See price at Amazon
Best budget furniture for your bathroom
Rug
This 4620 oriental cream rug is a great addition to your bathroom, living room, dining room, or bedroom. The rug looks great and feels very soft underfoot. It comes rolled-up, up but easily lays flat after a few hours. The rug is made in Turkey from high-quality polypropylene and is stain-resistant. See price at Amazon
Curtains
The Deconovo curtains are made of 100 percent polyester which feels silky and soft to the touch. You can choose from different kinds of designs and lengths of curtains to suit any room of your apartment or house. These blackout curtains insulate against summer heat and the winter chill and are a great choice for your new apartment if money is too tight to mention!! See price at Amazon
