The Ultimate Guide to Furnishing Your First Apartment
Moving into a new apartment is always a milestone that can come with many questions. Whether you’ve moved 1000 times or this will be your first apartment on your own, it’s always important to sit down and think about how you want to furnish and decorate. Making your apartment your own is how your new place will become your new home. Moving to your first apartment can come with many new responsibilities and anxieties so check out our ultimate guide on how to furnish your first apartment.
Planning Your Space
Before you jump right in and buy the trendiest furniture and decor, take a moment to plan the layout of your new space. If you can get measurements or measure the apartment yourself (ask your new landlord if they have a floor plan to share), you’ll know exactly what furniture will fit and where it might go. You’ll also want to consider the following:
Function:
How do you intend to use the rooms and space you have? Will you need to utilize space for work, working out, art, or hobbies? Knowing the function of each room will help you plan how to furnish, decorate and arrange.
Style:
What do you want to convey with your decor? Are you a minimalist or a maximalist? Do you want your space to be chic, eclectic, homey? Having a clear vision will help make the decision process easier when shopping. If it doesn’t fit the aesthetic, it doesn’t get bought.
Color:
Decide on a color scheme that resonates with your style and belongings. Assuming items you’ve picked out over the years are moving with you, think about how you can make them fit in your new color scheme or plan around them so you are not making unnecessary purchases.
Prioritizing Apartment Essentials
Once you have a clear plan, you can start prioritizing essential purchases. Focus on the items you will use daily, and once you secure those, branch out into the decorative items. Some of the key essentials can be:
Bed:
Investing in a good mattress and frame will be crucial to enjoying your new apartment. If space is limited you can always consider a lofted bed or a bed with storage underneath to help your space be more functional. This is where those measurements will come in handy – it’s recommended to have at least three feet of space to walk around your bed.
Couch:
Something you spend almost as much time on as your bed – a good, comfortable couch is worth planning and investing in. As the centerpiece of the living room, pick one that fits your style and provides the proper functionality for your space and how you will use it. Is your new place a studio? Consider furniture like a convertible sofa that transforms from a couch to a bed.
Table:
The centerpiece of the dining room or kitchen, having a table that serves you and your space is an important piece of the puzzle when furnishing your apartment. Will a corner of your dining table also be your WFH space? Will you be rolling out pie crusts? Think about larger tables that have room to separate your office from your meal, or tabletops like marble that will work great as additional kitchen prep space if you need.
To save money, the best way to quickly and cheaply furnish your first place is by scouring Facebook Marketplace and Chicago’s myriad resale stores for what you need. If you are faced with finding pieces with certain measurements or finding things to fit in small spaces, try IKEA. Wayfair and HomeGoods are other spots where you can find furniture on the cheaper end, some even with delivery options.
Adding Apartment Decor
Whether you’ve been collecting decor for a long time or are just getting started on your collection, how you decorate your space says a lot about who you are and how you like to live. When furnishing and decorating on a budget, it’s important to go slow and buy things you like that fit your style. Decor will come with time! As you start your search, it’s important to focus on the following:
Art/Wall Decor:
The part of someone’s collection that takes the longest is acquiring art that you like enough to buy. Start on Amazon, Etsy, and other markets for handmade art. Local Makers Markets, art fairs, and University art programs are great places to find affordable art that resonates with you! Consider a gallery wall as a fun way to display your collection.
Textiles:
Simple things can brighten up an apartment. Adding pillows, blankets, and rugs will bring your new apartment from basic to distinguished. These introduce warmth, texture, and color to your space that will bring it to the next level.
Plants:
If you’ve never had a green thumb, now’s the time to start! Adding greenery is the best way to add ambiance to your space while also improving air quality. Choosing low-maintenance plants to start can teach you how to take care of them, and as you get better, you work your way up to prettier and more involved plants. Many local plant shops are also clearing out their end of season inventory, so Fall is a great time to get plants on a budget. The Jungle in Niles has a room that sells less than lush plants at a discount for you to bring home and nurse back to thriving!
Lighting:
This can make or break the vibe of an apartment. Forgoing your overhead lighting for cool standing or desk lamps and changeable light bulbs can put the control back in your hands as you choose what kind of vibe you want to emit. Lighting can transform a room!
However you design, organize, and style your place, it’s YOURS. Welcome home!