Furnishing a First Flat on a Budget

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Furnishing a First Flat on a Budget

What to buy first, where to save and where not to, second-hand and measuring

Furnishing a place from nothing is a sequencing problem rather than a budget problem, and buying in the wrong order is what empties the money first.

What you actually need first

A bed and a mattress, somewhere to sit, a table to eat at, storage for clothes, and enough kitchen equipment to cook a meal. Everything else can wait, and waiting means you buy what fits rather than what was available.

Live in the space for a few weeks before buying anything large, since where the light falls and where you actually sit are rarely what you expected.

Where not to save

The mattress, which you spend a third of your life on, and anything load bearing or electrical. A second-hand mattress is a false economy, and second-hand electricals should be tested.

Where to save

Storage, side tables, shelving, lamps and anything decorative. These are where the second-hand market is strongest and where a scratch matters least.

Second-hand and free

Local selling groups, charity shops that collect furniture, free-cycling groups and end-of-tenancy clearouts. Check upholstered items carry the fire safety label, since that is a legal requirement for resale in the UK.

Measuring

Measure the room and the route in — doorways, stair turns, the diagonal depth of a sofa. Mark the footprint on the floor with tape before ordering anything large.

Making a rented flat feel yours

Lamps, rugs, cushions, plants and art change a room without touching the walls. Removable hooks and freestanding shelving avoid drilling, and everything comes with you.

Check the tenancy before painting, and photograph the flat on the day you move in.

Sharing

Agree who owns what before buying anything jointly, since splitting a sofa at the end of a tenancy is where friendships suffer.

Assembling flat-pack

Check every part against the list before starting, leave fixings slightly loose until the piece is square, and never skip the thin back panel, which is what stops a unit racking.

Anchor tall units to the wall with the bracket supplied, using fixings suited to the wall type.

Kitchen basics

A sharp knife, a board, one good pan, a saucepan and an oven tray cooks almost anything. Add to it as you find what you actually make.

Buying second-hand safely

Check upholstered items carry the fire safety label, test electricals or have them tested, and inspect for signs of pests, particularly in mattresses and upholstered furniture.

Collect rather than paying for delivery where you can, and take someone with you for anything heavy.

Renting

Check what the tenancy allows before drilling or painting, and keep anything you remove so it can go back.

Buy what you can take with you.

WHERE TO BUY

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