Moving out of the family home and into an apartment for college can be both exciting and frustrating. It’s exciting that you’re finally on your own but frustrating that you now have to take care of all the homemaking.
One aspect that many students struggle with is furnishing their newly acquired apartment since they don’t have a lot of money to spend. Be aware of some ways to furnish your college apartment on a budget and make it feel more like home.
Check Out Your Local Thrift Stores
The first stop any college student needs to make is to their college town’s local thrift stores. Buying secondhand opens the door to filling your apartment with furnishings without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re looking for larger furniture pieces or smaller knickknacks to add some flavor to your home, thrift stores are a great way to fill out your apartment.
Head to Online Marketplaces
If you don’t find something in person that strikes your fancy, you can check out online marketplaces where people sell and trade all kinds of items. Whether it’s an app like Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace, there’s always someone trying to offload some unwanted possessions.
Often, you’ll find high-quality pieces for less than they would cost new because people want to get rid of things as soon as possible. Scroll through some marketplace apps and see what your local area has to offer. Just be aware that if your personal vehicle doesn’t have a lot of storage space, you may need to rent out a van to transport larger items.
Try Out Some DIY Refurbishing
If you’re especially crafty, you can take older, worn-out furniture and give it a fresh coat of metaphorical paint. You can usually find items in less-than-ideal condition for cheap and fix them up for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Know some ways to restore older furniture and fill your living space more cheaply than buying commercially. DIY refurbishing certainly takes more effort than buying something in decent condition outright, but the payoff can be high-quality furniture for next to nothing.
Make Your Space Your Own
Knowing how to furnish a college apartment on a budget can be tricky but not impossible. You may need to search around and fix up some older pieces, but it’ll be worth it in the end. While you’re off at college, you can make your living space feel like home.
