How to Furnish your First Flat: A Guide for Uni Students and First-Time Flatters

It can be stressful to buy furniture for a first flat because of the decision making that goes into it. There’s a lot of purchases to make and it can feel overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. Not to mention keeping it all within a reasonable budget.

That’s why we’ve gone and done the hard work for you! We have put together a guide that will go through each room of your flat and what you might need. We’ll also provide you with some general tips to make your flat furnishing as stress free as possible!

What do I need to know?

There are a handful of things you need to keep in mind before and during your flat outfitting. These things include putting together a plan, what to splurge or skimp out on, and how you can make your flat feel like a home.

Make a plan!

It’s simple but it needs to be said, create a plan before you start buying! It’s common to forget essentials when you’re buying at the last minute. You should go through each room of your flat and make a checklist of what is needed, from most important to least.

We’ll provide you with some suggestions later in this article for each room if you’re having trouble coming up with a list of essentials so don’t stress about it too much!

This also means planning out the layout and vibe you want for each room. You can look online and through places like Pinterest to get inspiration!

Measure Everything!

Another simple but important point to keep in mind, measure the rooms of your flat and the furniture you’re thinking of purchasing. If possible, ask the property manager for a floor plan with dimensions for your flat.

This will prevent you from buying furniture for your flat that may not fit your space. A sofa is no good if it takes up 80% of your living room, or, even worse, can’t fit into your flat at all!

Splurge or Skimp?

A general rule of thumb is if you’re buying furniture for your first flat, you’ll want to aim to buy pieces that you want to keep for approximately five years. There are some pieces of furniture where you can save a few bucks and some where you really want to invest in them.

For furniture that will see the most wear and tear, such as sofas, mattresses, and dressers, it’s worth spending a few extra bucks to make sure that you have something that is high quality and will last you a while.

However, furniture such as side tables and drawers don’t need to be the best out there. In contrast to mattresses, a cheap bed frame will serve you just as well as an expensive one. They can be just as durable as their pricier counterparts.

We’ll talk about what furniture you should invest in later in the article.

Buy Décor and Accessories Last

You might find the perfect rug when looking for a cheap microwave or a cheap air fryer but don’t buy it just yet!

Buying the essentials first will ensure that you have the basics covered before you start really making your flat your own. Accessorising before getting the essentials can make the whole process more difficult than it has to be. Since you’ll end up trying to revolve your furnishings around your accessories, when it should be the other way around!

If you find something nice make a note of it and revisit it after you’ve covered the essentials to see if it still fits with the vibe you’ve set up in the room. If it does, go for it! If not, then you’ve just saved yourself some time and money!

Decorating your Rooms

Now it’s time to decide what you need for each room! We’ll go through each room individually and discuss what the essentials are and what you may want to include depending on what type of vibe you’re going for or what may or may not already be covered in your new flat.

Bedroom

Decorating a bedroom deceptively tricky. It’s common to assume that the only thing you need for a good bedroom is a bed and maybe a dresser for clothing. While those two things are very important, there are a few bedroom furniture items that you will want to keep in mind.

Bedding and Mattress

The number one thing a bedroom needs is a bed, it’s in the name! As we touched on earlier, there are a few things you can save money on and a few things where you definitely want to invest.

It may be tempting to pick up a cheap mattress and call it good, but a high-quality mattress is one of the best investments you can make. Getting good sleep is very important for both your mental and physical health. Check out some of the mattresses we stock at the Warehouse for good value and quality.

Inversely, a good bedframe doesn’t mean an expensive bedframe. Cheaper variants are typically as sturdy as the more expensive ones. Our collection of bedframes is sure to have something that will fit your room and your budget.

Be sure to pick up a pillow, bed sheets, and a blanket for your bed too!

Dresser

A good dresser can be a fantastic addition to your bedroom. Not only is it a place to store your clothing, but it can be a great place to house décor, lighting, mirrors, and more.

We stock dressers & cabinets in all shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find something that’s right for your bedroom.

Bedside Table

While not strictly necessary for a great bedroom, a bedside table can provide you with extra table space and presents another opportunity to house decorations or lighting to make your bedroom your own.

The Warehouse has plenty of bedside cabinets and chests for you to browse.

Bookshelves & Storage

Are you a reading enthusiast (or just want to look like one)? If your bedroom has the space, a bookshelf is a great piece to add more personalisation to your bedroom, along with providing more storage space.

A bookshelf doesn’t need to only be for books, despite the name. You can hold all manner of knick-knacks and decorations to really make your bedroom your own. Check out some shelves at the Warehouse!

Desks & Office Chairs

Looking to put a study space in your bedroom? It’s necessary to have a workspace at home and if you’re struggling to find room for a dedicated office, a desk and chair in your bedroom makes for a great workspace.

Keep in mind you’re going to need a good desk and office chair since you’ll be spending quite a bit of time at your desk for uni studies or work.

Optional Bedroom Accessories

Here are some extra pieces that you might want to put in your bedroom if you have the space and the budget:


Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your flat. It’s where you’re going to make, and in most cases eat all your meals. That means anything that makes your life easier when cooking in your flat is a must! You can pick up cheap kitchen appliances such as microwaves, air fryers, toasters, blenders, and more at the Warehouse!

In most cases, a kitchen is already fitted with a countertop, a stove, and cabinets. So, this list will be more focused on the utensils and appliances needed in a good kitchen.

Microwaves

Whether you’re warming up leftovers or reheating a cold cup of coffee, a microwave is one of the key appliances for any starter kitchen.

You don’t need to splurge for a top of the line microwave to get great performance, as a cheap microwave will typically serve you just as well as a fancy one!

Toasters & Kettles

The breakfast duo! Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice before class or brewing tea for a relaxing night in, you will want a good toaster and kettle for your kitchen.

A simple slice of toast is a hard thing to get wrong but there are things to keep in mind when picking out your newest kitchen addition. You will want to find a toaster with a simple and smooth shell design to avoid having to clean crumbs out of complicated nooks and crannies.

The good news is that you don’t need an expensive toaster to get the best toast. While more expensive models have more slots for more bread or fancy heating settings, a cheap toaster will serve you well in most cases.

Likewise, a good cheap kettlegood cheap kettle will be all good if you’re just looking to boil water for the occasional cup of tea or for cooking. It’s worth noting that stainless steel kettles are more energy efficient, which will cut down on your electric bill, but may have a higher upfront asking price.

Blenders

While not a strict requirement for a kitchen, if you’re looking to make smoothies or soups, a blender is a must have. There are a few things you’ll want to look for when getting a blender.

You may think that you need a blender with multiple blend speed options, but depending on your needs you can look for a blender with three power settings or even one with a single setting if you’re not looking for a particular blending consistency.

You can pick up a cheap blender that will take care of the majority of your blending needs, but you should review specs to ensure that it’s up to whatever challenge you throw at it (or in it).

Air Fryer

The answer to fat-free frying! Air fryers work more like mini ovens than deep fryers, but they can be used to cook many food items you’d normally deep fry, shallow fry, or grill.

A good air fryer doesn’t need to break the bank. A cheap air fryer will do the job just as well, but you may need to monitor it a bit more closely since it may not have automatic cooking settings or fancy presets like the more expensive models.

Pots and Pans and Dinning Sets

Without pots and pans you’re not going to be doing much cooking in the kitchen! You won’t need to break the bank for good kitchenware, a cheap set of pots and pans will serve you just fine. You will want to look for non-stick pans as it will save you a lot of headaches and scrapping stubborn bits of food when cleaning.

You also won’t be doing much eating in your new flat without bowls, plates, or utensils. You will want to match your dinnerware with the vibe of your kitchen, but aside from that you won’t need to spurge on fancy plates and glasses. Be sure to pick up some glass cups and mugs, along with some mugs for coffee and tea too!

If you’re planning on baking or roasting in your flat, you will definitely need to pick up some ovenware too.

Kitchen Additions

Here are some extra pieces that you might want to put in your kitchen if you have the space and the budget:


Living Room

If your flat is big enough, you will have a central living area separate from the bedroom, bathroom, and the kitchen. Here’s typically where you’re going to watch TV, hang out with friends, and generally take it easy. This is probably the most versatile room in your flat, but here are a few suggestions for what lounge furniture to get.

Sofas & Couches

One of the most important pieces of furniture in your living room, a good couch can make or break your living space.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s worth investing a bit more of your budget into a nice couch that will last. Couches get use near daily so having one that will stand up to the challenge while still providing comfort and support is the play here.

Be sure to pick up some cushions for extra comfort as well!

Coffee Table & Entertainment Units

A classic centrepiece for a living room is a good coffee table. It gives your flat more table room and lets you set food and drinks down while you’re chatting with your friends or watching a movie.

You won’t need a crazy expensive table to tie everything together, but you should give a thought to whether the style of the table will match the vibe you’re going for.

You should also give a thought to whether you need an entertainment unit for your living room’s TV to sit on, if you have one.

Bookshelves & Shelving

Like the bedroom, a bookshelf is a great way to fill out and decorate your living room. A nice bookshelf can add substance to a living room with relatively little effort and provide you with more space for decorations and accessories to really make your flat your own.

Optional Living Room Accessories

Here are some extra pieces that you might want to put in your bedroom if you have the space and the budget:


Bathroom

Like the kitchen, a bathroom will usually already be outfitted with a toilet, a sink, and a shower. So, we will be focusing on the extra pieces you may need in your bathroom.

Soaps, Shampoos, and Bodywashes

Some of the most important items in your bathroom, you should stock up on shampoos, body wash, and bar soap.

Towels

A bathroom essential, you should invest in a handful of towels for your bathroom. You should stock up on handtowels and bigger towels for after baths or showers.

Shower Curtains

If you’re looking for a bit more privacy while you’re showering, and your flat doesn’t come with them then it may be a good idea to invest in shower curtains

Not only do they provide you with privacy, but they also prevent spills and splashes from getting outside the shower.

Optional Bathroom Accessories

Here are some extra pieces that you might want to put in your bathroom if you have the space and the budget: