The Best Places to Buy Furniture for Your First Apartment

Decorating your first place? Here are the best places to shop.

Published on September 18, 2019

Commerce Photo Composite — Real Simple / Amelia Manley

Decorating your first apartment with big dreams of designing your ideal home? Also concerned with making the first month's rent? Luckily, we found some home décor shops and retailers with ultra-stylish and surprisingly affordable furniture, ideal for your first apartment. From quirky finds to minimalist furniture you'll keep in every home that follows, these sites offer it all.

World Market

boho aesthetic

Love the boho aesthetic? Want interesting one-of-a-kind light fixtures, baskets, and rugs? World Market is the site to shop. You'll find affordable furniture for your first apartment and plenty of storage options.

Hint: It's also one of the best places to shop for inexpensive gifts.

Amazon Home

OK, no surprise. Amazon Home is a treasure trove of affordable finds. But if you want a first apartment that doesn't feel too cookie-cutter in style, stick to buying just the basics here. While you're at it, check off cleaning supplies and inexpensive organizers from your list here, too.

H&M Home

H&M

We know H&M as a destination for affordable fashion, but it also carries an impressive selection of home goods. The best part: Colors and fabrics change with the seasons, so it's easy to swap out décor without spending a fortune. Look for colorful throw pillow covers, cheap blankets, and linen bedding at shockingly good prices.

Zara Home

When you want luxe details—think mirrors, blankets, and tableware—that look many times their price tag, turn to Zara Home. From elegant bedding and rugs to table lamps and glassware, the home goods section of this fast fashion retailer offers expensive-looking finds at reasonable prices.

Container Store

organizing superstore

Bins and baskets from this organizing superstore may cost a little more, but they're high quality and durable enough to outlast your first apartment. Shop for containers you can display, like woven baskets, and clear plastic bins to hide away.

Target

For everything from affordable kitchen appliances, to your first set of pans, to elegant wooden serving boards; Target has you covered. This one-stop shop helps you quickly knock off all of the "must-haves" from your list. Then, let their different collections guide you toward accents that match your style. Joanna Gaines' line Heart & Hand delivers modern farmhouse style, while Opalhouse is fun and colorful.

IKEA

IKEA catalog

While an apartment that looks straight out of the IKEA catalog (as much as we love the IKEA catalog!) may not be what you're going for, IKEA is still the best place to shop for affordable furniture with clean lines that won't go out of style in five minutes. Get a few basics here, and then accessorize with vintage finds or décor that reflects your personal style.

Urban Outfitters

If you live in a small apartment with no square footage to spare, Urban Outfitters will quickly become your go-to. It has slim organizing towers, magnetic fridge organizers, and tons of shelving that makes use of vertical space. Plus, you'll find fun accents and little tech gadgets you never knew your first apartment needed. (Hello, portable shower speakers!)

Uncommon Goods

The name says it all: Uncommon Goods is our favorite for one-of-a-kind finds. Where else can you come across a decorative hair tools holder or dog breed cheese board? Order accents from this site and everyone is sure to ask, "Where did you find that?"

Anthropologie

Every apartment needs one or two splurge items—and Anthropologie is one of the best places to find them. Every item here has character—from charming drawer pulls to update your IKEA dresser to a luxurious handmade rug. But be careful: You're going to want it all.