(Cheaply) Furnishing Your Apartment

A task that every international student must finish sooner than later is furnishing their room/apartment post arrival. Your new home is where you would get to withdraw from the chaos of school and would expect to have a good night’s sleep. Given that basic furnishing (such as a bed, a study table, kitchenware, and bathroom supplies) is essential for a comfortable time at home, it is a matter of concern for many of us with a tight budget. You will be relieved to know that frugally and wisely furnishing your apartment is not too difficult.

Looking for NEW furniture?

For those wanting to buy new furniture, IKEA is one of the popular options. While just visiting IKEA is an experience that many look forward to, it is also where you could get the most comprehensive range of furniture and kitchenware. From beds, futons, rugs, fairy lights, bathroom supplies, decor items, study table and chair to the cheapest available kitchenware, you will find it all. Remember that IKEA furniture requires assembly, which is tedious but is certainly worth a one-time DIY experience (you have the option to hire help for assembly).

Other options for buying less expensive but new furniture include the Mainstays collection at Walmart and Target’s Back to College collection. Lastly, Amazon is always an option but is less reliable as you cannot assess the product quality before purchasing. For more expensive furniture, look at Wayfair and Art Van.

Don’t mind USED furniture?

There are multiple options for those who do not mind reusing used furniture. Some of the options to seek and purchase used furniture include Facebook marketplace groups, Craigslist, and The Salvation Army store. Some commonly used Facebook groups include Free & For Sale, Free & For Sale (Official), Wolverine Women's Free and For Sale, and Maize Market (Tickets, Textbooks, and other Student Exchange). There is a surge of sellers towards the end of school year when new graduates are in the process of relocating. Usually, most sellers require you to pick up the furniture within a few days of posting so a week before you arrive at school would be a good time to browse new posts on the group. Craigslist is another great platform to look for second hand furniture and sometimes you could get things for free, literally! It also has postings for “Garage Sale”, which is another place to seek used furniture - remember to carry cash.

Getting to & from stores

Browsing or buying furniture could be done online or by visiting the stores. The international center organizes a trip to IKEA at the beginning of the school year. Other ways to affordably make a trip to and from these places is to organize a carpool (check the rideshare Facebook group) or share a Lyft or Uber ride with friends and/or roommates.

Lastly, you will need a way to bring things home on your own or through the delivery services offered by several stores. You may ask a friend with a car or a truck to help you pick up the furniture if you do not wish to pay for home delivery. If you are OK driving, you may also rent a truck from U-HAUL or Home Depot, which again could be shared among your friends or roommates.

Sample furniture collection from IKEA (~$500)

Product	Price		Product	Price
Twin bed frame	$39		Side Table/Coffee Table	$7.99
Bed slats	$9.99		Forks-Knives-Spoon	$4.99
Mattress	$89		Glasses	$4.99
Study table	$39.99		Pots	$9.99
Chair	$49.99		Pans	$8.99
Bookshelf	$29.99		Dining Table	$70.96
Sleeper Sofa	$119		Floor Lamp	$12.99

While furnishing your apartment can be tiresome and frustrating at times, we hope that you find this information helpful and that you savor the experience of setting up a home away from home. Good luck for a great start in Ann Arbor!

Written by Shriti Raj

International Center Summer Orientation Peer Adviser 2018

School of Information PhD Student from India