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So, you took the leap and decided to live off campus. You now have a bunch of other decisions to make, one of which is how you are going to furnish your place. From actually acquiring the physical items to coordinating with your roommates, things can get pretty hectic. Here are some common ways that students get furniture for their new digs.
My roommates and I were actually just debating what we are going to do for next year, furniture wise, so this article topic seemed quite fitting.
image via www.oprah.com
Buy it new: Okay, so I’m sure this is one of the first things that popped into your head, but it is worth mentioning.
Pro: Buying stuff new means you get to pick out exactly what you want and it is easier to coordinate with roommates to make the place match. You can either go shopping together or send them the link to what you bought. It can make splitting things up more fair, since you are dealing with legit prices, not estimations.
Pro: If you live far away from school, buying stuff new in the city your school is located in can actually save you money, since you won’t have to rent a U-Haul or anything.
Con: This is probably one of the most expensive options. It of course depends on where you go, but your wallet probably won’t like this option very much.
Summer Stiegman, a second year psychology student at UC Santa Cruz, lives off campus with her two roommates, Illiana Arias-Carrillo, a second year art student, and Ruby Lynch, a second year film and digital media student.
“Since we live in a triple, we couldn’t use the queen/king beds that came with the house,” Stiegman said.
The girls got creative and came up with a way to maximize space.
“My friend’s parents bought me a regular twin bed and both Illiana and I have beds with drawers under them so we wouldn’t need more dressers,” Stiegman added.
Lynch’s parents bought her a bunk bed with a desk under it, so their room looked much more spacious than it originally did.
Buy it used: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Who says you can’t get perfectly good furniture that is slightly used.
image via dallastexasrealestateblog.com
Pro: This is definitely a cheaper alternative to buying your things new.
Con: You don’t get to choose exactly what you want and it can be time consuming, especially if you are negotiating with someone online.
Arias-Carrillo’s parents got her twin bed off of Craigslist. That is definitely a site that will be of much service to you if you want to get some stuff used. Just watch out for scams!
Hitting the thrift stores and garage sales is great too since you are able to see the product in person (Thrift Shop By Macklemore is now playing in your head; go pop them tags). If you find a comfy couch that maybe isn’t all that cute, you could buy a cover to go over it and voilá, good as new!
There are plenty of ways to make used items your own, so don’t feel like you are getting the short end of the stick just because you aren’t buying it brand new. It can let you get in touch with your creative side and break out the paints and crafts!
Here is a funny little article that you should take a look at if you are taking the used furniture route.
image via simongandolfi.blogspot.com
Borrow: You know that twin bed that is just sitting in your uncle’s garage? The one that is just collecting dust? Why not ask if you can just borrow it?
Pro: Borrowing things is great because you don’t have to be committed to them (Ex: If there is a sale on beds in the future, you can easily give the other one back). A lot of people have extra furniture that is just taking up space, so, I mean, you’d be doing them a favor.
Con: You never know when people want their stuff back, you have to be extra careful with it, and it could be far from “cute.”
Corey Shults, a second year chemistry student at San Diego State University, was able to borrow his furniture from his mom’s house, which really saved a lot of money.
Sure, it might not be exactly the furniture that you want, but saving money is worth it, right? Plus, you can buy tons of cute decorations to spruce up the place, and you will be able to disguise anything hideous you might have borrowed from your great-aunt Hilda: *shivers.*
Rent it: Did you know that you can actually rent furniture? This was definitely news to me. Furniture rental companies like Cort Furniture make it easy for students to rent with awesome packages and deals.
image via blog.cort.com
Pro: They do the moving for you! When you move in, your stuff will be waiting and already be assembled. Talk about convenient. You also don’t have to worry about renting a storage unit at the end of the year, because they will come and pick it up for you. This is especially awesome if you are like me and don’t exactly live close to school.
Pro: If you are a person who loves change, renting is definitely better than buying something because you won’t be stuck with it and can change it out the next year (or whenever you choose to have your lease end). Your place will always feel new because you won’t be stuck with the same furniture!
Con: You’ll have to make sure you don’t damage anything, because you don’t want to have to pay extra (but you’ll be careful, right?).
Thinking about renting? Here are some more reasons why you should.
Hopefully this list gave you a head start in figuring out what the best option is for you. Happy furnishing!
Looking for a more convenient way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Rent stylish furniture from CORT and save time and money. For more information on furniture rental packages, click here.