Liam Thomas McManaman | Staff Illustrator

So you found your dream apartment. It’s close to campus, pest-free, and everything seems intact. Just one thing … it comes completely unfurnished. Nobody wants to live in an empty box, so, what do you do? 

Don’t panic: furnishing is simply a matter of patience and procurement. As long as you have a place to sleep, you can do without a shelf or a coffee table for a few weeks. Start by determining your most essential items, then figure out where to source them from.

Some good places to start looking for furniture are your most immediate options: friends, other graduating students, and local hand-me-downs. Join furniture sale group chats and visit second-hand stores (Goodwill, antique stores, etc.). Make sure to reach out to any previous tenants to see if they’d be willing to sell or leave furniture behind. There’s always IKEA, but to save time, money, and sanity (building IKEA furniture is not for the weak), choosing furniture that comes built makes life simpler. It also reduces waste and is likely sturdier than your average build-your-own table. If you don’t mind a few creaky hinges and soul, pre-owned furniture is the way to go.

For smaller items such as appliances and storage, check out the annual Swamp Move-In Sale, hosted by the WashU organization, Sharing With a Purpose, or SWAP. Look ahead to their annual move-out collection drive, as well, for an easy and sustainable donation opportunity. In addition to taking furniture off your hands, they plan to reuse those goods on campus or in the local community, so you’re doing something good, too.

Once you’ve exhausted your local secondhand options, it’s time to try Facebook Marketplace, the used furniture supply of your deepest, wildest dreams. Yes, even if you get all your interior design inspiration from the most curated Pinterest feeds, Facebook Marketplace will provide. The Facebook app feature contains the essentials you need: tables, couches, dressers, and lamps. It also offers anything else you could think of, from plants to art (and pianos, so many free pianos). What makes it special is that it also has these items in any color, any size, and at much lower prices. Usually, Marketplace sellers will ask you to pick up items. They also may live further away, but you can adjust the filter if you’d like to stick with closer options. 

Some tips for furnishing: 

1. Remember that it’s okay to reuse last year’s items or what you already have — this time, you can arrange it differently! Put those lights in the common area, if you want a change, or hang up some old postcards or flyers.
2. Less is more. The more smaller, nonfunctional items you have lying around, the more cluttered your space will look, and the more you’ll eventually have to move out. Keep it simple and let your already owned items fill the space: books, coats, and mementos will take up much more space than you think. Tip: Buy a standing clothing rack for your room to display your favorite items AND save closet space!

Finally, for those looking to furnish with style, here are two tips: First, have an idea of what you are looking for. When it comes to items like desks and drawers, the number of options available may surprise you. It also helps to come prepared — choosing one tone of wood or layout based on visual references will help. Second, try to start as early as possible. The more time you have to find furniture, the better options you will come by. Keep refreshing Facebook Marketplace, and coordinate with your roommates to divide up the work. Just make sure you’re asking a few key questions: What are the dimensions? Do the legs on tables come off? Will you be able to heave your haul up a three-floor walk-up?

With this guide in mind, I set you free to acquire furniture — it’s easier than you might think. If you can imagine yourself as an HGTV designer on the hunt for the perfect pieces, you might even have some fun. Once you have your basics, you’re free to make your house (or unfurnished apartment) a home!