This post is all about the best cheap college apartment furniture!
College apartment furniture needs to be cute AND functional! Sometimes it can be a challenge to find cute furniture that’s affordable and of good quality.
I’ve done a lot of research regarding the cheapest and best furniture. This list is the result of that research!
Whether you’re moving into a college apartment or your first apartment, these furniture ideas will be super helpful in furnishing and decorating your apartment on a budget.
Best dresser for college apartment
College Apartment Furniture Bedroom:
1. Bedframe
First things first, you need a bed!! I’I’mretty specific with my bed frame because I want to maximize space as much as possible.
If you’re moving into a college apartment, you probably already know that space is limited.
ThThat’shy having a bed frame with a lot of free space underneath is perfect for extra storage. This bedframe has precisely that, lots of storage space!!
2. Headboard
Next up is a headboard. The prices for headboards vary greatly, but luckily there are plenty of excellent affordable options too!!
Remember that you don’t want your headboard to be too overwhelming in small spaces. Pick a neutral color and go for a headboard that isn’t very tall, taking up a lot of vertical space in the room.
3. Nightstand
Realistically you’ll probably be putting your bed against a wall in your college apartment. So you will only need one nightstand.
If you want to save space, go for a nightstand with some drawer space. I don’t like having things lying around in a small bedroom because it makes the room look cluttered and way smaller than it is.
I found this one below for under $100, which is very reasonable for a good quality nightstand.
4. Tiny desk
Having a desk in your bedroom is a must in a college apartment. At least, for me, it was!! When your roommates have friends over, there’s no way you can study in the living room.
Go for a desk with thin legs, so it doesn’t use much optical space. ItIt’slso helpful to keep in mind that you’ll want your desk colors to match your nightstand and other furniture.
So if your nightstand is a light-colored wood with metal, then you’ll want your desk to be the same!! My experience is that different wood colors don’t go together in small spaces.
5. Desk chair
I usually find desk chairs with wheels ugly, plus it doesn’t work great in a small bedroom!
For some reason, these white curved chairs are just super comfy (at least I think so), and they work very nicely as desk chairs. Plus, they’re CHEAP!
They’re pretty simple, so you can always add more comfort or charm with a blanket. I like the look of faux sheep fur on a chair.
These chairs come in a ton of different colors, so whatever aesthetic you’re going for, you’ll be able to find the perfect desk chair color.
College Apartment Furniture Living Room:
6. Couch
For a college apartment, it’s super clever to go for multipurpose furniture. Not only are futons cheaper than a couch, but you can also use them as a bed if you have guests.
Also, a big plus: futons are super cozy for a girls’ night in movie night!!
7. TV Stand
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of mounting your TV, getting a simple small TV stand will do the job. Preferably get one that has a little bit of storage space underneath. Because… #maximizespace.
This one below is under $50, which I believe is a super GREAT price for a TV stand!!
8. Tiny Coffee table
In a small college apartment living room, you don’t want to use a huge coffee table taking up all the space. Consider a more petite side table as a coffee table instead.
9. Standing lamp
Standing lamps like an arc floor lamp look super chic, save space, and are insanely affordable!!
Place your lamp behind the couch as the ultimate space-saving hack.
10. Bar cart
Every college apartment needs a bar cart, am I right? Bar carts are a fun way to store your alcohol and decorate it for holidays like Halloween.
The price range of bar carts is super wide, but there are some amazing inexpensive options!
By far, my favorite one is the bar cart below. The mix of wood + metal does the trick and looks super stylish.
11. Area rug
Area rugs instantly cozy up your living room, and I’m a big fan. Although rugs have a reputation for being insanely expensive, Amazon has some incredible well-priced options.
The rug below comes in a ton of different color options. Although that might not be the smartest idea for a college apartment, I adore the white one.
College Apartment Furniture Dining Room:
12. Dining table
There usually isn’t much space for a large dining table in college apartments. ThThat’shy a vertical shape table can save a ton of space.
The dining table below is officially a desk, but it works just fine as a small dining table!!
13. Chairs
I’m a fan of these chairs, so I’ll recommend them repeatedly. I still have these chairs, and I love them!! They are super comfy and look much more expensive than they are.
14. Chic light
The light fixtures in a living room can make or break the space. A plugin pendant light is an easy and cheap way to elevate your ceiling lights.
I love the industrial-chic light, as seen below!
15. Buffet
A buffet comes in handy for apartments with little pantry space. Here you can store food items, dishes you don’t always need, and maybe even appliances.
16. Dishes
Not much explanation is needed here, but you need dishes when moving into your college apartment. I’d recommend going for an affordable set of dishes with bowls, small plates, and big plates.
You can always purchase more dishes as you go. Especially when you first move in, I’I’decommend sticking to the basics and staying under budget when possible.
College Apartment Furniture Kitchen:
17. Pantry
Not every college apartment has a built-in pantry or enough cabinet space. The solution: a pantry!
Pantries don’t have to be super-pricey. This one isisn’tThe great thing about this pantry is that it gives. You have a little extra kitchen counter space.
18. Barstools
Got a kitchen island in your college apartment? Lucky!! Because it easily creates extra seating space, plus a nice little spot to have your morning coffee.
19. Canisters
A canister set always comes in useful, and they’re so affordable!! I love using these and a few glass jars to store ingredients I use daily—things like coffee, nuts, healthy toppings for oats, and so on.
20. Knife set
A good knife set is a must in every apartment. You don’t have to get the most expensive knife set for a college apartment, but you want something that works!
This simple 12-piece knife set does the trick and comes with a sharpener. YoYou’rell set with this knife + cutting board set.
College Apartment Furniture Bathroom:
21. Over-the-toilet storage
Not your most exciting apartment purchase, but creating extra space in a small college apartment bathroom is a must!!
This over-toilet storage is simple, affordable, and gives you lots of shelf and storage space to keep everything you need.
22. Mirror
Most bathrooms have a mirror, but sometimes it’s nice to add an extra one in your college apartment. I’I’mlways annoyed that many apartments come with such ugly mirrors.
If you can easily take it off, why not replace it with a better-looking one instead? It will elevate the space.
23. Towel rack
A towel rack in the bathroom is a must for me. Why? Because I HATE towels taking up precious space in my already tiny closet, haha.
This towel rack from Amazon with 6 levels has plenty of space to store your towels, AND it’s affordable!
24. Shower curtain
I’m a sucker for anything herringbone, so I was instantly sold on this shower curtain. I’I’mefinitely not someone who is into all those funny, bright-colored, weird printed shower curtains. Give me the classic stuff.
This one is super CHEAP and will make your bathroom look luxurious.
25. Shower liner
One of the more practical things in a bathroom: a shower liner. This one doesn’t need much explanation yet is essential for any bathroom!
Not to worry, shower liners don’t break the bank, so don’t be afraid of having to purchase yet another thing for your college apartment.
26. Make-up and jewelry storage
This is by far the most affordable make-up storage I’I’veeen able to find. For some reason, most storage bins are d*mn expensive, and I don’t know why.
If you have lots of make-up, this storage is a good purchase for your college apartment.
This post was all about the best college apartment furniture.
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- 25 Best College Apartment Bedroom Ideas That Don’t Break The Bank
- 24 Best College Apartment Living Room Ideas On A Budget
- First Apartment Checklist: Everything You Absolutely Need
- 21 Best Dorm Room Kitchen Essentials Every College Student Needs In 2022
- 48 College Dorm Room Essentials For Guys (List With All the Necessities)
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