Setting up your first apartment

So you finally decided to spread your wings and leave the nest. It's a big step for anyone moving into their first apartment, so we decided to put together a guide of things you will need and how to go about decorating your first apartment - on a budget !

 

 

 

nicole macaluso

 

 

Bedtime blues

If you're not taking your bed with you, and not everyone wants to take their old bed with them, you are going to need a new bed. Depending on your style, you could buy yourself a secondhand bed and give it a couple of coats of paint in your choice of colour. Then you can splurge on a comfortable - and generally expensive - mattress. Let's be honest, you don't actually sleep on the bed frame and more often than not it gets covered up anyway. So, spoil yourself with the best mattress you can afford.

 

 

 

 

With so much emphasis being placed on using reclaimed materials wherever and whenever possible, making a bed using reclaimed wood saves you money to spend on other essential items for your first apartment. If you want to build a bed using reclaimed timber or wood, select the best pieces that you can find. You also have the option of using PAR pine that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse.

 

 

Later on in this feature we look at investing in a few essential power tools if you plan to make your own furniture, because by investing in power tools you will be able to whip up your own furniture and decor accessories in no time - at little cost.

 

 

Take a seat

Unless you plan of using your new bed as a sofa you will have to go shopping for a sofa or lounge suite. While you could also buy this at a bargain price at a secondhand store or online auction, after you have spent money on upholstery materials and such, you could have bought a new one.

 

 

If you - or your parents - are DIY savvy, making a sofa is not as hard as it looks. A plywood frame topped off with high-density foam cut to fit and topped off with a slipcover that can be removed and chucked into the washing machine when it gets grubby.

 

 

 

 

Some pine pallets and fabric covered foam and you have a lounge suite without spending or doing much.

 

 

 

 

Make your own sofa or couch using materials readily available. PAR pine or hardwoods, foam and fabric and you can make your own sofa or couch for around R3000.

 

 

 

 

Time to dine

While a small apartment may not have space for a full-in dining area, you have the option of making your own dining table and chairs, or shopping around for a secondhand bargain.

 

 

 

 

You will find plenty of ideas on Home-Dzine for making a modern dining suite, as shown above, to something more rustic using reclaimed materials. If you're buying secondhand or restoring a hand-me-down, follow these steps for repair and restoration.

 

 

 

 

In a small apartment, look at ways to incorporate a cosy seating area with a built-in dining nook or eat-in kitchen arrangement.

 

 

Home essentials

Now that the main pieces of furniture are sorted, there are a few other essentials you will need to set up your new home:

• You will find affordable crockery and cutlery at most home decor stores and you can start off with the basic essentials. A set of white crockery can easily be dressed up for special occasions and can be mixed up with grandma's old set for a quirky or eclectic look.
• While you're there, grab a pot or two for cooking up quick and easy meals. With all the money you saved by building your own furniture you can now afford that flat screen TV and all the accessories for full-on entertainment. If you need someone to place your new TV and accessories, knock up a TV stand or entertainment unit using a few materials and power tools.

You will find plenty of tips, tricks, techniques and projects in our Beginners DIY section.

 

 

 

 

You will need bed linen, blankets and towels to set up in your new home. Again, these can be bought at home decor stores at reasonable prices. If you have money left over, buy a few appliances to kit out your kitchen and living spaces. A couple of table lamps for lounge and bedroom, a kettle, bar fridge or fridge/freezer combination, and perhaps even a washing machine for the kitchen.

 

 

Power tools... seriously

Buying a basic set of hand and power tools will set you up for making your own furniture, adding a few accessories here and there, and making sure you can fix up along the way. Wait for seasonal specials at your local Builders Warehouse to be able to spend a bit more on quality tools that will last a lifetime. If you're not sure what tools to buy, visit our Power Tool section, where you will find advice on tools and how to use the tools.