Pros & Cons: Furnished vs. Unfurnished Apartments

By Victoria Robertson on June 28, 2018

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

When it comes to furnished versus unfurnished apartments, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. While this may not be the news you wanted to hear, it’s the truth. Essentially, it comes down to your personal preferences and situation.

Image Via: Pixabay

That all being said, it’s easy to narrow down which choice is right for you in order to make an informed decision. So, in the interest of helping you to achieve that goal, here are the pros and cons of furnished versus unfurnished apartments.

Furnished Apartments:

Pro: You don’t need to buy furniture.

Buying your own furniture can have a high price tag on it, and can be high stress, especially when dealing with the style preferences of multiple roommates. So a furnished apartment eliminates the options and saves you money in the long run.

Con: You’re stuck with what’s there.

Yes, you’ve saved money. No, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it was worth it. Some apartment complexes have furniture that’s falling apart, uncomfortable or worse. So having furniture doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth it.

Pro: You don’t have to move furniture in.

Moving day is already stressful enough without having to move large, heavy furniture pieces. If you’ve ever helped a friend or family member move a couch, you know that you’re saving yourself some grief in not having to pull a “Friends” and Pivot!

Con: You have limited options.

When your apartment comes fully furnished, you really don’t have much room for other furniture, so you’re limited in terms of what you can bring with you. While it’s nice to not have to worry about furniture, you will also find there isn’t enough room for anything else, so what they give you needs to be enough.

Pro: You don’t need to worry.

While you will get billed for furniture that’s ruined, you will quickly find that you’re a lot less stressed about small stains or rings on the coffee table than you would be if the furniture was your own. This allows you to feel less anxiety and enjoy it more.

Con: But at the same time… you do.

By this same thought, you have to consider the fact that you do need to worry about the furniture. Any damages can add up and leave you with a hefty bill at the end of the semester that you may not have been prepared for.

Image Via: Pixabay

Unfurnished Apartments:

Pro: You can make the space your own.

Decorating an apartment, especially your first apartment, is half the fun of moving in. For those of you that enjoy that aspect, getting an unfurnished apartment allows you to really decorate the place for your tastes and create an environment where you will be happy for the rest of the semester.

Con: Furnishing an apartment will cost you quite a bit of money.

Furnishing apartments isn’t cheap. You may save on the monthly rent, but you’re going to more than make up for that when you begin looking at furniture. This may come as a shock, but furniture isn’t cheap.

Pro: It gives you more room.

Many times, moving into a furnished apartment feels cluttered and overwhelming. When the apartment isn’t furnished, you can make the most of your space and decorate it as you see fit, giving yourself more room to do activities.

Con: It can create conflict.

When you’re dealing with multiple individuals, you are dealing with multiple styles, which means arguments can ensue. So, just be careful not to step on anyone’s toes and make decisions together when it comes to furnishing your apartment.

Pro: You can save your furniture.

Most college graduates need to start over when it comes to their first house or apartment. In other words, they need to buy all new furniture. However, in buying your own furniture earlier, you’ll be able to save this furniture and use it again down the road.

Con: You have to move in your furniture.

More often than not, you are going to have to move in the new furniture on your own. This means you’re going to have to pay someone or do this alone, which is always a difficulty. While it’s not going to make or break you, it’s a consideration.

So as you can see, there are pros and cons to both furnished and unfurnished apartments, which doesn’t necessarily make your choice any easier. Still, using these pros and cons in order to make a more informed, insightful decision is well worth it.

So weigh the options, consider all possible outcomes and, when in doubt, ask somebody who has made the decision before for their opinion. Again, you’re not going to get the right answer right off the bat, but with a little digging and a lot of patience, you’ll know exactly which option is the right fit for your situation.

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

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