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I am thinking of renting a Pied a Terre studio apartment in NYC.
NYC rentals are super expensive, and this will be a huge splurge.
I was thinking of maybe just getting AirBnbs for a couple of months at a time, but the furnished AirBnb apartments are more expensive than renting an unfurnished apartment for a year at a time (even though I won't stay there all year).
So if I'm going to rent an unfurnished apartment, I have to keep furnishing expenses low because I don't know if I will do this for years on end or just one year.
I will need:
* Bed (if price was no issue would get a Murphy bed, but probably not the cheapest for my needs
* Recliner (I'm old and LOVE my recliner - it's mandatory)
* Couch (is there an affordable, comfy sofa sleeper)?
* Coffee table
* Chairs for guests
And then all of the kitchen stuff (which can add up)!!!
What kind of budget should I have for furnishings? $10k, $15k?
Or get just some key pieces and then everything else from thrift stores (which is what I'm thinking).
I'm furnishing a brand new house for less than $10k. Since you're only part time, hit Ikea (or other inexpensive place) for the things you aren't that particular about. Why waste the money?
IKEA beds are not bad and are pretty cheap. I bought one I used for a year. I think I saw a recent consumer reports that actually gave an IKEA mattress the highest rating over expensive mattresses.
I actually have a Tillary sofa from west elm. It is a twin bed once you remove the cushions and is fairly comfortable. I have slept in mine for a few weeks. It has modular/movable cushions and is under $1k. I have another friend who has a day bed, which could also work.
Unless you expect to have a lot of guests, I would just get the bed and recliner, with a small dining table with comfortable chairs. If you have guests, they can pull out the dining chairs.
Check FB Marketplace and Craigslist--that's how I furnished most of my apartment. There are also phone apps like iOffer you can check out.
Also, don't dismiss discount stores like Walmart and Target online. I picked up a Better Homes & Gardens TV stand and end tables from FB Marketplace, and then was able to purchase matching book cases from Walmart. They shipped free so I didn't have to arrange for delivery. My friend and I spent an evening putting the book cases together--it was a snap!
Unless you expect to have a lot of guests, I would just get the bed and recliner, with a small dining table with comfortable chairs. If you have guests, they can pull out the dining chairs.
This will get you by for awhile.
This is good advice. You must have a bed. It sounds as if you must have a recliner. You need a table and chair or chairs to eat. Start with those. Ikea is your friend. For the recliner, I might recommend buying used except for the fact that you need to haul it up to your place. If this is a factor, I think you might have to buy from dealer who delivers.
If you lucked into a used Scandinavian style recliner and stool, you might be able to haul those two pieces, depending on your vehicle. I think I’d splurge on the recliner, frankly, especially since you could get a decent Ikea bed.
Facebook Marketplace for non-upholstered stuff. If you end up with a studio, a futon might be a good option.
If you want one good piece of furniture, like a sofa, Crate and Barrel has some small room options. I think Room & Board and some other stores do as well.
NYC has some great weekly flea markets as well. The one I am the most familiar with is on Sundays, Columbus and W. 77th. (assuming it is still in existence). But there are a number of them around.
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I Need Help to Furnish NYC Studio Cheaply
