Furnished vs Unfurnished Apartment: Which one is better and why?

If you’re planning to rent or purchase an apartment, you might wonder whether to opt for a furnished or an unfurnished one? This is a debate one can have for a long time without reaching a definitive conclusion because each choice has its own merits and demerits.

The dilemma of choosing a furnished vs unfurnished apartment can be solved by addressing your considerations. For example, your affordability and length of your stay. Let’s explore the terms and their respective pros and cons.

What Does Furnished Apartment Mean?

Furnished apartments are the ones that meet all the demands of living comfortably. It’s convenient to move right away without the hassle of shopping. But you might wonder if does furnished apartment comes with furniture. Here’s what you might find when renting a furnished apartment.

● A kitchen with all the utensils to cook and appliances like a dishwasher, stove, fridge, and freezer.
● A bedroom with a dresser, nightstand, bed, and desk.
● A dining room with tables and chairs.
● A living room with a TV, couch, coffee table, lamp, and bookshelf.
● A bathroom with floor mats, curtains, and a waste basket.

Similar terms to the furnished apartment are fully furnished and semi-furnished. Fully furnished means you get everything in the apartment except the perishable and personal items. In contrast, semi-furnished means the apartment is completely bare and has basic items like big pieces of furniture.

Merits of a Furnished vs Unfurnished Apartment

They say time is precious, and renting a furnished apartment means you value your time. Since it has all the necessary items to cater to basic needs, you save yourself from the hassle of packing/unpacking and moving the luggage. It’s apt to move with a suitcase only even if you decide at the eleventh hour because you do not have to make shopping trips.

Hiring an interior designer for your apartment can cost you an arm and a leg. On the other hand, a furnished apartment can save you from spending a hefty amount on making your space functional and decorative. If you plan to stay for a shorter period of time for a job transfer or school, a furnished apartment would be the best choice to make.

Demerits of a Furnished Apartment

A luxuriously furnished apartment can be highly costly. If you have a knack for interior design, you might find yourself in a tough spot. You cannot buy things to your taste and have to adjust to someone else’s choice. You can only make limited changes because everything is already positioned in the right place.

A furnished apartment means there’s no room for customization, so you might not feel a sense of ownership. The above arguments might be compelling enough for you to start a furnished vs unfurnished apartment debate.

What Does Unfurnished Apartment Mean?

Unlike furnished apartments that come with all the necessary household items, an unfurnished property does not include any piece of furniture. You need to move in with whatever belongings you already own.

Merits of an Unfurnished Apartment

A bare apartment gives you an opportunity to make it reflect your personality and style. You can have furniture that’s comfortable because a landlord’s sofa might look fancy but not feel comfortable. At the end of the day, what’s the point of coming to your place and lying on a saggy couch?

Renting an unfurnished apartment is recommended if you’re planning to move with your family. All the stuff you buy will be yours forever and is a long-term investment. Since all the stuff is your property, the damage to them would not affect the deposit amount, so you face no deposit loss.

If you already own stuff, all you have to do is move in, and that too at a very low rental charge because there’s a huge furnished vs unfurnished price difference.

Demerits of an Unfurnished Apartment

If you do not own household items, buying them can leave you out of pocket. Moving can be daunting because of the cautious packing/unpacking, especially of breakables. You might need to hire packers and movers that can be a little heavy on the pocket. Once the lease period is over, you have to move out and do it all over again.

If you’re the owner wondering about renting a furnished vs unfurnished apartment, keep in mind letting an unfurnished apartment can damage the floors and walls due to moving the heavy furniture pieces.

Are Furnished Apartments More Expensive?

Yes, furnished apartments are more expensive because the landlord is the one responsible for providing all the luxury items in the apartment. This argument can put the furnished vs unfurnished apartment debate to rest.

However, most people think furnished apartments being costly is justified because it saves you from a lot of nuisance of purchasing and moving furniture. You only have to carry your personal use items.

FAQs

Conclusion

The decision of choosing a Furnished vs Unfurnished Apartment can leave you on the fence. The crux is it all depends on your concerns because choosing either would come with its own pros and cons. If you go for a furnished one, though it comes with all the basic stuff but might be costly for you. On the other hand, getting an unfurnished apartment would cost you less, but you need to have your own prior arrangements, like purchasing furniture for carrying out daily life activities.