the Guppie Life

Making the transition from clueless twenty-something to responsible member of the workforce can be scary. At times, it can even be overwhelming. But it also means you get to buy new stuff, and that’s crazy-fun.

When I accepted my first post-college job, I had to move to a new town a few hours from home. I didn’t have any furniture, save for an Aero bed and a few plastic storage bins, and I definitely didn’t have much money saved up. While the Aero bed served its purpose, sleeping on the floor isn’t the classiest option, so I dedicated a weekend to furnishing my room.

Altogether, I think my entire bedroom cost under $1,000 for the bed frame, mattress, dresser, desk, bookshelf, nightstand, lighting, and assorted accessories like a trash can. The only things I took from home were an office chair, pillows, and a comforter. (I’m sure I could have found second-hand stuff for a lot cheaper on Craigslist if I really looked around, but I drive a compact car and I don’t know anyone in the area with a truck.)

Here’s how I did it:

1. I owe most of the cost-cutting credit to IKEA. If you’re a gay urban-professional, you’ve probably heard of IKEA, but if you haven’t I’d check out their website. They specialize in inexpensive, assemble-it-yourself furniture with a distinctively Euro design philosophy. I wasn’t crazy about the DIY aspect of IKEA, but I was able to decipher the instructions, and I wouldn’t claim to be savvy about tools.

   IKEA also sent me a $25 coupon included in my change-of-address materials from the post office. Score!

2. Some people might question choosing furniture that is not made out of solid wood. (IKEA products often only have a wood veneer.) However, I’m young and on a budget. Furthermore, I don’t need furniture that’s going to last a lifetime. At this point in my life, I expect to be moving around fairly often. I don’t need to be tied down by my material possessions. I don’t want to get upset if my new furniture gets a little banged up.

   Plus, solid wood is heavy and a real pain to move.

3. I chose all of my furniture in a very neutral dark brown color scheme. No, it isn’t the most avant-garde interior decorating the world has ever seen, but when I move, I can almost guarantee that my old furniture will look good in my new digs.

   Neutral colors are your friends. Remember this and you will go far.

4. My desk only cost me $40. IKEA sells flat desktops and legs separately, so you can actually ‘customize’ your own desk very cheaply. It’s also much easier to move than a traditional desk with drawers, which probably would get cluttered with unimportant stuff anyway.

   The more ‘hiding spots’ you have in a room, the more likely you are to have clutter. I personally think of clutter as an arch-nemesis, but that’s a post for another day.

5. I bought a coffee table to use as a nightstand. The nightstand designed to match my bed costs $50. The coffee table costs $15 and works just as well, and I don’t think anyone would think that it looks out of place. (The prices online don’t always match the brick & mortar prices, FYI.)
6. My mattress is a memory foam from Overstock.com, and I cannot recommend it enough for the money. It’s a little on the firm side, but you can always soften up a firm mattress, whereas you can’t easily firm up a soft mattress. It doesn’t require a box spring, so I saved a chunk of change versus a traditional pillow-top mattress with box spring combination. And even better, it was delivered to my doorstop FedEx.

   As much as I love IKEA, I wouldn’t necessarily take any chances with their mattresses. Back support is too important.

7. I bought compact fluorescent light bulbs for my room’s lighting. CF bulbs are a little more expensive upfront compared to incandescent bulbs, but they actually save you money over the long haul in reduced electricity costs, and on average they last a lot longer.

   CF bulbs also put off less heat, which is great in the summer.

And there you have it. That’s how I bought my first furniture. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.