Furnishing an Apartment: Buy, Rent, or Second-Hand?

For anyone who isn't sure how long they'll stay in a city — a common situation for expats and international professionals — furnishing a new apartment comes down to three real options: buy new, rent through a furniture-as-a-service subscription, or buy second-hand. Each makes sense for a different time horizon.

Buying new

Buying gives you full control over style, fit, and quality, plus the warranty protection that comes with new goods — typically useful for items where hygiene and structural integrity matter most, like mattresses and sofas. The tradeoff is upfront cost and the hassle of reselling or moving everything if you relocate again. Furniture depreciates quickly once it leaves the showroom, so treat it as a durable good you're buying to use, not an investment you expect to recover much value from.

Best for: anyone planning to stay in one place for several years, buying a small number of "anchor" pieces (bed, sofa) new, and filling in the rest more cheaply.

Furniture-as-a-Service (renting)

Furniture rental has moved from a niche offering into a mainstream option through companies like Fernish and CORT in the US, and furniture-rental programs offered by some larger retailers in Europe. You typically pay a monthly subscription fee, and the provider handles delivery, assembly, and eventual pickup or swap.

The math is straightforward: renting avoids the upfront cost and the resale-loss problem entirely, in exchange for an ongoing monthly fee that, over a long enough period, adds up to more than buying outright would have cost. For a short, defined stay — a work assignment of a year or less, for example — the convenience usually outweighs the extra cost; for a multi-year stay, buying or buying second-hand is usually cheaper over time.

Best for: short-term contracts, temporary visas, or anyone who wants zero commitment and no moving hassle when the lease ends.

Second-hand and re-commerce

Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, and more specialized re-commerce services such as AptDeco and Kaiyo in the US, have made buying used furniture far more straightforward than classified-ad shopping used to be — some of these platforms inspect, clean, and deliver items directly, which addresses a lot of the hygiene concerns people associate with second-hand furniture. Prices for used furniture are typically well below retail, though the discount varies a lot by brand and category — mass-market pieces tend to be heavily discounted, while well-made or collectible pieces (certain mid-century or designer brands) hold their value much better and sometimes barely discount at all.

The tradeoff is time: finding the right piece secondhand takes searching and patience, and unless you use a delivery-inclusive platform, you're arranging your own transport.

Best for: anyone prioritizing value for money and environmental impact, and who has the time to search.

A simple decision framework

• Staying 5+ years, want a cohesive look: buy new, focusing on quality over quantity for the pieces you'll use daily.
• Staying under two years, or value convenience over cost: furniture rental is usually worth the premium.
• Staying multiple years and want the best value: a hybrid — buy a few new anchor pieces for hygiene (mattress, sofa), source the rest second-hand.
• Minimizing environmental impact is the priority: go second-hand wherever practical; it avoids the manufacturing footprint of new furniture entirely.

Checklist before you furnish

• Be honest about how long you'll realistically stay in this apartment before deciding.
• Factor in the cost and hassle of moving heavy furniture again, not just the purchase price.
• Buy mattresses and upholstered seating new, or from a platform that sanitizes and verifies condition.
• Check whether your city has furniture swap groups, re-commerce platforms, or rental providers before defaulting to buying everything new.

Related on lync.me: Furnished vs. Unfurnished Apartments: A Pro/Con Analysis for Expats, The Complete Guide to Finding an Apartment in Germany, Furnished vs. Unfurnished: What's Best for UK Expats in 2025?.