How I Furnished My Post-Grad Apartment On a Budget - The Retail Diaries (2024)

Every post-graduate girlie can understand that I’ve been envisioning decorating my apartment since my freshman year of college. Now, it’s finally my time to make it happen!

I’ve been living in my new apartment in Raleigh for about two weeks, and I’m soooo happy with everything about it. Literal 5/5 stars. It’s beautiful, so much natural light, there’s a bunch of amenities, etc… and I can afford it with my new job! Now that I’ve locked down an apartment, it’s time for me to start decorating it.

I’ve made a bunch of furniture purchases on a budget that have really brightened up my space, so I’m sharing my favorites as well as their prices! Let’s get into it.

Modern Cane Counter Height Bar Stools (Set of 2) – $139

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I’m SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE BAR STOOLS. I needed *special* sized bar stools because the height of our countertop is weirdly low, and I finally found the perfect size! Not only that, but I’ve seen cane bar stools all over my TikTok and these match what I’m looking for in every way. Plus, they have plush boucle cushions! I’m going to bring them into my apartment tomorrow once they arrive in the mail room.

Also… can we talk about how they’re only $70 a stool and they ship within a week on Amazon?! Amazing.

3-Drawer Chest, White Stained Oak – $150

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This dresser was a godsend. I saw someone selling it on Facebook Marketplace for $100 ($50 less than the online price), and I messaged them IMMEDIATELY. It was in my bedroom by the end of the day! It’s exactly the height of my desk (which I’ll show you in a sec), and it’s the perfect height for my TV. The natural oak color is gorgeous as well! The drawers are deep, slide well, and elevate my bedroom. Great reviews all around!

P.S. If you don’t check Facebook Marketplace everyday for new furniture added then you’re missing out. I’ve found some incredible pieces for suuuuper cheap.

White Desk – $80

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Everyone needs a desk in their room, even if you don’t work from home. I work from home so I need a nice dresser that’ll look pretty in my room and function as a desk normally does. This one is great! The drawer isn’t deep at all but it fits all the essentials – glasses, pens, paper, etc. It’s sometimes on sale for half off, so keep an eye out! This is the cutest and cheapest desk I’ve found, and it ships super quick from Amazon!

Luna Bed Frame – $500

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Okay, okay, I know, this bed frame is $500. This is definitely the least affordable furniture item I’m sharing, and probably the most money I’ve spent on one singular thing, but it was SO worth it. So many bed frames these days are either 1) ugly or 2) cute and $1,000+. I had the hardest time finding bed frames or headboards I liked, and I eventually settled on this dupe of Pottery Barn’s cloud bed. It’s basically a big piece of foam that you put over a box spring. I’m so so happy with it! It pulls my space together, and I never slam my knees into the side of the bed. I got it in white! Message me if you have any questions about it and I’m happy to answer.

Mid-Century Modern Nightstand in Oak – $87

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I’m in love with these nightstands!!! They match the cane / wood furniture items I talked about earlier, and they’re the perfect height for my Luna bed. I ordered them on Amazon a few weeks before I moved, and they’re finally here! I’m going to unload them and bring them into my room when I bring my bar stools up tomorrow as well. The drawers are suuuper deep and it has a bunch of great reviews.

Also – it’s on MAJOR SALE right now. I bought this for $100 each and now it’s $87 each! Buy it now before it goes back up.

Teddy Fleece Sofa & Ottoman – $529

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So I’m editing this sofa into this blog post that I published yesterday… because I just made another amazing purchase. I’ve been looking for MONTHS, and I finally found a sofa that’s cute, affordable, has high reviews, and ships quickly! Presenting… the Karl Home sofa on Amazon! It comes in a few different textures and colors and an OTTOMAN. IT’S SO FREAKING PRETTY. And the best thing? It’s only $529. That may seem like a lot, but trust me, spend a few hours looking for couches online and you’ll see that anything under $800 is a deal. It’s coming in a week, so I’ll let you know what I think once it’s all set up in my living room!

Thanks for reading along! I’d love to know which purchase was your favorite, and if you have any recommendations for me. If you’d like to see more of me on my social media, clickhere. I’ll be posting more about each item I shared in my post all over my social media! See you next time!

XO,

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