Explore All Angles When Furnishing Your First Place

It was the epitome of the ‘70s. Our velour couch, riddled with yellow, olive green and rust-colored mushrooms, was bright enough to blast the eyeballs right out of your head. It was also missing a leg, so it was propped by our phonebook.

The puce corduroy chair that sat next to the couch had forest green-and-navy plaid arm rests because the dog had eaten the originals.

It wasn’t really what we had in mind aesthetically, but, hey — it was free. And that fit into our budget nicely.

You aren’t likely to impress Martha Stewart in furnishing your first place. The main thing is having what you need to get by.

Having been through the process, we’d like to help you get started.

First stop: the living room. You’ll need something to sit on. If you’re lucky, your parents will part with things like coffee tables and puce corduroy chairs. If not, comb garage sales for basic used items like chairs, couches, TV tables and coffee tables. Get there early because the good stuff always goes quickly.

A futon is a cheaper alternative to a couch. It’s functional, providing both a comfortable lounging perch and extra sleeping room for overnight guests. You can usually pick up a pine or metal frame futon with a standard-grade mattress for about $200, said Michael O’Neill at Comfort World in Spokane. Upgrading the mattress can add another $100, he said.

If you have your heart set on wood and want to make an investment, opt for a higher quality than pine. (Two pine futons bit the dust in our household in six years.)

Estimated longevity for pine futons are about two to four years, whereas higher quality woods such as oak, ash and maple can last 10 or more years depending on how often they’re used, O’Neill said.

Futon covers allow decorating versatility. A myriad of colors and prints are available and start at about $39, O’Neill said. They are usually available where futons are sold. (For easy laundering, make sure they’re machine washable.)

Lots of apartment living rooms don’t have overhead lights, so you’ll want to pick up a floor lamp or two. Personally, I picked up a Furio lamp at Target six years ago for about $20, and I still use it.

You’ll want a telephone and probably an answering machine. Cordless phones eliminate the need for multiple phones, since you can haul it around for privacy. Cordless phones begin at $30 and answering machines start at $18 at Circuit City. Or pick up a phone/answering machine in one for $50 and up.

Or, consider the voicemail option. It’s about $7 a month and you don’t have to worry about broken tapes and missed messages. Call your local phone company for details.

If you have a roomie, discuss big-ticket items like TVs, microwaves and stereos before the move so you can split the hardship. “You bring the TV, I’ll bring the stereo” — that type of thing.

If you need to buy something and decide to split the cost, discuss your plans for it ahead of time. Who gets it when you move out?

The bonus of moving out of the dorms is that you escape the food. The bad news is now you have to cook for yourself. A standard 8-piece set of T-Fal pots and pans starts at $80 at ShopKo. If you don’t need the whole set, you can purchase pieces individually, too. Watch for sales.

If you’re pulling all-nighters, a coffee maker and microwave are necessities. There’s also stuff you may not think about needing until the time arises, but you’ll be happy to have it on hand.

Get a can opener, blender, mixer, pitcher, cutting board, collander and measuring cups. Don’t forget a fire extinguisher … just in case. Check Farberware or Kitchen Collections at the Factory Outlet mall in Post Falls. Watch for sales on dishes.

Your place may or may not have a dining area. If it does and you’re into civilized dining or dinner parties, get a table and chairs. Again, check out garage sales.

If a table is out of your budget, there are a few quick-fixes. Try resin lawn furniture. Sure, it’s plastic, but it comes in different colors, is durable and it doubles as patio furniture. Chairs begin at $6 each; tables start at $35. Try Rite Aid, ShopKo or Home Base; patio furniture goes on sale toward the end of summer, so watch for deals.

If that isn’t appealing, another dining option is TV trays, available in a 5-piece set at Kmart for $50.

The bathroom’s a little easier since you likely have the personal hygiene products. Think toilet paper, a plunger, shower curtain, rugs and air freshener. If there’s not much counter space, you may want stackable bins for storage (about $4 each) or those nifty little portable shelves made to fit above the toilet, which cost about $25 at Target.

Last stop: the bedroom. If you go to school close to home, bring your bedroom furniture to the new apartment. (Believe it or not, parents are waiting for you to do it. Your room will soon be converted to an exercise or computer room.)

Check out the closet space before you move in. If it’s not big enough, bring a dresser or armoire. If you read or study in bed, remember a night stand and lamp.

A few last reminders: although you live in the apartment, remember it’s not really yours. A word of personal advice: if you want your security deposit back, don’t deface the property. Using glow-in-the-dark puffy paint on the walls isn’t a good idea. Neither is burning your initials into the carpet with a cigarette. (Or so I’ve heard.)

Once you have the basics down, it’s easy to spruce up your place throughout the year with decorative items. Plants, pictures and posters, bulletin boards, clocks, candles, incense and bookcases add a “homey” feel.

There’s even hope for the velour mushroom couches of the world. Couch covers are like giant sheets for furniture and can help with the color-coordination. They’re sold at stores like Target and Fred Meyer and start at around $80. Or, just cover them with a giant blanket.

Adding the personal touches will make your place feel like home in no time.

IT’S THAT TIME Today’s page features the second half of our back-to-school package. The first part was published in yesterday’s IN Life section. The package includes stories written by adult correspondents and Our Generation writers.