Diva on a budget: An expat’s guide to furnishing your rental

Where to scrimp and where to (reluctantly) splurge.

I’ve had a massive crush on Melbourne for years and finally decided to step my puss up and make the move from New Zealand (like the other 200 people arriving per day). I’m thrilled about the leap.

It’s beautiful! I love it here! But, I’m a single woman in my thirties moving into an apartment by myself in the Inner North on a creatives salary (#CarrieBradshawcore). One word: budget.

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This makes setting up my own space daunting because I’m afflicted with a disease called taste and would rather drink two litres of water from the Yarra than live shrouded in ‘millennial greige’. Also, I’ve been a serial subletter and lived out of three suitcases for three years (show biz baby!) so I’m truly starting from scratch. It is of the utmost importance to make my new home feel like… home. A resilient and comforting tether, if you will. 

What followed was an exhaustive search (both online and IRL) to turn my sweet little one bedroom apartment into a space that feels right. If you’re in the process of moving right now, don’t worry, you aren’t going insane. Moving is hell.

It’s stressful and it’s discombobulating and it is a process. I keep having to remind myself that it’ll take months to properly settle in and accumulate every essential item (e.g. a shoe horn).

While my new place is sublime, it’s far from finished! And so it should be. These are my ultimate favourite places that I’d recommend to absolutely anyone who will listen.

Deals, deals, deals

Facebook Marketplace

The first port of call for good reason, Facebook Marketplace is home to absolutely everything. I was astounded at the quality of goods available in Naarm. Whatever your vibe is, it’ll have something for you. I bought an incredible mid-century dining table for $100, which makes me wanna call the cops on myself and report a crime! A steal, folks!

However, buying furniture from randoms on the internet is not without pitfalls, so take my advice:

1. You have to be quick off the mark. Don’t waste someone’s time or they’ll move on and you’ll never see that bespoke scandi retro lamp again. 

2. Most of the time, you’ll have to go and collect. A tricky thing for a woman living alone in a new city with no car. I ended up roping in some friends (who I would now take a bullet for) and hiring a Go Get, which made me feel like one of Cruella De Ville’s henchmen (Northcote edition). However, this isn’t always an option for everyone, so I’d suggest offering to pay extra for delivery. Do not take the bookcase on the tram, you think you’ll be fine and you simply will not. 

3. Always ask to go have a squiz or to see more photos. Someone might have miscalculated the size or the level of wear and tear by accident, and there are definitely scammers on there so be upfront, honest, keep your wits about you and onward, brave soldier. 

Salvos (Sydney Road)

I absolutely love this Salvos and find it nothing short of inspirational. The glassware specifically is next level, shelves are overflowing with beautiful ashtrays, jewellery holders and wine stems (the essentials).

I outfitted half my kitchen from here, finding all of my plates, bowls and coffee cups for about one to three dollars a pop. They also have some great furniture, especially dressing tables, and wacky art (fab) as well as bargain linen. The only downside is that the stickers are a nightmare to get off and I don’t have the patience to soak them in vinegar, as recommended by the internet.

Bunnings

I’m not particularly DIY but so help me god, it only takes one trip to Bunnings and I’m sending in a self tape for The Block. We all know that it has everything but my biggest win from Bunnings is the plants! Do I have a green thumb? No. Will that stop me from trying to become a plant mother? Also no.

You can also get beautiful plants off Facebook Marketplace but sometimes a gal is too slow to snap up her dream Monstera. The plants from our favourite sausage vendor are healthy and deeply affordable, and you can also pick up some cute pots and all the accoutrements to keep them not just alive but thriving. I got an  ‘unkillable’ Peace Lily and an extremely temperamental tomato plant that I play one full hour of music to every day (as a new mum I won’t deny my children the best shot at a long life). 

Investments

A proper mattress

You spend a third of your life in bed and for me personally, I’d say that it’s… even more. At 33, this is the first time I’ve purchased a bed that isn’t a hand-me-down from an old flatmate and my mind, body, soul and spirit were ready.

Ecosa is genuinely the best quality and most affordable mattress I’ve found. She’s comfy, she’s good for your back (there are adjustable firmness options) and most importantly, she’s comparatively excellent on the wallet.

Bedding and towel sets

Yes, Hommey are more on the glam side but their Black Friday sales are nothing short of miraculous. The bath towel bundles and sheet sets are all beautiful, and even though I never thought I’d see the day where I’m at the pub waxing lyrical about “the luxurious plushness of towels”, I’m proudly here and I’m not mad about it.

A quality couch-bed

I’ve never owned a couch and after years of crashing on my friends, I decided it was time to Grow Up and return the favour. It was important to me that my couch was the comfiest thing on planet earth, and could be converted into a bed to house more migrating New Zealanders.

It also had to look beautiful! I’ve had my eye on local furniture designers Eva for a while, and the design studio is just down the road from me which gives… symbiosis. Getting a sofa up to the top floor via stairs by myself would’ve sent me straight to hospital but they delivered it (tysm) and I managed to assemble it completely alone (hulk vibes).

It converts to a bed so easily it’s almost sick. I like to leave it out  in ‘daybed mode’ and lie on it like a woman with consumption. I plan to never have to replace this couch and also, maybe never get up off it.

Cute extras

I’ve recently discovered Pinky’s, a store in Preston that’s absolutely filled to the brim with locally-made home decor and beautiful, useful items like self-watering plant pots and little incense holders. Better yet, it’s just down from Skinnies so you can get the chicken sandwich en route. 

For more FJ-approved homewares, try this.