Four pieces of furniture head the first apartment checklist I'd give a new renter: a bed, something to sit on, a table and somewhere to put clothes. Everything else can come over the first few months, as the place shows you what it's missing.
A first apartment checklist is a list of what a new renter needs on move-in night, sorted by room. It also splits what to get first from what can wait.
I work the floor at Merit Home Furniture's Duncan store, on Vancouver Island. This checklist goes room by room, with apartment-size pieces from our own Duncan listings, their measurements and their prices as checked on November 1, 2026. It also covers the parts of renting in BC that sit outside any furniture store: the move-in inspection, the deposit, tenant insurance and a BC Hydro account.
Measure before buying any big piece of furniture. A loveseat that's 61 inches wide will fit plenty of rooms, but it still has to come up the stairs, through the door and around the corner into the room.
What do you need for your first apartment? The four pieces to buy first
The four first pieces for a first apartment are the ones you'd miss on night one. A bed gives you sleep, a seat and a table give you somewhere to eat and sit, and storage keeps clothes off the floor. A written checklist helps because a move week is busy. It stops the money going on a rug before there's a mattress. Here is that short list with a starting point from Merit's Duncan listings, priced before applicable taxes.
| Piece | A starting point on our Duncan listings |
|---|---|
| Mattress | Restonic Minto, twin XL $848.00, full $848.00 |
| Bed frame | Ashley Cabinella platform bed, full $353.00, no box spring needed |
| Something to sit on | Ashley Navi loveseat, 61 in wide, $499.00 to $999.00 by colour |
| A table | Ashley Gesthaven drop leaf table, 42 x 42 in with two drop leaves, from $249.00 |
| Storage | Mako Soho 7-drawer dresser, solid pine, $699.00 |
Those five come to a little over $2,600 before applicable taxes and delivery. That's real money for a first place. A twin bed, a table from family or a bookcase in place of a dresser all bring it down.
Checklist for moving into first apartment: the weeks before the keys
The checklist for moving into a first apartment starts weeks before the keys, because new furniture takes time to arrive. Most of what's at our Duncan store is on display to try, and your own piece is ordered for you. Merit's delivery page gives the time until a piece is ready. It lists mattresses and cabinet beds 2 to 3 weeks, Ashley 4 to 6 weeks, and Mako 8 to 10 weeks.
- Six to ten weeks out. Order anything from a maker with a long lead time, such as a solid wood dresser. Ask us for a date before you count on it.
- Four weeks out. Measure the doorways, the stairs and any lift in the building, then order the bed, the seating and the table.
- Two weeks out. Open a BC Hydro account and set up tenant insurance, so both start on the day you take possession.
- Move-in day. Walk through the empty unit with the landlord for the condition inspection before anything comes in.
- Delivery day. Have the furniture arrive after the inspection, so new scuffs and old scuffs can't be mixed up.
BC Hydro asks for your new address and, if you're renting, your landlord's name and contact information. Its new-customer page says a charge of $13.50 plus GST for a new account appears on the first bill, and some accounts also need a security deposit.
Renting in BC: the move-in inspection, the deposit and tenant insurance
Renting in BC comes with rules set by the Residential Tenancy Branch, and two of them shape move-in week. The first is the deposit. A landlord can charge up to half of one month's rent as a security deposit, and a pet damage deposit capped at the same half month. The province's own example is a $1,500 rent, where the security deposit can't go past $750.
The second is the move-in condition inspection, a walk-through where landlord and tenant record the unit's condition together. The Branch says the landlord books it, and the tenant has a right to 2 opportunities to complete it. Its form is the Condition Inspection Report, Form RTB-27, though a landlord may use their own. The landlord must give the tenant a copy within 7 days of the inspection.
The Branch's list of things to check includes loose fixtures, locks, signs of mould or leaks, cabinets, sinks, showers and tubs, the fans, and the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It advises both sides to take many photos and videos. I'd also photograph the floors along the path the furniture will take, because that's where a dolly leaves its mark.
Tenant insurance is the other piece. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says a tenant's policy covers your belongings, and that personal liability insurance is typically a legal condition in a lease. It also says most tenant policies pay for somewhere to stay if an insured loss makes the unit unliveable. For roommates, the Bureau suggests each person carries their own tenant policy, since a policy covers only the items you own.
Apartment bedroom essentials: mattress, frame and a place for clothes
Apartment bedroom essentials come down to a mattress, a frame under it, a protector and somewhere for clothes. The mattress is where I'd spend first. Our Duncan mattresses come from Restwell, Restonic and Natura, and the bedding from Health Guard and Natura. In a small bedroom a twin XL or a full is the usual size question. The twin XL is long enough for a tall adult, and the full gives room for two at a squeeze.
| Mattress | Feel and price in the smaller sizes |
|---|---|
| Restwell Robin | Plush euro top, 12 1/4 in; twin 38 x 74 in $799.00, double 53 x 74 in $849.00 |
| Restonic Minto | Firm euro top, 12.5 in; twin $698.00, twin XL $848.00 |
| Restonic Prestige | Plush euro top, 13 in; twin XL $888.00, full $888.00 |
| Natura Green Spring Serene | Latex and wool over wrapped coils, 14 in; twin XL $1,649.00, full $2,399.00 |
The Restwell Robin listing says it's made in Canada by Restwell in British Columbia. If sheets are a worry, the twin XL is the size where they catch people out. How a twin XL differs from a plain twin is laid out in its own guide.
For the frame, a platform bed skips the box spring. The Cabinella measures 56 x 77 in as a full. Its listing shows the full at $353.00 and the queen at $299.00, so the queen is cheaper. The Ashley Socalle twin platform bed is 41 x 78 in and lists at $159.00 in black or $254.00 in light natural. A plain metal frame over a box spring is the other route: the Beaudoin 961G full or queen frame is listed for Duncan, and we quote it by phone.
Clothes go in the Mako Soho, which is 58 in wide, 30 in high and 18 in deep, made by Mako in Surrey, BC. Beside the bed, the Ashley Shawburn nightstand is 20 in wide and 16 in deep with one drawer, at $138.00. A Health Guard terry protector is $49.00 in twin and $59.00 in twin XL or full, picked up free at Duncan or brought along with the mattress.
Studio apartment furniture: a cabinet bed in place of a bedroom
Studio apartment furniture has to work in one room, and among Merit's listings a cabinet bed is the piece built for that. It's a cabinet that opens into a queen or double bed with its own foam mattress, then closes up again by day. Merit lists 10 Sleepchest cabinet beds for Duncan. Three of them come in at $2,799.00, before applicable taxes.
| Cabinet bed | Closed, then open as a bed |
|---|---|
| Madrid, queen | 64 W x 23.25 D in closed; 80 in deep open; $2,799.00 |
| Midtown, queen | 64 W x 22 D in closed, the slimmest; 80 in deep open; $2,799.00 |
| Tuscany, double size | 58.25 W x 23 D in closed; 74 in deep open; one listed price, $2,799.00, so ask what the double costs |
A cabinet bed costs more than a twin mattress and frame together. What it buys is a living room that's still a living room at 10 in the morning. Each listing mentions a built-in linen drawer and a removable, machine-washable mattress cover. An open queen needs about 80 inches of clear floor out from the wall, and how it opens is covered step by step in the cabinet bed guide.
Apartment living room essentials: loveseats and apartment sofas that fit
Apartment living room essentials start with one seat that fits the room and the route in. In an apartment that's often a loveseat. Of the 64 loveseat listings on our site, 38 list the Duncan store. These are some of the narrower and lower-priced ones, with the listing's own measurements.
| Loveseat or sofa | Width x depth x height, price |
|---|---|
| Ashley Navi loveseat | 61 x 38 x 39 in; $499.00 in Fossil, $999.00 in Smoke |
| Ashley SimpleJoy loveseat | 63 x 38 x 40 in, corduroy; $800.00 to $822.00 |
| Ashley Darcy loveseat | 67 x 38 x 37 in, Stone; $709.00 |
| Ashley Olten loveseat | 67 x 38 x 40 in; $499.00 in Mocha, $840.00 in Graphite |
| Ashley Navi sofa | 89 x 38 x 39 in, the full-length version; $549.00 to $999.00 |
The Darcy's listing says it's on display at our Duncan store, so a call first tells you whether it's still set up. The lower Navi and Olten prices are marked-down colours on today's listings, so they may not last. For a coffee table, the Ashley Wadeworth set of 3 is a 32-inch round table and two square end tables for $214.00.
Width decides whether a sofa fits the wall. Depth and height decide whether it fits through the door, since a sofa usually goes in on its back or stood on an arm. All five above are 38 inches deep. Measure the clear opening of every door on the route, the turn at the top of the stairs, and the inside of the lift car if the building has one. The full method, with BC's door minimums, is in measuring whether a sofa will get through the door. I'd ask the building manager whether the lift can be booked for delivery, too.
Apartment kitchen essentials, from a small dining set to the dishes
Apartment kitchen essentials are mostly small things, and at Merit the one big piece is a table. In a first apartment the table often sits at the end of the kitchen or in a corner of the living room. So I look for one that folds down, or a counter-height set that tucks against a wall.
| Small dining piece | Size and price |
|---|---|
| Ashley Gesthaven drop leaf table | 42 x 42 x 30 in, two drop leaves, seats up to 4; $249.00 to $399.00 by colour |
| Ashley Caitbrook set of 3 | 30 x 36 in counter table with shelves and 2 stools; $745.00 |
| Ashley Skempton set of 3 | 36 x 30 in counter table, 3 open shelves, 2 stools; $759.00 |
| Ashley Wrenning set of 5 | 42 x 42 in table and 4 upholstered chairs; $924.00 |
The shelves on the Skempton and Caitbrook tables stand in for a pantry cupboard in a galley kitchen. The Caitbrook listing says it's on display at our Duncan store, so a call tells you if it's still set up.
The rest of the kitchen is a shopping list. Think a frying pan, a pot, a knife and a cutting board, then dishes and cutlery for two, a dish rack and tea towels. If the unit comes with a fridge and stove, check that the tenancy agreement lists them and test each one at the inspection. Merit's appliances are carried at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores or come as special orders, not from Duncan, and the appliance listings show which store has each one.
Bathroom, laundry, entryway and cleaning supplies for a first apartment
Bathroom, laundry, entryway and cleaning supplies for a first apartment are the small things nobody thinks of until the first evening. At the front door, the furniture comes down to a slim console, a bench and wall hooks, the usual small entryway ideas for an apartment. We don't sell most of the supplies, and they're easy to find in town. The list below is what I'd have in a box marked "open first".
- Bathroom: towels, a bath mat, a shower curtain and rings, toilet paper, a plunger and a toilet brush.
- Laundry: a hamper, a drying rack, detergent, and coins or a card if the building has shared machines.
- Entryway: a boot tray for wet Island winters, a few wall hooks, and a small table or shelf for keys.
- Cleaning: a broom and dustpan, a mop or a vacuum, cloths, an all-purpose cleaner and garbage bags. For a fuller clean once you're settled, a room-by-room cleaning checklist covers the rest.
- Odds and ends: light bulbs, a power bar, a flashlight, a basic tool kit, a first aid kit and furniture pads for the floors.
What can wait on a first apartment checklist?
A lot on a first apartment checklist can wait, and waiting usually saves money. After a month in the place you know where the light falls, where you actually sit and what the room is short of. These two lists are how I'd split it.
Before the keys
A mattress and frame, or a cabinet bed in a studio. One seat, a loveseat or a pair of chairs. A small table. A dresser or other storage. A mattress protector, sheets and pillows. Tenant insurance and a BC Hydro account.
After the first month
A full sofa, once you know which wall it belongs on. A TV stand, a desk, a bookcase, a rug and lamps. Extra dining chairs for guests. A headboard. A second bedroom set if a roommate comes later.
The second list is where hand-me-downs work well. A side table from family costs nothing, and it can be swapped once you know what the room needs.
If the budget only stretches to one good piece, I'd put it into the mattress and keep everything else simple. A cheap table is still a table. A mattress that's wrong for you shows up every morning. Lie on a few in the position you sleep in, and take as long as you like doing it.
Where a first apartment furniture plan goes wrong
A first apartment furniture plan goes wrong in a handful of predictable places, and most of them come back to timing or measuring.
Lead times are the first trap. An Ashley piece is 4 to 6 weeks from order and a Mako dresser 8 to 10, so ordering the week of the move means sleeping on the floor. Mattresses and cabinet beds, at 2 to 3 weeks, are the quickest of the big pieces.
Measuring is the second. Listing dimensions are the maker's figures, and a loveseat that fits the room can still stall at a narrow stair landing. The third is a dresser left loose. Health Canada advises anchoring furniture to the wall with anti-tip straps or braces, fixed into a wall stud or with heavy-duty dry wall anchors made for the furniture. In a rental, ask the landlord before drilling, and keep the request in writing.
Engineered wood is the last. The Ashley platform beds above are engineered wood with a laminate finish, by their own listings. That suits a first place, though it takes poorly to being rebuilt for every move. A solid wood dresser from Merit costs more and arrives later, and it will follow you to the next apartment.
Sources for the first apartment figures
- Province of British Columbia, Residential Tenancy Branch, Move-in condition inspection (last updated March 4, 2026), checked November 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Residential Tenancy Branch, Tenancy deposits and fees (last updated March 4, 2026), checked November 2026.
- Insurance Bureau of Canada, Types of home coverage, tenant and renter's insurance, checked November 2026.
- Insurance Bureau of Canada, Tenant's insurance: the back-to-school essential most students forget, checked November 2026.
- BC Hydro, New BC Hydro customers, opening a residential account, checked November 2026.
- Health Canada, Furniture, appliance and television tip-overs, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture's product listings for the pieces named above, the loveseat, cabinet bed and appliance collections, the delivery page and the Duncan store page, read November 1, 2026.
Furnishing a first apartment from the Duncan store
Merit's Duncan showroom on Ingram Street opens Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5. Bring the room, door and stair measurements, and we'll check the fit together. Take your time; going home to measure again before deciding is fine by us.
Delivery from Merit's Duncan store is $150 across the Island, and assembly is included, so flat-pack beds and tables arrive built. Pickup at the Duncan store is free. Pillows, sheets and protectors aren't mailed: pick them up free in Duncan or add them to the furniture delivery. If an old mattress or a hand-me-down sofa has to go, Duncan takes old furniture away at delivery, usually $25 to $50 a piece. What a delivery day looks like is set out in our delivery prep guide.
Call the Duncan store, (250) 746-5527
Browse every loveseat listing, the Sleepchest cabinet beds and the small dining sets, or start from the buying guides page for the rest of the house.