This blog post was sponsored by Ashley HomeStore in Tucson. All opinions are my own.
When it came to furnishing my first apartment, I was excited. After all, I’ve been living in student housing for years and, while the furniture wasn’t horrendous, it left something to be desired. If you’re been following me at all since the beginning of this year, I’m sure you saw the yellow walls that I struggled with in every single indoor photo-shoot.
That’s why I was so excited to partner with Ashley HomeStore to find the perfect setup for my first unfurnished apartment. The space isn’t that big, so I was worried that I wouldn’t have a lot to do with the space. Luckily, they helped me find the perfect setup that fits perfectly in our small living room and makes our whole place look picture perfect.
I walked into Ashley HomeStore for the first time like a kid in a candy store; my eyes got big looking at the pretty rugs and marble coffee tables. I’d never had something so nice in my own place and it was finally happening. No more artificial leather couches with questionable stains for me.
Not to mention, they made the home shopping experience so easy. I will admit, you can get some awesome steals in store, so browse what you like online and then check the store to see if they have any better deals. If cost is a inhibiting factor for you, they also offer generous financing plans so you can get the living room you want without breaking the bank.
Ashley HomeStore also offers a generous warranty – if you spill or rip something like one of the cushions, they’ll replace it for free! It’s definitely a great warranty to have if you’re a heavy user of your furniture. (The only exception is the rug, which I bought a steam cleaner for!)
Step 1: Pick a Theme
When my roommate and I first started talking about apartment colors, we really liked a cool color scheme with grays and blues. After sharing a few pieces we liked back and forth, it was also clear that we were really after a more mid-century modern look as well. When we were looking at furniture, this immediately made our search easier.
The store in Tucson is separated by theme, so mid-century modern is separate from the farmhouse decor that is separate from the glam decor… Seriously, pick your theme and there’s a whole section in the store for you!
Step 2: Start with a base
In my opinion, the real base of a living room set is the couch. When we first started looking at couches, we were torn between a gray or navy couch. At the very least, we wanted something comfortable that wouldn’t show as many signs of wear as a light-colored couch.
I tried a lot of options at the Ashley HomeStore in Tucson (I fell in love with this sectional but it was too big for our space) and we settled on a matching set of a chaise and a sofa. I loved the look of the texture on our sofa and thought the cool gray color would look good with our bamboo floors and white walls. As specific as it is, I also loved the look of the legs on the sofa. I prefer the tapered thin legs to the wider and thicker legs.
If you’re furnishing a small space, like myself, a two-piece set is probably your best bet. As much as we liked the idea of a sectional, it was hard to find one small enough for the space. Also food for thought – if you plan on moving, sectionals are difficult to fit in a different space. Sectionals are very specific to the space you have; two piece sets are much more versatile if you should move.
Cost: $399 Each
Step 3: The Coffee Table
When I moved, my mom actually gave me a $350 credit to West Elm, which I had used to buy a table lamp duo. (I tried to link it but it’s not available anymore!) Although I could have used it as a bedside table, I was really hoping to find a coffee table that matched. To make that possible, I was looking for a dark brown wood with either gunmetal or wood legs. I found exactly what I was looking for.
Our coffee table has some space in the middle which can be used for storing things like books and adds a bit of dimension to the room. For the upcoming holidays, I plan on adding some subtle decor in that space as well.
Cost: $199 (in-store)
Step 4: The Rug
Here’s where the struggle really started. Originally, the thought of a light colored rug intimidated me. Maybe it was growing up as a messy child, but I was so worried about spilling or tracking dirt on it! However, when I saw this gorgeous rug, I knew it was meant to be. However, if you are looking for this same rug, it’s only availabe in-store. I’ll try my best to link some similar items at the bottom of this post so you can get the look you’re after in your space!
Cost: $299
Step 5: Additional Decor
Since we didn’t get the sectional, we did want something that let us put our feet up. Introducing our favorite poufs. Since we already had texture in the couch and the pattern on the rug, these solid dark gray poufs looked perfect in our space setup. We even found matching pillows!
Cost: $199 each
For a little pop of color, we also added a yarn hanging from Magnolia home on the wall and opted to switch out the pillows that came with the couch. I’m doing my best to locate these wall hangings online, but I’m coming up empty-handed. You can definitely find them in the Ashley HomeStore in Tucson!
For the pillows, we decided on these gorgeous blue velvet pillows and two leather accent pillows to match our poufs. We keep the pillows that came with our couch in our coat closet, just in case we need them for guests.
Wall Hanging Cost: $80; Blue Velvet Pillow Cost: $20 each
The throw was something I already had and I was so glad it matched our decor perfectly. We usually keep it draped over the chaise. I also already had the marble tray and marble coasters (they’re both from Target!) from my old place!
Cost: $35
Shop the Full Apartment Look:
Get the Look For Less:
Ok, so I hooked you on my apartment but you’re looking at these costs and thinking they’re just a little out of your budget. Worry not – I worked with Ashley Homestore to recreate my apartment look for less! These two sets include a coffee table and two end tables and come in at a very affordable price point!
Similar Rugs:
Pillow Options:
You did such a good job, it looks amazing! Hope you are loving it!