CAPSULE FURNITURE CHECKLIST
You need this.
Most first apartments have too many small pieces and not enough anchors. This checklist gives you exactly 12 items. The capsule wardrobe concept applied to furniture. Start here, layer later.
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We render apartments for a living. We make the printables we wish renters had.
Rendered by Design creates city-specific home design guides, room lookbooks, and budget tools for first-apartment renters in NYC, Austin, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, and beyond. Every resource on this site is built from real design work we do every day.
Meet RbDWithout it, you'll forget half the list.
- You buy 8 small pieces from Amazon and the room still looks empty because there is no anchor
- You own 3 side tables but no real sofa because small items feel easier to buy
- Your bedroom has a bed frame but no nightstand, no lamp, and no dresser
- You spend $1,200 across 15 items and still need the 4 pieces that actually matter
What's Inside
- ✓ 12 pieces organized by room: living, bedroom, dining, entryway
- ✓ Size guide per piece so you do not buy a 90-inch sofa for a 10-foot wall
- ✓ Budget tiers: under $500, $500-1500, $1500+ for the full set
- ✓ Priority order so you buy the anchor pieces first and layer items last
How It Works
Print the checklist and cross off pieces you already own
Pick your budget tier and note the target price per piece
Buy the top-4 priority items first (sofa, bed frame, dining table, dresser)
Layer the remaining 8 pieces over months 2-4
Choose Your Adventure
All four other RbD printables. Pick the one you need next.
Shop the Look
Pieces from the RbD retailer index. Use the printable as your shopping checklist.
FTC: Some links below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only feature pieces we'd put in a real RbD render.
Renter Makeover Playbook
Every product, room, layout, and budget breakdown, done for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really free?
Yes. PDF arrives by email in under five minutes. No credit card.
Only 12 pieces? What about bookshelves, desks, etc.?
Those are layer items. The capsule is the minimum viable apartment. Add specialty pieces after the 12 are in place. By then you will know what the room actually needs.
Does this work for studios?
Yes. Studios use 9 of the 12 (skip the dining table, second nightstand, and entryway console). The checklist marks which are studio-optional.
What format?
PDF, 2 pages, US letter. Print or save to phone.