How to Furnish a One-Bed Flat to Let

Start with the tenant and the space

A one-bed flat is most often let to a single professional or a couple, so the furniture needs to feel comfortable and easy to live in without crowding the space. Before you buy anything, measure each room and note where the doors, windows and radiators are. In a small flat, one oversized sofa or wardrobe can make the whole place feel cramped in listing photos.

Decide, too, whether you will let the flat furnished or unfurnished. If you choose furnished, the aim is a property a tenant can move into with just their clothes and personal belongings.

The bedroom

The bedroom is where tenants judge quality, so it is worth getting right. The essentials are:

• A double bed – a base, mattress and headboard. A headboard also protects the wall and makes the bed look finished.
• A double wardrobe – hanging space matters more than anything else in a rental bedroom.
• Two bedsides – one each side, so the room works for a couple.
• A chest of drawers – extra storage, so the wardrobe isn't doing all the work.

Our buy to let packages include exactly this: a double wardrobe, two bedsides, a three-drawer chest, a headboard, a bed base and a mattress. If you want a different mix, you can buy the pieces individually – double wardrobes start from £229, double beds from £319 (complete with base and mattress), bedsides from £119 and three-drawer chests from £169, all + VAT.

The living and dining area

In a one-bed flat the living area often has to do several jobs at once. Aim to include:

• A sofa – a two-seater suits most one-bed flats; our two-seater sofas start from £369 + VAT and three-seaters from £479 + VAT.
• An accent chair – adds seating and a bit of colour without taking much floor space.
• A coffee table – somewhere to put a drink or a laptop.
• A dining table and chairs – a table is from £199 + VAT and chairs from £59 + VAT each. Even a small table gives a tenant a place to eat or work from home.

Every one-bed package includes a sofa, accent chair, coffee table and dining set, so the living area is ready from day one.

Kitchen, bathroom and finishing touches

Whether you supply these depends on how "ready to move in" you want the flat to be. Tenants renting furnished often expect the basics to be there, and a flat that comes with everything can stand out from the competition. We offer optional packs:

• Kitchen & electrical pack – crockery and cutlery, knives, utensils, baking trays, pans, a kettle, toaster, microwave, iron and ironing board, a vacuum cleaner and more.
• Bathroom pack – a bathmat, bin, toothbrush holder, soap dish and toilet brush with holder.
• Accessories – cushions, throws, lamps, artwork, a rug, a floor lamp, mirror and plant, to make the flat feel like a home in photos and viewings.

Each of our collections shows exactly what is in the optional packs, so you can see what you are adding before you decide.

What to budget

Here's how the packages compare for a one-bed flat. All prices are + VAT and include free UK delivery, assembly and installation:

These are our Classic collections – the most popular for buy to lets. As an example, the Langley Collection is £2,399 + VAT for a one-bed, or £3,699 + VAT with the accessories, kitchen and bathroom packs included. Premium and Signature collections are also available at higher prices, and all are listed on our buy to let furniture packages page.

It's also worth asking whether you need everything. If the flat already has a good kitchen or the tenant is bringing their own appliances, you may not need the kitchen pack. A fixed list of what's included makes it much easier to compare quotes. If you are weighing up the costs of furnishing against the rent you could charge, our guide on furnished vs unfurnished lets can help.

Choosing a style that lets

For a one-bed, pick a style with broad appeal. Warm oak or white finishes with a single accent colour in the sofa or headboard tend to suit most tenants and photograph well, and they stay in fashion longer than something very bold. Choose hard-wearing surfaces that are easy to wipe clean, and check that upholstered items meet the furniture fire safety regulations.

If you are not sure what suits the flat, our furniture planning and interior design service can help you choose.

Getting it installed and let

Furnishing a flat is quickest when everything arrives in one go. With our packages, our own team delivers, assembles and places every item, then removes all the packaging, so the flat is left tenant-ready. We also provide photos of the finished installation on all packages, ready to use in your letting listing – so the property can be marketed as soon as it's done.

A well-furnished flat also helps you reduce void periods, and our furnished rental checklist covers what to leave in the property for the tenancy. If you'd like to spread the cost, we offer lease finance over 3–5 years or a 60-day payment plan, subject to status.

Frequently asked questions