Studio apartment move-in checklist

Moving into a studio is the moment when it is easiest to get the layout right, and easiest to get it wrong with one hasty furniture order. This checklist goes from the empty room to the first week of living in it. Print it and tick it off.

Before you buy: measure

The room

Length and width of the room, measured at floor level and at about chest height (walls are rarely straight)
Ceiling height, and any lower parts such as beams or a sloped section
Position and width of every door, and the arc each one needs to open fully
Windows: width, sill height, which way they open, and anything in front of them
Radiators: position, width and height
Sockets, light switches, ceiling light points, internet socket
The kitchen run, with the space its doors and drawers need when open
Any niches, alcoves or built-in cupboards

The way in

Width and height of the building entrance, stairwell turns, lift door and lift interior
Width of the apartment door when fully open
The tightest corner on the route: a long sofa or a box spring has to turn there

Write all of it on one sheet with the date. Measure twice; it costs less than a return.

Zone on paper

Draw the room to scale, with everything above marked.
Mark the daily routes: door to kitchen, door to bed, bed to bathroom.
Decide on four zones: sleeping, sitting, eating or working, and storage.
Put the sleeping zone farthest from the entrance where you can.
Try at least two different layouts before choosing one.

The step-by-step guide to arranging studio furniture walks through one example in this order.

Buy in this order

Bed and mattress. It is the largest piece and decides the rest.
Seating. Sofa or chairs, sized to the space left after the bed and the routes.
Table and chairs for eating and, if needed, working.
Storage: wardrobe or rail, shelves, entry storage.
Lighting: at least one lamp per zone.
Small things last: rugs, curtains, baskets, decor. They are easier to choose once you have lived in the room for a while.

For each piece, write down its delivered size (including packaging if it will be carried in boxed) and check it against your access measurements.

Delivery day

Clear the route from the door and protect the floor where heavy pieces will be set down
Keep the plan and the measurements to hand
Check each piece for damage before signing for it
Keep receipts and packaging until everything is assembled and in place ^[3]

The first week

Live with the layout for a few days before buying anything else
Note what ends up on the floor, the table or the bed: that is missing storage
Anchor tall furniture to the wall before filling it ^[1]
Check the lease before drilling, and keep track of any holes you make ^[2]
Adjust lamps, cables and the position of the rug once you know your routines

Sources and method

The draft was written with AI assistance. Numbers, standards and safety notes rest on the sources listed below; each source carries the date we last opened and checked it.

Editorially reviewed by Anna Muller on 11 October 2026 before publication.

CPSC Anchor It! Campaign Marks 10 Years: Fewer Furniture Tip-Overs Lead to Safer American Households , U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. checked 11 October 2026 Supports: Anchor TVs and furniture such as bookcases and dressers securely to the wall, and store heavier items on lower shelves.

Guide to security deposits in California , Judicial Branch of California (California Courts Self-Help Guide). checked 11 October 2026 Supports: A landlord can deduct from the security deposit for repairing damage, other than normal wear and tear, caused by the tenant.

Refund Policies , California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General. checked 11 October 2026 Supports: Many retailers require the original receipt for any returns.