Renting a fully or even partially furnished apartment can save time, reduce decision fatigue, and make the moving process much easier. Plus, a semi-furnished apartment can cut down on some of the upfront costs of buying furniture, allowing you instead to spend money on other items such as kitchen essentials or décor pieces.

What is a Semi-Furnished Apartment?

As you may have guessed, a semi-furnished apartment comes with some of the main items a renter needs such as basic furniture and decor. Usually, the rent for a semi-furnished apartment is slightly more than an unfurnished apartment, and it’s possible the security deposit could be slightly higher.

However, choosing a semi-furnished apartment can be a particularly good idea for first-time renters who may not have all the big-ticket items they need for their first apartment. Professionals or students who are relocating for an indefinite period might also find a semi-furnished apartment suits their needs. Even renters moving into a larger apartment who have some, but not all the furniture they need, might opt for a semi-furnished vs fully furnished apartment.

What You’ll Find in a Semi-Furnished Apartment

Semi-furnished apartments can refer to a wide range of furnished options, but generally it means the basic big pieces of furniture—sofa, bed, dresser, and table and chairs—are included.

Smaller household items like bedroom or bathroom linens, kitchen items like a toaster, plates or utensils, might not be included in a semi-furnished apartment. Also, home technology such as a television or stereo system isn’t typically included in a semi-furnished apartment.

A semi-furnished apartment usually includes:

  • Living room — Couches, accent chairs, coffee table, end tables, lamps, and maybe a desk and a chair.
  • Bedroom — Headboard and mattress, nightstands, dresser, mirror.
  • Dining room — Dining table and chairs.

For example, Southern Management’s Stylish Collection, which covers the basics for a semi-furnished apartment, includes furniture for the living room, bedroom and dining room. Prices start at $295 per month for a studio and can go up to $566 per month for a three-bedroom apartment. You can also add optional items such as TVs, an office desk and chairs, or area rugs to help you make your apartment your own.

Semi-Furnished vs Fully-Furnished Apartments

Unlike a semi-furnished apartment, a fully-furnished, or turnkey apartment, has everything you need to start living in your apartment immediately—from hangers in the bedroom closet to a fully outfitted bathroom and kitchen to a full living room set.

A fully-furnished apartment usually includes everything in a plus:

  • Living room — television, entertainment center, wall art, area rugs, and accent pieces.
  • Bedroom —bedroom linens, a second TV, area rugs, pillows, accent pieces, and lamps.
  • Dining room —wall art, area rugs, and accent pieces.
  • Kitchen —utensils, dishes, glassware, cookware, trash can, coffee maker, dish towels, microwave, and toaster.
  • Bathroom — shower curtain and liner, trash can, soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, bath mats, towels, and washcloths.
  • General home goods and supplies
    • Cleaning – vacuum, broom and dustpan, mop
    • Laundry – hamper or basket, iron, ironing board
    • Miscellaneous household items – light bulbs, extension cords, batteries, etc.

Southern Management’s Flair and Fabulous collections by Living Ready are two options that help you create a fully furnished, totally move-in-ready space.

When trying to decide between a fully-furnished apartment vs a semi-furnished apartment, there is a difference in cost. A fully-furnished apartment will be more expensive than the semi-furnished option, and you might have a higher security deposit to offset any potential damage. However, you do save money on furniture and various household items, as well as the money that would have been spent on movers.

Semi-Furnished vs Partially-Furnished Apartments

In addition to semi-furnished, some apartment management companies will also advertise “partially-furnished” apartments. These two terms are generally interchangeable and definitely require some additional research and questions.

Partially furnished could include the basic major furniture, or it could just mean a room or two is furnished. Because there is such a range of definitions, it’s always a good idea to ask what exactly is included in a semi-furnished or partially furnished apartment.

Let Southern Management Take the Stress Out of Furniture Shopping

At Southern Management, we’re all about hassle-free flexibility. Whether you are looking for a fully furnished, semi-furnished, or partially furnished apartment, we have options for every lifestyle, budget, and apartment layout. Choose from fully-furnished or semi-furnished apartment options at  Marlboro Classic & Redwood Square in Baltimore, Maryland,  Cherry Arms in Alexandria, Virginia, or Woodbridge Forest in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Browse our more than 50 communities throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia, all of which have furniture rental options to fit your needs. Then contact us to discuss availability, pricing, and lease-term options!