Moving into an empty apartment can be challenging when you do not own a car. A reasonably priced table or dresser may be available across Toronto, but getting it home can cost more than the furniture itself.
The process becomes even more complicated if you live alone or are moving into a condo with restricted delivery hours. You may need to coordinate sellers, delivery drivers, elevators and building management without having anywhere comfortable to sit in the meantime.
Fortunately, you do not need a car to furnish a Toronto apartment. The key is to buy in the right order, measure everything carefully and consider transportation before agreeing to any purchase.
Furnish the Essential Rooms First
You do not have to furnish the entire apartment during your first week. Start with the items that make the space functional:
- A mattress and simple bed frame
- Bedding and towels
- A table or desk with one chair
- Basic cookware and dishes
- Lighting, if the apartment has limited fixtures
- Window coverings, if none are provided
- A place to store clothing
A sofa, television stand, dining set and decorative pieces can wait. Buying too much immediately may leave you with furniture that does not fit the apartment or suit your daily routine.
This gradual approach also makes it easier to manage the initial expenses. Furniture, household supplies, tenant insurance and utility setup can add considerably to your regular monthly expenses in Toronto.
Measure More Than the Rooms
The dimensions of the room are only part of the equation. Furniture must also fit through every space between the building entrance and its final location.
Before buying anything large, measure:
- The apartment’s entrance door
- Interior doors and hallways
- Staircase widths and turns
- Freight and passenger elevators
- The route from the loading area
- The intended location inside the room
Measure the furniture as well, including removable legs, cushions and other protruding sections. A sofa may fit perfectly against a wall but still be impossible to move around a narrow hallway corner.
Keep the measurements on your phone so you can check them while shopping. When dealing with a private seller, ask for the item’s width, height and depth before arranging transportation.
Check Your Building’s Delivery Rules
Toronto condos and apartment buildings may have rules for furniture deliveries. Some require residents to reserve a service elevator, pay a refundable deposit or use a designated loading area. Deliveries may also be restricted to certain days and hours.
Ask your building management or superintendent:
- Whether an elevator reservation is required
- How early it must be booked
- Whether there is a deposit or fee
- How long the reservation lasts
- Where a delivery vehicle can park
- Whether the elevator has protective padding
- Whether weekend or evening deliveries are permitted
- Whether proof of insurance is required from a delivery company
Confirm these details before scheduling a delivery. If the seller or driver arrives outside your approved window, the building may refuse entry.
Compare the Delivered Price, Not Just the Item Price
A secondhand dresser listed for $40 may appear to be a bargain. However, it stops being inexpensive if collecting it requires a $100 delivery.
Before purchasing, calculate the complete cost:
Furniture price + delivery charge + building fee + assembly cost
Compare this total with the price of a new item that includes delivery. Buying secondhand can still save money, but the cheapest listing is not always the cheapest option once transportation is included.
It can be more economical to buy several pieces from the same seller or location. One delivery trip could then bring a table, chairs and shelves instead of paying separately for each item.
Look for Furniture Close to Home
When shopping through online marketplaces or neighbourhood groups, narrow the search radius to areas near your apartment. Small pieces might be carried home, transported on a folding cart or moved in a taxi or rideshare vehicle.
Toronto’s neighbourhood density can make local buying surprisingly practical. Someone in your building or on a nearby street may be selling exactly what you need.
Search using neighbourhood names rather than “Toronto” alone. You can also check:
- Community buy-and-sell groups
- Building noticeboards or resident groups
- Moving and giveaway groups
- Estate and downsizing sales
- Secondhand stores offering delivery
- University move-out sales
- Local reuse events
Always confirm whether the furniture comes from a home with pets, smoke, moisture problems or pests.
Be Selective About Upholstered Furniture
Used tables, bookshelves and metal bed frames are generally easier to inspect and clean than mattresses, upholstered chairs and sofas.
Examine secondhand furniture in good lighting. Check seams, folds, screw holes, the underside and the back of the item. Look for stains, unusual odours, moisture damage, insect evidence and structural weakness.
Ask the seller whether the item has been stored in a basement, garage, storage locker or outdoors. Toronto’s changing temperatures and humidity can damage furniture that has been stored improperly.
If you cannot inspect an upholstered item carefully, buying it new may be the safer decision. A low purchase price is not worthwhile if the furniture introduces pests or odours into your apartment.
Choose Furniture That Is Easier to Transport
Furniture that arrives flat-packed or can be disassembled is often the easiest option for a car-free household. Look for removable legs, modular sections and pieces that one or two people can safely carry.
Useful choices include:
- Folding tables and chairs
- Platform beds that separate into sections
- Modular sofas
- Nesting tables
- Stackable stools
- Shelves with removable boards
- Storage ottomans
- Rolling carts
Avoid extremely heavy solid-wood pieces unless you already have reliable delivery help. Large sleeper sofas, one-piece wardrobes and glass furniture can also be difficult to move through elevators and narrow Toronto apartments.
Furniture with storage built into it can reduce the number of pieces you need. A bed with drawers, an ottoman with internal storage or a table that doubles as a desk can be particularly useful in a small unit.
Arrange Delivery Before Paying
When buying from a private seller, do not assume the item will remain available while you search for transportation. Confirm the pickup address, delivery window and access conditions before sending money.
You may be able to use:
- A local furniture delivery service
- A small moving company
- A task-based delivery platform
- A taxi or rideshare for smaller items
- A friend with a suitable vehicle
- Delivery arranged by the seller
Give the driver the item’s measurements and disclose stairs at both locations. Mention whether help is available for loading and unloading. Some delivery quotes include only transportation, leaving you responsible for carrying the item.
For safety, avoid sending full payment to an unknown private seller before inspecting the furniture or confirming that the transaction is legitimate.
Combine Deliveries When Possible
Multiple small deliveries can quickly consume your furnishing budget. Try to group purchases geographically or arrange for several items to arrive during the same elevator reservation.
If you are buying new furniture, choosing several items from one retailer may qualify you for combined or discounted delivery. If you are using a local mover, ask whether the driver can make multiple pickups during one scheduled trip.
This requires more coordination, but it may cost less than booking a separate vehicle for every purchase.
Do Not Buy Everything for a Temporary Home
If you expect to remain in Toronto for only a year or two, consider how easily each item can be moved or resold.
Prioritize furniture that is:
- Durable enough to survive another move
- Common enough to resell
- Easy to disassemble
- Small enough to fit different apartments
- Useful in more than one room
Furniture rental may be an option for a short stay, but review the complete contract cost. Monthly payments, delivery, pickup and damage charges may ultimately exceed the cost of buying basic furniture and reselling it later.
Plan for Furniture You No Longer Need
Getting furniture out of a car-free apartment can be as challenging as bringing it in. Before buying a large item, consider how you would sell, donate or dispose of it when you move.
Furniture in usable condition may be offered through neighbourhood groups or donation programs. For items that cannot be reused, consult the City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard to determine the appropriate disposal method.
Apartment and condo residents should speak with their property manager or superintendent before leaving furniture in a waste area. Collection arrangements depend on the building, and placing an item in the wrong location may result in a charge.
Give the Apartment Time to Take Shape
An empty apartment can create pressure to buy everything immediately. Waiting a few weeks, however, allows you to understand how you use the space.
You might discover that you eat at your desk and do not need a dining table, or that a secondhand armchair would be more practical than a large sofa. You may also notice building-specific concerns, such as noise or cooking odours, before deciding where furniture should be placed. Our guide to cooking smells in Toronto condos explains one issue that can affect how residents arrange and use their space.
A comfortable home does not have to be completed in one shopping trip. Furnish the essential areas first, calculate delivery costs before buying and choose pieces that can adapt to your next Toronto home.
Note: Delivery charges, building policies and municipal disposal arrangements can change. Confirm current requirements with the seller, delivery provider, property manager and City of Toronto before making arrangements.