Furnishing Your Berlin Apartment

You did it! You found a flat in Berlin, signed the lease, and got your Anmeldebescheinigung. Now there’s just one thing to do — fill it with beautiful things. Here’s our guide to furnishing your Berlin apartment. 

First thing’s first, get that four letter word out of your head. You know the one. Starts with an “I” and ends in an “A.” Berlin is home to three of the big Swedish mega-stores — one in Tempelhof, one in Lichtenberg, and one in Spandau. Fine, go there for the basics (and the soft-serve ice cream). But once you’ve got that out of your system, it’s time to turn your attention to a more refined way of living.

As a world-class capital city, Berlin is home to myriad design shops that offer bespoke services as well as lovely collections of textiles and crockery. And we’ll get to them. But first… when you’ve got a whole apartment to fill, the fact is, ordering online is simply the easiest way to furnish your Berlin apartment.

Wayfair.de Offers Design Solutions for Every Room in Your House!

Our first tip is to start with Wayfair.de. This is your one-stop shop for every single room in your new Berlin home. 

Offering a variety of home decor styles from traditional to contemporary, Wayfair is a great solution for all tastes. Fans of industrial design will love the “Vicki” dining chairs, while those looking for a peaceful night’s sleep surrounded by tufted velvet will adore the glamorous “Avallon” bed. 

Stylish, affordable, and practical, Wayfair.de makes it possible to furnish your Berlin apartment without leaving the comfort of those moving boxes you’re sitting on while shopping for a new sofa.

Want to try Wayfair? We’re giving away 10 promo codes for 20% off your entire purchase! Sign up for our newsletter by midnight on November 30 to be entered to win. (UPDATE: Congratulations to our 10 winners!)

Other good online options for furnishing your Berlin apartment are Westwing and Home 24, which also has a brick and mortar showroom in Mitte.

Where to Find Furniture Design Classics in Berlin

Sometimes, when furnishing your new flat, it can be advantageous to start by ordering the bare necessities (beds, kitchen table), then take your time shopping for something truly special like a wool carpet or pair of armchairs that add just the right flair to your space. Also, when purchasing a sofa it’s always a good idea to try it out first. 

Those with a hankering to furnish their Berlin apartment with design classics like the Saarinen Tulip Chair by Knoll or Thonet bent wood dining chairs will love Smow. This sophisticated German design brand has 11 different stores throughout Germany. In Berlin, you’ll find them on fashionable Kurfürstendamm, between the districts of Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf. Here, a range of heirloom-worthy pieces on are display and a friendly staff is ready to help you not only with your furniture choices but with professional planning as well.

Where to Find Handcrafted Furniture in Berlin

Many interior design enthusiasts will appreciate the possibility of purchasing handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces for their Berlin apartment. For nearly 30 years, Noodles Noodles & Noodles Corp. has been creating lovingly designed, handcrafted furniture from materials like steel, wood, leather, and glass. Authentic pieces, meant to last a lifetime, can be viewed in their showroom on Schönhauser Allee, in Prenzlauer Berg. 

While you’re in the neighborhood, stop in at Basic, another great place to look for quality handmade furniture in Berlin. This company places great value on individualized design and raw materials like hard wood, and they’d be happy to work with you to create exactly what you’re looking for, from a long wooden dining table that will last forever, to a custom-built set of shelves.

And for stunning contemporary Scandinavian design, nothing beats Bolia. From among the 58 international stores, you’ll find two of them in the German capital, one in Charlottenburg and one in Mitte. An experience in itself, a visit to one of these shops gives you the chance to get personalized recommendations based on your design taste and lifestyle. Tailor-made furniture inspired by nature and crafted with consciousness is why we’re so in love with this Danish brand.

Take Advantage of Berlin’s Fabulous Fleamarkets

If you love old things, you love old things. There’s just no getting away from it, and that’s quite alright. In fact, it’s downright excellent! Because Berlin is a Flohmarkt Wunderland. And by furnishing your Berlin apartment with flea market finds, you can be assured that you are creating a truly unique space.

One of the most famous flea markets in Berlin takes place every Sunday at Mauerpark, where you’ll hear pop tunes belted out from the nearby karaoke party while you peruse the stalls. While you’re in the area, hit up Arkonaplatz, where antiques vendors set up a smaller, more refined sale. 

Check out the blog Stil In Berlin for a nice feature on Berlin Fleamarkets, and get a comprehensive list at berlin.de.

Accessorize Your New Berlin Home With Style

The key to a charming abode is very often found in the bits and bobs that make it truly unique. From colourful sofa cushions to beautiful bowls, elegant vases, and quirky candle sticks, Berlin is a paradise of small independent design shops that offer an abundance of new and vintage design accessories. Here are just a few of our favorites places to shop for unique items in Berlin.

GRANIT Mitte
Rosenthaler Str. 13, 10119 

GRANIT City West
Tauentzienstraße. 1, 10789 Berlin
www.granit.com

Hausen 
Krossener Str. 25, 10245 Berlin
direkt am Boxhagener Platz
www.hausen-berlin.de

Hallesches Haus
Tempelhofer Ufer 1, Berlin 10961
www.hallescheshaus.com

Hay
Auguststrasse 77-78, 10117 Berlin
www.hayberlin.de

Kelim Soul
Various Berlin Markets + Online
www.kelim-soul.de

Nandi
Dunckerstr. 11, 10437 Berlin
www.nandistore.com

Recycle and Re-Sell in Berlin

And our final tip for furnishing your Berlin apartment is to bookmark Ebay-Kleinanzeigen Berlin’s No. 1 online resale portal. A quick peek just now revealed a Chesterfield armchair, a Wilhelmine era wardrobe, and a set of 20 wooden hangers for .50 cents apiece. See, you don’t have to go to Ikea after all! Happy shopping!

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