Furnish a Student Room in Germany Cheap: IKEA, JYSK, Second-Hand (2026)

To furnish a student room Germany cheap, the order matters more than the store. Check what the room already includes, take free and used items first, then buy new only what has to be new. Most students spend more than needed because they buy a full set in week one.

This is the detailed article behind where to buy what in Germany. Contract checks before you move in are in WG viewing and contract.

TL;DR

Check what the room already has

Before you buy, ask the landlord or flatmates in writing:

• Is the room furnished (möbliert)? Which pieces are included?
• Is the kitchen shared and equipped (Einbauküche, pots, plates)?
• Is there a washing machine, and is it shared?
• Can I mount shelves or drill into walls?

Student dorm rooms usually come with a bed, desk, and wardrobe. A WG room may come empty, partly furnished, or fully furnished from the previous tenant (who may want money for the furniture, called Abstand). Negotiate, or decline and buy used.

Möbel günstig Studenten: second-hand first

Möbel günstig Studenten (cheap furniture for students) searches lead to the same sources:

Use Kleinanzeigen's Sicher bezahlen for anything shipped, and pay on pickup for local items. Scam patterns and your rights with private sellers: second-hand and consumer rights.

Bulky waste (Sperrmüll) rules vary by city. Leaving furniture on the street without an appointment can count as illegal dumping, so do not assume curbside items are fair to take or to leave.

IKEA Family Germany benefits

IKEA Family Germany benefits start the moment you join, and joining is free.

• Member prices on selected products
• A free hot drink in the restaurant
• A points-based loyalty bonus and digital receipts
• Transport and assembly protection: if you scan your Family card at checkout and the item breaks while you carry it home or assemble it, IKEA replaces it
• Cheaper delivery (table below)
• 15% extra on the IKEA buy-back price

Source: IKEA Family.

Returns and the mattress trial

IKEA Germany gives a 365-day return for a full refund with the original receipt, as long as the item is unused and undamaged. It can be opened or assembled. Mattresses have 365 nights of trial sleep. A return pickup costs €75. This is store policy, not a legal right (IKEA returns).

IKEA delivery cost Germany

IKEA delivery cost Germany depends on size and whether you want it carried inside. Prices on 4 October 2026:

Source: IKEA delivery. Kerbside means to the front door at street level; you carry it upstairs.

Splitting one big delivery with a flatmate is often cheaper than two. Small items can go home with you on public transport.

IKEA Zweite-Chance-Markt and buy-back

The IKEA Zweite-Chance-Markt is the in-store section for returned, display, and slightly damaged items at reduced prices. You can reserve items online. Delivery for these items is priced on the original value plus a packaging fee.

Buy-back (Rückkauf) runs all year. You get an online quote, IKEA checks the item in store, and pays with an IKEA gift card valid for 3 years. Family members get 15% extra. Useful when you leave Germany or move.

Source: IKEA second hand.

Other furniture and household stores

Lidl's offer cycles are named "Billiger Montag", "Billiger Donnerstag", and a weekend cycle from Friday. Check the Lidl flyer before buying the same item at full price.

Depot (home decor) entered insolvency proceedings again in May 2026, with about 150 stores left. Do not rely on vouchers or long return windows there.

Plug adapter Germany Type F

Plug adapter Germany Type F is the first thing to sort. Germany uses Type C and Type F sockets at 230 V and 50 Hz. Indian Type D plugs do not fit.

1. Bring one universal adapter for day one.
2. Check every charger label for "100 to 240 V". Most phone and laptop chargers accept this.
3. Do not plug 110 V-only devices in without a voltage converter.
4. Buy a multi-socket extension cord (Steckdosenleiste) locally; rooms often have few sockets.
5. Replace Indian plugs with German cables where possible (many laptop chargers have a detachable cable).

Student room starter kit Germany

A student room starter kit Germany list, by priority:

Winter matters: if you arrive for the October semester, buy a warm duvet, not a summer one. Heating costs depend on your contract (Nebenkosten explained).

Tools: rent, do not buy

DIY stores (Baumärkte) such as OBI rent tools, ladders, and cleaning machines by the hour. Check your nearest store's rental page; services differ by chain. OBI's rental listed a carpet cleaner from €13.60 per 4 hours on 4 October 2026 (OBI rental). Ask your landlord before drilling into walls; you may have to fill holes when you move out.

Common mistakes

• Buying a full furniture set before checking what the room includes
• Paying a large Abstand for old furniture without negotiating
• Ordering kerbside delivery for a fourth-floor room without help to carry it
• Not scanning the IKEA Family card, then losing transport protection
• Using 110 V-only appliances without a converter
• Buying a summer duvet for a German winter

Official sources

• IKEA Family Germany
• IKEA delivery prices
• IKEA second hand
• Kleinanzeigen safety advice

Related: Where to buy what · WG viewing and contract · Consumer rights · Student accommodation · What to pack