Furnish This

Report shows just how much San Antonians spend to furnish their apartments

The average cost for a piece of furniture in Austin is $127.

Making a new living space feel like a home is no small feat, especially if you have to start from scratch. While it’s important to make your home comfortable and uniquely you, it can also take a toll on your wallet.

OfferUp, an online marketplace of local buyers and sellers that helps users find furniture for sale in their area, analyzed data from its app to find out how expensive it is to furnish an apartment in 118 U.S. cities.

As luck would have it, San Antonio is one of the least expensive markets in Texas. San Antonians spend an average of $128 on individual furniture pieces and only $775 to furnish an apartment, which is cheaper than Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin.

Houston leads the pack as the third most expensive city in the nation (No. 1 in Texas) to furnish an apartment, with a median apartment furnishing cost of $925 and an average item price of $164. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks as the 12th most expensive in the country. The median furnishing cost is $819 for an entire apartment; an individual item costs $133 on average. The average item price in Austin is a dollar cheaper than San Antonio, but the median furnishing cost is $815.

What are we spending all that money on exactly? Practical items like dressers and sofas are the most popular, followed by desks, tables, beds, and TV stands.

It sounds like the next time you’re in the market for outfitting your new place, you'll need to set aside almost $1,000 (and let us know how you do it for cheaper). In the meantime, check out our favorite places to shop for furniture in Alamo City.

---

Want more great stories like these delivered to your inbox daily? Then sign up for our emails.

apps shopping reports

Supervised DIY

San Antonio brings its to-do lists for expert advice at the Fall Home + Garden Show

Photo by Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash

DIYers can ask for advice on native trees, get inspired, adopt pets, and teach kids to build cool things.

San Antonians have a lot to be proud of in their homes. We know they'll shell out thousands of dollars each year to keep up curb appeal, and the city is poised to attract lots of Gen Z residents who will at least become renters, if not buyers quite yet. But home maintenance can be overwhelming, even for longtime homeowners.

Inspiration and important tips can be found at the 35th annual San Antonio Fall Home + Garden Show. The expo just announced that it will set up its goods and service booths at the Alamodome from October 6-8, 2023.

With "hundreds of industry professionals under one roof," according to a news release, the show will offer a lot more than a chance to browse the more than 200 booths. Vendors are happy to give advice and inspiration (hey, maybe bring in that broken something-or-other you've been holding onto for months), and some have even prepared how-to presentations.

This isn't just something for landscape-obsessed dads. (Although...we'll see you there. Can't wait to talk about the best hoses.) Every member of the family can have a hand in keeping the home running smoothly, and kids are invited to learn about how to be more responsible and creative in workshops.

The release picks out 12 highlights, but here are the six CultureMap is most interested in:

Celebrity appearance by April Wilkerson: A home-improvement expert on YouTube, Wilkerson can often be spotted in her workshop forming DIYs with wood and metal. She has appeared on History Channel’s More Power, testing power tools. Wilkerson speaks on Friday, October 6, at 4 pm and Saturday, October 7, at 1 pm.
Celebrity appearance by Patric Richardson, The Laundry Evangelist: Believe it or not, people couldn't wait to go to Laundry Camp — so much that it created book and TV spinoffs. Richardson is teaching people to take better care of everything that goes in the laundry. He speaks on Friday, October 6, at 3 pm and Saturday, October 7, at noon and 2 pm.
Barbie-Inspired Dream Rooms: Barbie inspired tons of people at the movies this year, and her dream house will remain a lasting cultural touchstone for generations to come. Anyone who is ready to think pink can explore four "Barbie-themed dream rooms" by professional designers, to gather inspiration for what can be done in the real world.
Ask an Expert Arborist: Local arborists will be answering questions about "all tree-related matters." Hiring an arborist is a good idea, but not cheap, so these tree experts can help make sure you've checked all your boxes first. Consider asking what to plant, and where; whether your trees look healthy or need more attention; and if it's really time to take an old tree down.
Home Depot Children’s Workshop: Kids have too much creative energy to let it go to waste around the house. But before popping on a YouTube video and hand them a hammer, consider getting guidance from the Home Depot. The workshop will teach kids "how to build and make something real by themselves."
Runway Pet Show: Adoptable pets will hit the runway to inspire pet parents and find new homes. These runway models come from God's Dogs Rescue and San Antonio Pets Alive; Both rescue organizations will benefit from the silent dog house auction.

There will be plenty of snacks from San Antonio food vendors including Aloha Kitchen, Carina's Tacos, Casey's Cottage, Gigi's Cupcakes, Sofia's Pizzeria and The Original Taste of the Caribbean.

Tickets ($8 until October 5, $10 later) are available at sanantoniofallhomeshow.com. Children under 16 enter free, and special days are set for free entry for active military personnel, veterans, fire, police, first responders, and teachers.

diy interior design home design nature gardening