Furniture and Appliances Guide

Overview

One of the biggest surprises for Filipinos moving to Germany: most apartments come completely empty. No kitchen, no lights, sometimes not even curtains. You will need to furnish and equip your apartment from scratch. The good news is Berlin has an amazing second-hand culture that can save you thousands of euros.

What German Apartments Usually DON'T Include

• Kitchen — Yes, really. Most unfurnished apartments have NO kitchen at all. No cabinets, no countertop, no sink, no stove. You either buy/bring one or negotiate with the previous tenant to buy theirs (Ablöse).
• Light fixtures — Often just bare wires hanging from the ceiling
• Curtains/blinds — Usually not included

What IS typically included: Bathroom fixtures (toilet, sink, bathtub/shower), heating radiators, sometimes flooring.

Second-Hand Platforms (Best Value)

Second-Hand Stores in Berlin

• BSR NochMall (formerly Stilbruch) — Berlin's waste management company runs a second-hand store. Furniture, appliances, household items at very low prices. Havensteinstraße 40, Reinickendorf.
• Humana (multiple locations) — Primarily clothing but some locations have furniture and household items
• Oxfam — Charity shops with household items and kitchenware
• Sozialkaufhaus — Social department stores with discounted used furniture. Several locations (e.g., Möbel in Neukölln).
• IKEA Fundgrube — The "As-Is" section at IKEA stores sells returned and display items at 50-70% off

Sperrmüll: Free Furniture on the Street

Berlin has a culture of leaving unwanted furniture on the street for others to take. This is called Sperrmüll (bulky waste). You will regularly see:

• Shelves, tables, chairs on sidewalks
• Sometimes perfectly good sofas and bed frames
• Often with a "Zu verschenken" (for free) sign

Tips:

• Best finds are on the 1st and 15th of the month (when people move)
• Check for bedbugs (Bettwanzen) before taking upholstered furniture — this is a real risk in Berlin
• Solid wood furniture is safe to take; mattresses are NOT recommended

Budget New Furniture

Kitchen: Your Biggest Expense

A new fitted kitchen (Einbauküche) costs €2,000-8,000+. Ways to save:

• Buy from the previous tenant (Ablöse) — If the apartment has a kitchen, negotiate with the person moving out. Common practice, saves both parties money. Typical: €500-2,000.
• IKEA METOD kitchens — Most affordable new option (~€1,500-3,000 with appliances). Can assemble yourself or hire someone via TaskRabbit (~€200-400).
• POCO/Roller ready-made kitchens — Küchenzeile (kitchenette) from €300-800, basic but functional
• Kleinanzeigen — Search "Küche" + your Bezirk (district). People often sell entire kitchens for €200-800 before moving out.

Appliances

Must-Buy Appliances

• Washing machine (Waschmaschine) — €250-600 new. Look for A-rated energy efficiency. Used from €50-150 on Kleinanzeigen.
• Refrigerator (Kühlschrank) — €200-500 new. Often included if you buy an existing kitchen.
• Stove/Oven (Herd) — €200-500 new. Usually part of the kitchen.

Where to Buy Appliances

• MediaMarkt / Saturn — Largest electronics retailers. Watch for sales.
• AO.de — Online appliance specialist, good prices, free delivery and old appliance removal
• Kleinanzeigen — Used appliances. Always test before buying.
• Refurbished — Check Back Market for refurbished electronics at 20-40% off

Flea Markets for Home Goods

• Mauerpark (Sundays 10-18h) — Vintage, kitchenware, decorative items. Fun to browse but prices can be inflated for tourists.
• Boxhagener Platz (Sundays 10-18h) — Books, furniture, design items. More local, better prices than Mauerpark.
• Nowkoelln Flowmarkt (Maybachufer) — Curated, hipster-friendly. Good for unique home decor.
• Berliner Trödelmarkt (Straße des 17. Juni, Saturdays & Sundays) — Large, touristy but has good antique furniture finds.

Typical Costs: Furnishing from Scratch

Pro tip: Join the Filipino in Berlin Facebook group and post what you need. Outgoing expats often sell everything at once for great prices when leaving Germany.