So this is it. You’ve moved out of your parents’ home, the place you shared with your roommates, or your partner’s place and you’re finally on your own. And now, you find yourself lacking in the furniture and home department. But looking at your empty space, you may wonder: What’s necessary to start with, and what can wait?

Avoid the Clutter

Don’t immediately go out and fill every space with furniture. Get the essentials and build from there. That way you don’t end up with clutter in every room of your house, and it saves you from overspending right away. It also gives you time to find pieces you love, rather than a lot of pieces you’re unsure about. By taking the time and hunting for things that fit your style, you’ll feel a lot better with a room that makes you happy later than one that makes you go “meh” right now.

On that note, quality over quantity definitely applies here. You’ll want to spend a little more on pieces that you will use more often or have for longer. Trust us, forking out a little more cash on a much nicer mattress will end up saving so much pain in the future, and it will probably last you far longer. This is true for most necessities. Investing in high-quality pieces will save you more in the long run and will make your space feel more put together.

They say you spend about a third of your life in bed, so make that third comfortable. Like we said, investing in a mattress that won’t fall apart on you in a year or so is worth the extra cost up front. You don’t want to end up tossing and turning for the next five years just because you skimped on one of the most important pieces of furniture. You’ll want to get a sturdy bed too, one that will match whatever style you’re hoping to set. You can get a basic frame and a decorative headboard in order to make a statement, or spend a little more and finally get a grown-up bed that makes you feel comfortable and trendy. Make sure it’s a style you’ll like a few years down the road, as a bed or bedroom set can last you a long time and tends to be an investment piece.

Having a cozy sofa that suits your style is the perfect way to begin designing a living room. You’ll want to create a centralized space for entertaining and a place to relax. A great sofa can fulfill both requirements and help set the theme for the rest of the room to follow. If you need even more space, get an ottoman or a pouf while you search for that perfect rocker-recliner or loveseat to match. That way, you can supplement some seating without spending way too much up front.

Instead of investing in a desk to create your workspace, make your dining table perform double duty. By getting a high-quality table that you feel comfortable at, you are providing yourself both a space for entertainment and a space to do work. And there’s something about eating on a couch that makes you feel not quite at home in your place yet. If you don’t have the space or the money for a great table, get a kitchen island. Then you can cook, work, and serve at one place while still feeling like each task has its own space.

Light It Up

If you’re moving into an apartment, one thing holds true: your lighting is likely terrible. Either too harsh, too dim, or entirely misplaced, lighting in apartments tends to be the enemy of design. Make sure you have other ways to light your space and set the ambience of your space. This is helpful for homeowners as well, as every space needs far more lighting than is typically built in and needs lighting that provides the proper tone. And whether your space be whimsical, modern, eclectic, or classic, the proper lamp or lighting fixture can provide the perfect finishing touch on the design of a room.

Design Digs

Add a little decor to your new space. Of course, you may not be able to go out and get a painting you’re in love with immediately, but make sure you put a little effort into making your new space feel homey. Make a gallery wall out of the art pieces you already have or bring life into your living room with some new plants. And while we’re on decor, there’s one design aspect you don’t want to forget. Window treatments! Seriously, you need some sort of way to cover your windows. You don’t want to move in and realize that privacy may have to wait a day because you forgot to get blinds.