Furnishing a Danish Apartment: What Expats Actually Need

You signed the lease, got the keys, and walked into your new Danish apartment expecting... something. Instead you found bare walls, bare ceilings, and in some cases, bare wires where light fixtures should be. Welcome to "unfurnished" in Denmark. It does not mean what you think it means.

In most countries, an unfurnished rental still comes with light fittings, curtain rods, and kitchen appliances. In Denmark, "unfurnished" often means stripped to the absolute minimum. Your apartment may have no ceiling lamps (just dangling wires with a hook), no curtain rails, no oven, and sometimes no refrigerator. The bathroom mirror might be there. The toilet is bolted down. Beyond that, assume nothing.

This guide walks through every room, gives you real DKK price ranges, tells you where to buy, and helps you prioritize when your budget is tight and your apartment is empty.

Priority Order When Your Budget Is Limited

Before buying anything, sort your needs by urgency. You do not need a sofa on day one. You absolutely need a way to sleep and a way to see in the dark.

Week 1 (non-negotiable):

• Mattress or bed (you can skip the bed frame temporarily, but you need something to sleep on)
• Ceiling lamps or at least plug-in floor lamps for every room (Denmark gets dark by 3:30 PM in winter)
• Curtains or blackout blinds for the bedroom (Danish summer has sunlight until 10 PM)
• Basic kitchen items: kettle, a pot, a pan, plates, cutlery
• Cleaning supplies (the previous tenant cleaned, but your standards may differ)

Month 1 (important but survivable without):

• Sofa or seating for the living room
• Dining table and chairs
• Bathroom accessories (shower curtain, towel hooks, bath mat)
• Kitchen appliances if missing (oven, refrigerator — check your lease first)

Month 2+ (comfort and aesthetics):

• Bookshelves, storage solutions
• Decorative lighting, additional lamps
• Rugs, art, plants
• Any "Danish design" pieces you have been eyeing

This priority order matters because your first month in Denmark is already expensive. You are paying a deposit (typically three months' rent), possibly the first month's rent upfront, and setting up utilities. Spreading furniture purchases across two to three months keeps you from burning through your savings in week one.

Bedroom

Bed and Mattress

A bed frame plus mattress is your single biggest purchase. Danish standard bed sizes differ slightly from what you might be used to:

• Single: 90 x 200 cm
• Double: 140 x 200 cm or 160 x 200 cm (common couple size)
• King equivalent: 180 x 200 cm (less common in smaller apartments)

Where to buy and approximate costs:

Buy your mattress new. A second-hand bed frame is perfectly fine and often comes from people leaving Denmark who need to sell fast. But mattresses absorb years of sweat and dust mites. Spend DKK 1,500-3,000 on a decent new one from IKEA or JYSK and your back will thank you.

What to skip: Expensive headboards, matching nightstands (use a chair or a box for the first month), and bed sets marketed as "complete sleep systems." A solid frame and a good mattress are all you need.

Bedding

Danish duvets use a different size system than many countries. Standard single duvet is 140 x 200 cm. You will not find fitted sheets for non-standard mattress sizes easily, so measure before buying. Budget DKK 300-800 for a duvet, pillow, and basic sheet set from IKEA or JYSK.

One detail that surprises many expats: Danish couples often sleep with two separate single duvets on a double bed rather than one large shared duvet. This is not a sign of relationship trouble. It is standard practice, and honestly, once you try it, you may never go back to fighting over covers.

Blackout Solutions

If you arrive in summer, you will discover that Danish daylight lasts until nearly 10 PM in June. Without blackout curtains or blinds, your bedroom will be bright enough to read in at bedtime. IKEA sells basic blackout roller blinds from DKK 150-400 depending on window width. Measure your windows before you go. Danish windows vary wildly in size, especially in older buildings, and off-the-shelf blinds do not always fit.

For a temporary fix on day one, tape black bin bags over the windows. It looks terrible. It works perfectly. Replace with proper curtains once you have had time to measure and shop.

Kitchen

What Is Usually Included

Check your lease carefully. Danish kitchen inclusions vary enormously:

• Almost always included: Kitchen cabinets, countertop, sink, and water connection
• Sometimes included: Oven, hob (stovetop), refrigerator, dishwasher
• Rarely included: Microwave, toaster, kettle, any small appliances
• Never included: Pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, utensils

Some older Copenhagen apartments come with no oven and no refrigerator. The lease might say "koger" (hob) is included but "ovn" (oven) is not. Read the inventory list attached to your lease — it exists for exactly this reason.

Costs If Appliances Are Missing

If your apartment has no refrigerator or oven, you have two options: buy new or buy second-hand.

For new budget appliances, Elgiganten and Power are the two main electronics retailers. Both run frequent sales. IKEA also sells a limited appliance range at competitive prices.

For second-hand, DBA.dk is your best source. Many expats leaving Denmark sell nearly-new appliances for 30-50% of retail. The catch: you need to arrange transport. Most sellers will not deliver. Renting a van from GoMore or hiring a "flytning" (moving) service for a few hundred DKK solves this.

Kitchen Starter Kit

For cooking basics, expect to spend DKK 500-1,200 at IKEA on a starter kit: two pots, a frying pan, a set of plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery for four, a chopping board, a knife, and basic utensils. The IKEA 365+ range is surprisingly durable for the price. Flying Tiger (a Danish chain) is even cheaper for basics, though the quality reflects the price.

Do not overlook a good kettle. Danes drink enormous quantities of coffee and tea. A basic electric kettle costs DKK 100-250 and you will use it multiple times a day.

Living Room

Sofa

A sofa is the most overpriced item you will buy if you are not strategic about it. New sofas in Denmark start around DKK 3,000 for a basic two-seater at IKEA and climb rapidly to DKK 10,000-25,000 at Danish furniture stores.

The second-hand market is where you save the most money. Danish design culture means people cycle through furniture more often than you might expect, and sofas in excellent condition regularly appear on DBA.dk and Facebook Marketplace for DKK 500-3,000. Search for "sofa" on DBA.dk, filter by your city, and sort by newest. Good sofas move fast — check daily.

Facebook groups to join:

• "Expats in Copenhagen — Buy/Sell/Give Away"
• "Internationals in Aarhus — Marketplace"
• "Free Your Stuff Copenhagen" (free items only)
• Your local "Genbrug" (reuse) groups

These groups are especially active in June-August when international students and expats leave Denmark. You can furnish an entire living room for under DKK 2,000 if your timing is right.

Danish Design Culture

Denmark is famous for mid-century modern furniture: Arne Jacobsen chairs, Hans Wegner pieces, Hay and Muuto accessories. You will see beautiful design everywhere — in shops, in Danish colleagues' homes, in cafes. It is tempting to feel like you need to match that aesthetic immediately.

You do not. Most Danes build their interiors over years, not weeks. A mix of IKEA basics, second-hand finds, and one or two quality pieces you genuinely love is perfectly normal. Nobody will judge you for not having a DKK 15,000 sofa in your first apartment. Focus on comfort and function first. Add character over time.

What You Actually Need in the Living Room

• Sofa or comfortable seating (DKK 500-5,000 depending on source)
• Coffee table (DKK 200-1,500; a great second-hand find category)
• Storage: a bookshelf or media unit (IKEA KALLAX at DKK 400-700 is a expat-apartment staple)
• A rug if you have wooden floors (which most Danish apartments do) — it reduces noise for downstairs neighbors and keeps your feet warm. Budget DKK 300-1,500.

Lighting

This section is the most important one in this entire guide. If you read nothing else, read this.

Why Lighting Matters More in Denmark Than Anywhere Else

Denmark sits between 54 and 57 degrees north latitude. In December, the sun rises around 8:45 AM and sets by 3:30 PM. That gives you roughly seven hours of daylight, and much of it is grey and overcast. From November through February, you will spend most of your waking hours in artificial light.

Bad lighting in a Danish apartment does not just look ugly. It affects your mood, your energy, and your sleep. The Danes know this instinctively, which is why "hygge" — that untranslatable concept of cozy warmth — is built almost entirely around lighting. Walk past any Danish home at night and you will see warm, layered light glowing from every window. No harsh overheads. No bare bulbs. Multiple soft light sources creating pools of warmth.

This is not a decorative choice. It is a survival strategy for the Nordic winter.

The Bare Wire Problem

Your apartment likely has ceiling hooks with exposed wires in every room. A bare bulb screwed into a cheap socket dangling from the ceiling is the default state of a Danish rental. Some expats live like this for months. It is a mistake. That single, harsh, overhead light source creates flat, shadowless illumination that makes every room feel clinical and cold — the exact opposite of what you need when it is dark outside for 17 hours.

How to Layer Your Lighting

The Danish approach uses three layers:

1. Ambient light: One or two pendant lamps (hanging from those ceiling hooks) with warm-white bulbs (2700K). These replace the bare wire and provide general illumination. Budget DKK 200-800 per lamp.

2. Task light: A desk lamp for work, a reading lamp by the sofa, an under-cabinet light in the kitchen. These provide focused light where you need it. Budget DKK 150-500 each.

3. Accent/mood light: Candles (Danes burn more candles per capita than any other nation), string lights, small table lamps on shelves or windowsills. These create the hygge warmth that makes the difference between an apartment and a home. Budget DKK 100-400 for a few small sources.

For a one-bedroom apartment, you need at minimum:

• 2-3 pendant lamps (living room, bedroom, kitchen/dining area)
• 1-2 floor or table lamps
• 1 desk lamp if you work from home
• Candles. Lots of candles.

Where to Buy Lighting

IKEA covers the basics well. Their pendant lamps start at DKK 50 and go up to DKK 500. The PS and SINNERLIG ranges offer more interesting designs at reasonable prices.

For a wider selection that bridges the gap between IKEA basics and high-end Danish design shops, Tildithjem.dk carries a strong range of home lighting, kitchen accessories, and Nordic-style decor. Their pendant lamp and table lamp selections are particularly useful when you want something with more character than a standard IKEA fixture but are not ready to spend DKK 3,000+ at a designer boutique. For layered lighting across multiple rooms, the mid-range price points at Tildithjem.dk often make more sense than buying five cheap lamps that you will want to replace within a year.

At the higher end, Danish lighting brands like Louis Poulsen and Le Klint are genuinely beautiful but start at DKK 2,000-5,000 per lamp. Consider these as long-term investments once you are settled, not first-month purchases.

Bulb Temperature Matters

Buy warm-white bulbs at 2700K. This is non-negotiable. Cool-white or daylight bulbs (4000K+) make Danish apartments feel sterile and institutional. Every Danish interior uses warm light. When you buy bulbs at the supermarket or IKEA, check the Kelvin rating on the box. 2700K. Always.

Budget DKK 15-40 per LED bulb. You will need 8-15 bulbs for a one-bedroom apartment depending on how many fixtures you set up.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are the one room that usually comes closest to "ready." Most Danish rentals include:

• Toilet
• Sink (sometimes with a mirror and cabinet, sometimes just the sink)
• Shower or bathtub with tiling and drain
• Towel radiator (heated towel rack — a luxury that quickly becomes a necessity)

What You Need to Buy

• Shower curtain and rod: Most bathrooms have a curtain rod already, but no curtain. Budget DKK 100-300 at IKEA or Flying Tiger. If there is no rod, a tension rod costs DKK 50-150 and requires no drilling.
• Bath mat: DKK 80-200. Danish bathroom floors are often tile. Cold, wet tile in winter. Get a mat.
• Towels: Bring your own or budget DKK 200-500 for a basic set from IKEA or Salling (department store).
• Toilet brush and bin: DKK 50-150 total. Sometimes left by the previous tenant, but do not count on it.
• Mirror: If the bathroom has none above the sink, a basic wall mirror costs DKK 100-400. IKEA or Flying Tiger for budget options.
• Bathroom cabinet or shelf: Many Danish bathrooms have minimal storage. A small cabinet or shelf unit helps. DKK 200-600.

Total bathroom setup: DKK 500-1,500 depending on what is already there.

What to Buy New vs. Second-Hand vs. Ship

Making the right call on new versus used saves you thousands of DKK. Here is a straightforward breakdown.

Always Buy New

• Mattress: Hygiene. No exceptions.
• Pillows and duvets: Same reason.
• Toilet brush: Obviously.
• Light bulbs: They are DKK 15-40 each. Do not overthink this.
• Cleaning supplies: Your starting inventory.

Excellent Second-Hand

• Bed frame: Structural, easy to clean, and people sell them constantly when leaving Denmark. DBA.dk and Facebook Marketplace.
• Sofa: Test it in person. If it is clean and comfortable, the savings are enormous. DKK 500-2,000 instead of DKK 5,000-15,000.
• Dining table and chairs: Wood tables especially hold up well. DKK 300-1,500 for a set.
• Bookshelves, storage units: IKEA KALLAX and BILLY shelves appear on DBA.dk daily for DKK 100-300.
• Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, washing machine): Major savings if buying from someone who can prove the appliance works. Ask when they bought it and check for obvious damage. DKK 500-2,500 versus DKK 3,000-7,000 new.
• Desk: If you work from home. DKK 200-800 used.

Not Worth Shipping From Your Home Country

• Large furniture: Shipping a sofa or bed internationally costs more than buying new in Denmark. The math never works out.
• Electronics with different plugs: Denmark uses Type K outlets (the round two-pin with a ground). If you are coming from outside the EU, your electronics need adapters or replacement. Kitchen appliances are usually not worth shipping.
• Anything IKEA: IKEA exists in Denmark. The products are the same. The prices are similar. Do not pay to ship a BILLY bookshelf across borders.

Worth Shipping or Bringing in a Suitcase

• Sentimental items, photos, art: These make an apartment feel like home and weigh very little.
• Quality kitchen knives: Good knives are expensive everywhere. If you already own them, bring them.
• Bedding and towels: If you have them and have suitcase space, they save you DKK 500-1,000.
• Laptop, phone, small electronics: These travel easily and Denmark uses the same voltage as most of Europe (230V).

DBA.dk Tips for Expats

DBA.dk is Denmark's equivalent of eBay's classifieds. The interface is in Danish, but Google Translate handles it well. Key tips:

• Search in Danish for better results: "sofa," "seng" (bed), "skrivebord" (desk), "kommode" (dresser), "lampe" (lamp), "koeleskab" (refrigerator)
• Filter by your city ("By") and sort by newest listings
• Prices are negotiable. Offering 10-20% below the listed price is normal and expected
• Most sellers expect you to pick up items yourself. Have a transport plan before committing
• Pay cash or MobilePay (Denmark's universal payment app — set it up early)

Total Budget Breakdown

Here is a realistic total for furnishing a one-bedroom Danish apartment, broken into three tiers.

The budget tier assumes heavy second-hand sourcing (DBA.dk, Facebook groups) and IKEA for new basics. At roughly DKK 9,000-10,000, you can have a functional, comfortable apartment. It will not be magazine-ready, but it will be a livable home.

The mid-range tier mixes new and second-hand, with better quality items where it matters (mattress, lighting, sofa). This is where most expats end up after two to three months.

The comfortable tier buys mostly new, includes quality Danish brands for lighting and key furniture, and assumes the kitchen needed appliances. This level is realistic for expats with relocation packages or higher budgets.

Note: these totals assume the kitchen has a working hob and refrigerator. If your apartment is completely bare on appliances, add DKK 5,000-15,000 to any tier for the oven, refrigerator, and potentially a washing machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the furniture with me when my lease ends?

Yes. Anything you purchased and installed yourself is yours to take. However, you must restore the apartment to its original condition. That means if you drilled holes to mount a shelf, you need to fill and paint those holes. If you installed a ceiling lamp, you can take it but must leave the wiring safely capped. Your lease will specify the exact move-out condition requirements. Keep receipts for anything you install in case of disputes.

Do Danish landlords ever provide furniture?

Furnished ("mobleret") rentals exist but are uncommon and significantly more expensive, typically 20-40% higher rent than unfurnished equivalents. They are most common in short-term housing aimed at expats (housing companies like LifeX, STAY, or Habitat). If you plan to stay longer than six months, unfurnished is almost always more economical even after buying furniture.

Is IKEA the same price in Denmark as in my home country?

IKEA prices vary by country, and Denmark is generally 10-20% more expensive than Sweden or Germany for the same items. That said, IKEA remains the most affordable new-furniture option in Denmark by a wide margin. The stores in Gentofte (Copenhagen area), Aarhus, and Odense are easily reachable by S-train or bus. IKEA delivers for DKK 149-499 depending on order size and distance, which is worth it if you do not have a car.

How soon can I get a sofa delivered if I order new?

Standard delivery from most Danish furniture retailers takes one to four weeks. IKEA delivery is usually the fastest at three to seven days for in-stock items. If you order from stores like ILVA, BoConcept, or Hay, expect two to six weeks. Second-hand from DBA.dk or Facebook is same-day or next-day pickup in most cases, which is another point in its favor.

What should I do with furniture when I leave Denmark?

Sell everything on DBA.dk and Facebook Marketplace. The cycle continues — the next wave of arriving expats will be looking for exactly what you are selling. List items two to three weeks before your move-out date. Price things 30-50% below what you paid if you want quick sales. Anything you cannot sell, post for free in "Free Your Stuff" groups. Bulky items left at the curb (storskrald) can be collected for free by your municipality — check your kommune's website for the pickup schedule. Never leave items in common building areas without permission from your landlord.