Unfurnished in Spain does not mean the same thing it means in London or Amsterdam. It often means no wardrobes, no light fittings, sometimes no fridge or washing machine. Guides warn that an unfurnished property may come without carpets or basic electrical appliances, and that getting it liveable can cost more than people budget for.
The mistake is not underspending. It is buying in the wrong order, so the first week is spent on a rug while you are still sleeping on an unmade mattress. This is the order we would buy in, and roughly what each step costs.
1. Sleep, before anything else
You will make every other decision better after a proper night. A fitted sheet, a duvet cover and two pillowcases is the whole requirement. The Duvet Cover Basic Percale is 35.99 euros and the Fitted Sheet Basic White is 17.99. Percale is a tight flat weave. Most Spanish flats have no tumble dryer, and percale comes off the line without needing much attention.
Buy two fitted sheets, not one. With no dryer, a wash cycle takes a day.
2. Towels, in two sizes
Two bath towels and two hand towels per person. The Towel Hotel Luxury is 800 g/m² cotton at 23.10 euros. Heavier towels take longer to dry on a rack, which is the real trade-off in a flat with no dryer, so buy fewer and better rather than a large thin set.
3. Something to eat off
Four plates, four bowls, four glasses, cutlery for four. Not eight. You will refine the set once you know how you actually live in the flat, and cupboard space in a Spanish kitchen is usually tighter than you expect. The Rivet Flatware Set of 10 covers cutlery at 39.05 euros. Plates and bowls are covered properly in our guide to building a dinner set piece by piece.
4. One cutting board and one knife
The Cutting Board With Handle is acacia wood and costs under 20 euros. A board and a decent knife covers most cooking for the first month. Resist the pan set.
5. A rug, because of the floor
Spanish flats are tiled or terrazzo throughout, and an empty tiled room echoes. A rug is the fastest fix for the sound as much as the look. The Bamboo Round Rug at 48.38 euros is a hard-wearing starting point that suits a rented floor you did not choose.
What can wait until month two
- Curtains. Most Spanish flats have shutters. You will survive August without curtains. You will not survive it without shutters, and those are already there.
- Decorative objects. Buy them once you know where the light falls.
- A second set of everything. Live with four of each first.
- Anything requiring drilling. Check your contract first. We cover the alternatives in no-drill bathroom fittings for renters.
A note on deposits
The law requires one month's rent as a deposit on an unfurnished rental, and landlords often ask for additional guarantees if you have no credit history in Spain. That is money out before you have bought a single plate, so build it into the plan rather than discovering it in week one.
Everything above ships from within Europe, dispatched within 3 business days and fully tracked, with 30 days to return anything that turns out to be wrong for the flat.
