New apartment in Dubai? A furnishing checklist before moving in

Receiving the keys is the point where a floor plan becomes a real home. It is also when small practical details become visible: a door opens differently from the drawing, the bedroom needs an opaque curtain layer, or a sofa must negotiate a tight service-lift entrance. A furnishing checklist helps keep these decisions in the right order.

For a new apartment in Dubai, start by confirming what is already installed and ready to use. Then develop the furniture layout, window treatments and delivery sequence together. The goal is to arrive at a home where the essential rooms work from the first night.

Confirm the condition of the apartment

Keep the handover and any outstanding snagging items separate from the furnishing schedule. Record defects and confirm who will return to address them before furniture obscures access. Check which appliances, wardrobes, lights and accessories are included in the property; apartments vary.

Walk through the intended use of each room. Locate sockets, switches, air-conditioning controls and maintenance panels. Check what the curtains must clear and whether bedroom lighting will support reading. This is a practical furnishing review, rather than a substitute for a property inspection.

Take measurements on site

Confirm finished wall lengths and heights, door swings, window dimensions and the positions of fixed fittings. Include the balcony opening and any columns. IKEA's measurement guide emphasises documenting obstacles that affect furniture placement. See the room measurement guide.

Produce one furniture plan and use it for all selections. Include the space needed to open wardrobes, pull out chairs and walk around the bed. Keep a list of existing pieces with their dimensions so they can be incorporated deliberately.

Set out the essentials room by room

• Bedroom: bed and compatible mattress, bedding, bedside surfaces, reading lights, clothing storage and appropriate privacy or blackout treatment.
• Living room: seating, useful tables, lighting, media arrangements where needed and storage for everyday items.
• Dining area: table and chairs sized to the plan, with circulation checked when people are seated.
• Entrance: a place for keys and bags, shoe storage where required and a clear route into the apartment.
• Kitchen and bathrooms: confirm supplied fittings and appliances, then add the tableware, linen and daily-use items the household needs.
• Work area: a suitable chair and surface, task lighting, power and a place to put work materials away.

Use the checklist to identify omissions. It does not mean every room needs every accessory immediately. Artwork, occasional seating and decorative objects can follow once the main furniture is installed and the proportions are visible.

Coordinate curtains and lighting early

Window treatments require decisions about measurement, operation, fabric, lining and fixing. Look at direct sun, views into the apartment and the room's use. A sheer daytime layer and an opaque bedroom layer serve different purposes; confirm how the proposed arrangement will behave.

The Department of Energy identifies privacy and glare control among the common functions of window coverings. Read the window-covering research. Check samples in the room and coordinate the track location with ceiling details and any nearby services.

Place lamps with their power supply in mind. Avoid relying on extension leads across circulation routes. Where fixed electrical changes are proposed, have the appropriate professionals confirm the scope and building requirements before installation.

Agree the delivery sequence with the building

Ask building management about service-lift bookings, permitted delivery times, access documents and protection of common areas. These arrangements are specific to the building. For example, Emaar Community Management's published Downtown rules direct residents to follow management instructions for furniture deliveries and use designated service lifts. Read the Downtown community rules.

Check packed furniture dimensions against the lift, corridors and doorway. Schedule dusty or intrusive work before rugs and upholstery arrive where practical. Leave enough room for the installers to assemble larger pieces, and agree who will remove packaging.

Check installation before the first night

Inspect furniture for damage, test drawers and doors, and check curtains through their full travel. Follow the product instructions for assembly and wall anchoring. IKEA's safety guidance specifies securing chests and dressers with suitable restraints and fixings for the wall type. Read the wall-anchoring guidance.

Keep care instructions and product information together. Finally, walk the apartment with the furniture in place: reach the switches, open the wardrobes, sit at the dining table and check the bedside light. These everyday tests are the most useful final review of a furnished home.