From Catalog Dreams to Clicks—My Otto Journey 📖
Hey, it’s Alex! If you’ve followed my expat life (remember my Hemden.de wardrobe upgrade?), here’s my latest chapter: furnishing my first German apartment.
Spoiler alert
Otto.de became my MVP.
But here’s the twist—I’d heard of Otto long before I moved to Germany.
As a kid, I remember flipping through Otto catalogs at my grandma’s house. Thick, glossy pages with everything from sofas to sneakers. It was like Amazon in print—only cozier. So, when I moved to Berlin and needed furniture, I thought: Wait… is Otto still a thing?
A quick Google search led me to Otto.de. And wow—they’d gone fully digital but still had that old-school German reliability. Affordable furniture, fast delivery, and zero Amazon chaos. So, I took the plunge. Here’s how it went.
German Apartments 101: Here’s What’s Missing (Almost Everything)
Renting in Germany is its own adventure. Here’s what shocked me about my new place:
❌ No kitchen cabinets or appliances: Welcome to Germany’s BYO-Kitchen culture.
❌ No ceiling lights (just wires): Yep, you’ll need to install every lamp yourself.
❌ No closets: Germans prefer wardrobes. Get ready to meet IKEA’s PAX (or Otto’s Rauch).
✅ But hey, parquet floors and big windows! Silver linings.
The Real Cost of Furnishing a German Apartment
I hit up Reddit expat threads to get a budget reality check:
| Item | Price Range (€) | Redditor Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets + appliances | €1,500–€4,000 | Most Germans bring their kitchen when they move |
| Bed + Mattress | €500–€1,200 | Germans love big 160×200 beds |
| Wardrobe (because no closets) | €250–€800 | PAX is standard, but check Otto’s Rauch |
| Sofa or Couch Bed | €300–€700 | Get a sofa bed if you’ll host friends |
| Dining Table & Chairs | €150–€500 | Germans take their Esstisch seriously |
| Washing Machine | €350–€700 | Landlords rarely include washers |
“First shock after moving to Germany: no kitchen, no closets, no lights. Lived with a camping stove and floor lamps for 2 months.”
Reddit Thread
My Budget Plan: Essentials First, Otto Always
I set strict rules to avoid going broke:
1️⃣ Essentials only: Focused on bedroom, storage, and kitchen basics. Decor could wait.
2️⃣ Otto First: Compared Otto with Amazon and IKEA for every item. Otto won—on both price and delivery.
My Otto Haul: Essentials, Prices. Here’s exactly what I bought from Otto, with real prices and why Otto won over Amazon and IKEA.
| Item | Otto Price (€) | Why Otto Won |
|---|---|---|
| Bed frame + mattress (Arte M) | €349 | Combo deal, €70 less than IKEA |
| Wardrobe (rauch BLUE) | €279 | More storage than IKEA PAX and €66 cheaper |
| Dining table + 2 chairs (HOMCOM) | €99 | Compact and perfect for small kitchens |
| Ceiling lamps (2-pack) | €39 | Stylish and half Amazon’s price |
| Vacuum cleaner (AEG) | €69 | €16 less than Amazon, free Otto UP delivery |
| Shower curtain & bath mat | €24 | Otto’s home section is surprisingly good |
Total Spent on Otto: €859 (with Otto UP free delivery). That’s about €150–200 less than if I’d gone with Amazon or IKEA. Plus—everything arrived together.
🆚 Otto vs Amazon vs IKEA: The Real-Life Comparison
| Item | Otto (€) | Amazon (€) | IKEA (€) |
| Bed + Mattress (Arte M) | €349 | €419 | €459 |
| Wardrobe (rauch BLUE) | €279 | €299 | €345 (PAX) |
| Table + Chairs | €99 | €119 | €125 |
| Vacuum (AEG) | €69 | €85 | Not listed |
| Lamps (2-pack) | €39 | €45 | €49 |
🏆 Winner: Otto—Cheaper overall, plus everything arrived together (unlike Amazon’s five separate packages).
Otto Delivery Experience vs. Amazon & IKEA
✅ Otto: Free with Otto UP (€9.90/year). Single-day delivery with everything together.
✅ IKEA: €39 flat delivery fee, 2 weeks for furniture.
❌ Amazon: Multiple packages, different sellers, and random arrival times.
“Otto UP is a must. Free delivery and priority saved me €50+ easily.”
Reddit Thread
Otto Furniture Styles: Find Your Vibe (with Instagram Inspo!)
Looking for inspiration? Check these styles on Otto and see how others rock them on Instagram!
1. Scandi Minimalism: Clean Lines, Cozy Vibes
Simple, bright, and practical—Scandi style rules in Berlin apartments. Expect light woods, neutral colors, and soft textiles. Best Otto Brands: andas (Scandi decor) and rauch BLUE (minimalist wardrobes).
💬 Reddit Insight:
“Otto’s Rauch wardrobes are perfect for a Scandi look—clean, practical, and cheaper than IKEA.”
Reddit Thread
📸 Get Inspired on Instagram:
2. Industrial Loft: Metal, Wood, and Cool Vibes
Think raw materials—black steel shelves, concrete tables, and leather sofas. Perfect for Berlin lofts. Best Otto Brands: Home Affaire (vintage-industrial pieces) and Arte M (dark wood furniture).
💬 Reddit Insight:
“I found a black steel coffee table on Otto for €50 less than Westwing!”
Reddit Thread
📸 Get Inspired on Instagram:
3. Country Cottage: Cozy, Warm, and Rustic
Wooden furniture, soft fabrics, and warm colors for a hygge-inspired space. Best Otto Brands: Home Affaire (rustic decor) and andas (soft textiles).
💬 Reddit Insight:
“Otto’s Home Affaire armchairs are perfect for cozy reading corners.”
Reddit Thread
📸 Get Inspired on Instagram:
4. Modern Glam: Gold Accents and Velvet Sofas
Go bold with deep colors, gold fixtures, and plush fabrics. Best Otto Brands: Guido Maria Kretschmer Home (yes, the designer!) and Arte M (modern sofas).
💬 Reddit Insight:
“Otto’s velvet sofa sets are stunning and €200 less than Westwing’s.”
Reddit Thread
📸 Get Inspired on Instagram:
Otto Payment Options: Flexible for Expats
Another Otto win? German-friendly payment options:
💸 Kauf auf Rechnung (Buy Now, Pay Later): Pay after delivery—standard in Germany.
💳 Ratenzahlung (Installments): Spread payments over months—super helpful for large buys.
💰 Otto UP Membership: €9.90/year for free delivery (saved me €50+ in shipping fees).
💬 Reddit Insight:
“Otto’s Ratenzahlung saved me when I had to buy my kitchen upfront.”
Reddit Thread
Why Otto > Amazon for Sustainability
Otto doesn’t just beat Amazon on price—they’re also way greener:
🌿 Carbon-Neutral Deliveries: Otto offsets CO₂ for every package.
♻️ Recyclable Packaging: 95% of Otto’s packaging is recyclable.
🌍 Sustainable Brands Filter: Otto highlights eco-friendly brands and materials.
🏡 Secondhand Marketplace: Buy and sell used Otto products via Otto.de.
💬 Reddit Insight:
“Otto’s sustainability feels real. Amazon just talks about it.”
Reddit Thread
A Quick Otto History (Because It’s More Than Just a Store)
If you’re new to Germany, here’s why Otto is everywhere:
📜 Founded: 1949 in Hamburg (as a mail-order company!)
📖 The Famous Catalog: Printed for 70 years until 2019. Germans grew up with it.
🌐 From Catalog to Clicks: Now Germany’s largest online retailer—bigger than Amazon in furniture.
👗 Owns About You: Yep, that trendy fashion platform is Otto’s “cool kid” brand.
🌱 Eco-Goal: Full climate neutrality by 2030.
Final Verdict: Otto Wins for Expats and Homebodies Alike
📌 Key Takeaways:
✅ Best Value: Otto saved me ~€150 vs. Amazon & IKEA.
✅ Convenient Delivery: Everything arrived together. No Amazon chaos.
✅ Flexible Payments: Buy now, pay later or monthly installments.
✅ Eco-Conscious: Carbon-neutral delivery and sustainable product lines.
✅ Otto UP: €9.90/year saved me €50+ in shipping.
Would I recommend Otto? Absolutely. And now that my apartment is done… I’m off to About You for some fashion upgrades.
💬 Have You Tried Otto? Let’s Chat!
Ever furnished your apartment with Otto? What’s your favorite style—Scandi, Industrial, or something else? Drop a comment below or send us an email—We’d love to hear your experience!
📩 Got a request for my next review? Email me at: [email protected]
