to think my boyfriend is being unreasonable to expect me to pay for new furniture when I move in with him?

Do you have a big car or access to a van? Can you sell the stuff you want to change and use the money to buy second hand furniture to replace it?

This arrangement has 6months tops written all over it

Sounds to me like you really need a proper sit down to talk about finances in general. Have you talked about food, holidays, meals out etc? Talk about it and make sure you are completely happy with the conclusion - and make sure you both compromise if that is needed - don't absorb it all from him because you are excited about moving in.

The upside is if you split up you get to take that furniture with you as you paid 100% for it. Much clearer than 50:50. If you don’t it will be yours in the same way the other furniture is his.

He is happy in his house with his things, you moving in and wanting/needing bigger different stuff Is your choice and you should fund it.

he says he’s happy for me to just buy my own bed and have it next to his and that just sounds my idea of hell in a relationship

Just save yourself a whole load of hassle and bother and don't move in with him.
This relationship is going nowhere.

I would pay for bedroom and kitchen storage myself as main reason for these items to be bought is you moving in. If you break up, you take them with you.
I would insist on 50/50 on new bed or he can have his broken sleep. You are not to buy another bed next to his, if he wants he can do it and fund it 100% as it is not your choice. You are happy with smaller bed as you are. The reason for 50/50 on new bed is because you will benefit from bigger bed too. Be prepared to leave it for him in case you break up and you move out.
Sofa - I would park this discussion now. When you live together for a while, you decide together if you want another sofa and if you do, you buy it 50/50.
If you can't agree on this, then you shouldn't move in together

YANBU. You are now furnishing for a life together as 2 people. If you were moving somewhere on your own you'd only need to buy small items, but because there's 2 of you you need bigger ones, so how is it fair you buy the bigger ones on your own? He can sell his furniture and put the money towards his half of the bigger items.
I would suggest trying to live with what's already there first though, my husband and I only had a futon as a bed and a beanbag for a sofa in our first flat!

😂 Dear me.
I know this is not relevant, you obviously starting your life.... however, after being (quite happily) married for 20 years, child free, let me assure you,
LIFE IS SO MUCH EASIER, JOYFUL AND HAPPIER if you can live alone.
I have done both and cannot wait to do exactly this, whichever way.
😊

Try WHEN you split. If this is how he is now, can you imagine down the line.
Never commit to a man (or woman) who lives for his bank balance.

Yeah, I'd be getting rid of this one to be perfectly honest. Big nope.

When I read the comment about having your own bed I nearly choked on my tea! He doesn't sound very excited about you moving in tbh.
If you are still going to move in with him I'd say as a compromise you buy the new sofa and he goes 50/50 on the bed.

Ah, just thought! At uni i lived with my boyfriend, because we got on well and it made the rent very much cheaper. It wasn't a testing ground for marriage. I'd forgotten about that (and him 😁). Buy only what you can easily take with you or can store at your parents and keep the receipt which is in your name. Look at local furniture schemes for cheap second hand stuff that you'll be happy to leave if too inconvenient to move. No investment pieces! 🤣

this is easy agree or don’t but what it is causing is the start of a grabby relationship, not a partnership, mine and yours.

if you agree, say fine but know if we were to split what I’ve solely paid for is mine and will be taken with me without a discussion

if you don’t agree suck it up, pay the cheap rent, save a fuck tonne of money but no this isn’t a forever relationship

He doesn’t want a new bed.

he says he’s happy for me to just buy my own bed and have it next to his and that just sounds my idea of hell in a relationship, I don’t want separate beds!

Perhaps behave AS IF this is a temporary arrangement. Say to him that you will buy new stuff in 6 months when you have saved up to get something really nice. You'll have a better idea of how things stand after 6 months of living together. Try to stretch it out.....

Why are you moving in with such a loser is my question.

But he wants the new bed, OP doesn’t!

It’s a ridiculous way of doing it. No way would I pay half for something I don’t want only to be lumbered with it if the person who does want it moves out. Far easier and cleaner for the person who wants it to pay for it.

Keep your independence and stay put, OP.

OR

Suggest moving in but tell him you’re ok with current furniture.
If he’s keen on you, he’ll agree. If he makes excuses then you’re probably better moving on and finding someone who’s interested in you.

I’m basing it off:

• The person moving in will be paying half the rent and bills. It’s not like they are paying less. It’s not their fault the rent is cheap.
• Possession is 9/10s of the law. It’s easier if the person remaining in the property keeps the items. So the man will pay half for things that he can ultimately keep, which is a good deal

The sexes are irrelevant.

This.

He isn’t ready to share his space. Especially if he’s making a big deal about having broken sleep when sharing a bed.

Look at it from another angle. If you happen to separate at the end you can take all the stuff you bought with you! Not just invest in his flat.

You would never in a million years tell the woman whose partner was moving in, saving a fortune by doing so, and who didn't want to use some of those savings to buy the bigger bed that his moving in necessitated for her comfort, to suck it up and sleep uncomfortably to save her partner more money.

But they don’t need a new bed. It’s a double. If he wants a new bed he should pay half.

If OP wanted the new bed then I agree she should fund it.