The most important Things You Need For Your First Apartment
Things You Need For Your First Apartment
ou found an apartment, you signed the lease, you wrote the check. Congrats, you're now all ready to move into your first apartment! Except, wait a minute, you’re not. You need things to put in the apartment. And what, exactly, do you need?
Here’s a handy checklist of things you’ll need (or at least want, in all likelihood), organized by room, with extra blanks for YOU to fill in. Our suggested top priorities are in bold, but before you panic keep in mind many of these items can be bought cheaply second-hand or even picked up free. And if we’ve missed anything, please let us know in the comments
Here’s a handy checklist of things you’ll need (or at least want, in all likelihood), organized by room, with extra blanks for YOU to fill in. Our suggested top priorities are in bold, but before you panic keep in mind many of these items can be bought cheaply second-hand or even picked up free. And if we’ve missed anything, please let us know in the comments
Entrance area
Welcome mat (for outside the door)
Small area rug (for just inside the door)
Wall hooks for jackets, keys, etc.
Small table or bench for shoe storage
Lamp, if there’s no other light source by the door
Living room
Couch, chairs, or other things to sit on
Coffee table
Bookshelves
Television
Stand for TV
Throw pillows for couch/chairs
Artwork
Lamp(s)
Kitchen
Food!
Silverware
Silverware organizer (drawer insert)
Dishes (e.g. plates, glasses, mugs, bowls, serving platters, etc.)
Trash and recycling cans
Pots and pans
Oven mitts
Spatulas, ladles, whisks, etc.
Container for countertop storage of spatulas, ladles, whisks, etc.
Dish towels
Dish drying rack
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowls
Bottle opener and corkscrew
Plastic containers for food storage (e.g. Tupperware or Gladware)
Rolls of aluminum foil, wax paper, plastic wrap, and parchment paper
Paper (or newspaper) to line cupboards and shelves
Zip-top plastic bags of various sizes
Cutting boards
Toaster or toaster oven
Microwave
Coffee maker
Kettle or hotpot
Ice cube trays
Blender
Hand mixer
Can opener
Good, sharp knives (at least one large chef’s knife and a small paring knife)
Serving spoon
Colander
Additional free-standing shelves or storage, as needed (e.g. metal shelf units from Target or IKEA)
Dish soap and sponges/scrubbers
Trash can
Small area rug
For more kitchen essentials, check out our Starter Pantry and Staples Checklist, our Starter Equipment Checklist and Sam’s favorite kitchen equipment sources
Dining area
Table and chairs
Tablecloth or placemats
Napkins
Candles/tealights and candle holders
Trivets
Bathroom
Shower curtain (and rings to hold it up)
Shower caddy
Toothbrush
Toiletries (e.g. bath soap, hand soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)
Toilet paper
Toilet brush
Toilet plunger
Bath mat(s)
Air freshener
Tissues
Trash can
Over-the-door towel hook
Towels (bath and hand) and washcloths
Bedroom
Bed!
Pillows
Mattress and box spring
Mattress pad
Sheets and comforter
Night stand
Lamp
Dresser
Hangers (more than you think you need)
Hamper
Trash can
Curtains
Alarm clock
Desk
Chair for desk
Miscellaneous
Cleaning supplies (e.g. rags, paper towels, sprays)
Laundry soap, fabric softener, stain remover (e.g. Shout) and a jar of quarters for laundry
Trash bags
Vacuum cleaner
Small broom and dustpan
Extension cords
Surge strips
Basic tools, including screwdrivers (flat and Phillips-heads), hammer (and some small nails), duct tape, box-cutter or X-acto knife, duct tape, pliers, wrench, and masking tape (at the very least, get a Leatherman, which includes basic versions of most of the above-mentioned tools)
Large plastic bins or other storage
Pens
Paper (for grocery lists, doodles, etc.)
Flashlight(s)
Batteries of various types, including backups for your flashlight
Candle
Matches
Tweezers
Fans
Emergency Kit, as Alissa detailed after Hurricane Sandy
Window air conditioner
Internet router and associated cords
Light bulbs
First aid kit
Carbon monoxide alarm
Fire alarm
