Moving into your first apartment is an incredibly exciting experience. There’s something almost surreal about sitting in your new bedroom or kitchen for the first time and realizing that you finally have a place of your own. Even if you’re sharing it with a roommate, a first apartment is a milestone, free from the restraints of your parents or college res life.
But sitting there, soaking in the newfound sense of freedom, you’ll likely have some other thoughts. You know, like: wait, do I even have any dish towels?
See, the thing about first apartments is that signing a lease, writing a rent check, and moving in your new furniture (or whatever hand-me-down furniture your family bestowed upon you) isn’t enough to make it home. There are a lot of big and little things you’ll still need to buy in order to fully stock your apartment with everything you need.
Before getting into the first apartment essentials though, let’s talk reality. Acquiring all the things you need for your first apartment is an expensive undertaking, so you need to go into it with a plan. Before you head to the store or the Amazon search box, come up with a budget of what you can spend right away in light of
moving costs and other related expenses. Then stick to it. You don’t need to get everything right away, and some things you might be surprised to find you really don’t need at all. Spend wisely, and stick to immediate needs. This first apartment checklist should help you get started.
#1 Kitchenware
Unless you’re planning to get take out every night (and let me warn you now – that adds up, fast), you’re going to need to make use of your new kitchen. Unfortunately, you can’t do much in there without the basics. Add on as you can, but make sure you have these from the get-go.
- Pots and pans: One medium or large fry pan; one small pot; one large pot
- Oven-safe dish: One medium or large size casserole dish
- Baking sheet: One large or medium cookie sheet
- Dishes: Plates and bowls (two of each)
- Flatware: Forks, knives, and spoons (two of each)
- Drinking glasses: Water glasses for four (can double as wine/beer glasses)
- Mug: Just one will suffice to start
- Coffee maker or French press: If you’re a regular coffee drinker, it’s a lot cheaper to make it in your kitchen than get it to go from the coffee shop every day. If you prefer tea, heat water in your small pot instead of getting a kettle right away.
- Knives: One serrated; one chef’s knife; one paring knife
- Cooking utensils: Spatula; large spoon
- Cutting board: One silicon, plastic, or wood board
- Measuring cups and spoons: One set of each
- Oven mitts: One set
- Dish towels: Four to six
- Dish drying rack, if no dishwasher
- Garbage can
Keep in mind that none of these items have to be top quality. I stocked up for my first apartment at Goodwill, where I probably got a majority of those items above for under $40 total. Ikea is a great choice as well for kitchenware, and their knives are surprisingly high quality.
Things you can buy later: Toaster oven, microwave, food processor, cake pans, serving dishes, crock pot or Instapot.
#2 Cleaning supplies
You might be surprised by how much more inclined you are to keep things spick-and-span when you’re finally living in your own space. You don’t need to go all out for an expensive vacuum off the bat, but you will want to make sure you’ve got the following.
- Garbage bags: Kitchen-size and small
- Broom and dustpan
- Sponges: Separate sets for dishes and cleaning
- Soft rags and microfiber cloths
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Paper towels
- Bucket
- Mop, if you have hard-surface floors
- Handheld vacuum: Sufficient until you can get something bigger
- Bathroom cleaning spray
- Multi-purpose spray
- Wood cleaner, if you have wood surfaces
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Baking soda and white vinegar
- Rubber gloves
- Hand soap
Things you can buy later: Fancy vacuum, furniture polish, microfiber sweeper.
#3 Bedroom essentials
Sleep is important, so if you’re buying a new mattress for your apartment you may want to spend a little bit extra to get something you know will be comfortable for you. If you can’t afford a decent mattress right now, it’s fine to go with a futon or air mattress to start. We’ve all been there. Here’s what else you’ll need.
- Sheets: One set to start is sufficient, as long as you can trust yourself to wash them regularly. If not, get two.
- Pillows: One or two to start
- Comforter or duvet and duvet cover
- Lamp
- Storage: Dresser, plastic organizers, or under-the-bed containers
- Hangers for the closet
- Laundry hamper
Things you can buy later: Throw pillows, rug, bed frame, bedside table, curtains.
#4 Bathroom necessities
In addition to your basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, etc.), you’ll also need a few things to keep your bathroom organized and functional.
- Bath towels: Two to start
- Hand/face towels: Two to start
- Shower curtain and liner, if necessary
- Wall hook, if not supplied
- Toothbrush holder or case: A simple plastic cup can get the job done – just wash it regularly
- Bathmat
- Toilet brush
- Plunger
- Toilet paper
- Small trash can
Things you can buy later: Fancy soap dispenser, water cup, extra storage, shower speaker.
#5 Furniture
And now on to the big things. Furniture is essential, of course, but most of these items you can put off buying until you have the money/ find a great deal. Sure, nobody really wants to eat their dinner on the floor every night, but if you have to do that until you can buy a dining room table or coffee table, it’s not the end of the world. Eventually, though, you’re going to want these things for your new apartment.
- Sofa
- Coffee table
- Small dining room table and chairs
- Additional lighting (though do get a cheap floor lamp on day one if lighting is an issue)
Things you can buy later: Artwork, throw blankets, plants, décor, curtains, area rugs, sound system, TV and stand (I’m not afraid to admit I watched all of Game of Thrones on an 8” iPad Mini while I saved up for a television).
#6 Food
One of the most difficult things about being on your own for the first time is figuring out how to stock your pantry and fridge. A smartly stocked kitchen from day one however can help you save money in the long run for the bigger items that your apartment needs. Obviously you’ll make plenty of future grocery trips for specific ingredients, but these are good basics to start with. Don’t feel like you need to buy everything off this list, but do use it to guide you on that first trip to the store.
Pantry
- Rice
- Bread
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Coffee and tea
- Cereal
- Quick-cooking oats
- Grains (quinoa, lentils, farro, etc.)
- Nut butter
- Ketchup and mustard
- Cooking oil
- Vinegar (white, red, apple cider, balsamic)
- Soy sauce
- Canned or dried beans
- Canned tuna
- Dried pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Snack food (chips, pretzels, nuts, etc.)
- Salt
- Pepper
Fridge
- Milk
- Butter
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh vegetables
- Jam or preserves
Freezer
- Frozen pizza
- Frozen patties (burgers, veggie burgers)
- Meat/poultry
- Frozen fruit
- Frozen vegetables
Things you can buy later: Spices (purchase as you need them instead of in an expensive set).
The beginning of your time in a first apartment will generally require lots of trips back and forth to the store, and that’s totally fine. Start with the things you really need, and then add on and upgrade as you can. A lot of these essentials will stay with you for years, so you won’t have to go through this every time you move. (Thank goodness.)
