The excitement of getting your first apartment happens only once in a lifetime and should be treasured. It?s a time for starting fresh, with the thrilling prospect of living on your own or with a roommate of your choosing. Whether you?re able to buy your first things on your own, or you raid your parent?s basement, there is a list of things you?re going to need to get you started.
Some of the items you?ll find yourself in need of as you?re moving into your first apartment can be surprising. In general, they range from essentials to things that you?d like to have as a way to decorate the space.
Though you may not need all of the items at once, keep them in the back of your head as you begin to look around to ensure that you don?t find yourself forgetting anything and having to go to the store numerous times.
Bedroom
Most of the items in the bedroom will make the list of essentials you?ll need as you begin your move. Sleep is an important part of life; therefore, these are some of the following essentials:
- Bed frame (if you can afford of and would like to spend the money)
- Mattress
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Comforter or a duvet set with covers
- Lamp
- Storage of some kind
- Hangers for the closet
- Laundry hamper (this can be an item you wait on if you have an in-unit washer and dryer)
Some of the items that are nice-to-haves which can be purchased at a later time:
- Curtains
- Mirror
- Nightstand for the bed
- Trash Can
- Blankets
Bathroom
The bathroom is full of essential items since it?s a room you?ll be visiting quite often. Here are some of the things you?ll need right off the bat:
- Toiletries include things like a toothbrush, deodorant, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, among others.
- Towels for the bath and hands and face
- Shower liner
- Wall hook if it isn?t already provided
- A toothbrush case or a holder
- Toilet brush
- Plunger
- Toilet paper
- Trash can
Some of the items that can wait until a later date when you?ve settled in more:
- A shower curtain with the pattern you?d like
- Bathmat
- Small rug by the toilet
- Decorations for the wall
Other Furniture
These are some items that will fit throughout your apartment, such as for the dining area or the living room.
- Couch
- Table. You can start with a coffee table as you may use it more often
- Additional lighting for the apartment
The rest of the furniture items you only have to worry about down the road or if you have the space for it since some don?t have other designated areas besides the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room.
- Dining room table and chairs
- A bookshelf
- TV or other entertainment items ? contrary to popular belief, these are not always necessary items unless you deem them so.
- Entertainment system ? this may not be needed upfront if you have a TV that can be hung on a wall.
Appliances
Usually, the apartment will come furnished with any of the appliances you?ll need. If you are renting, it will have an oven range for cooking and baking and a refrigerator, however, some items will be left for you to purchase. These items are not necessarily must-have?s unless you?d like to think of them that way, but they come in handy.
- Coffee maker
- Microwave
Kitchen
Now that we?ve moved onto the kitchen, this is a good time to talk about the items and food that you?ll need to get yourself started on the right foot.
Kitchen Items
- Cutlery knife set
- Plates
- Bowls
- Glasses
- Cups
- Utensils
- Pots and pans
Food
To make things a little easier, the food listed is classified between the pantry, which is usually your non-perishable items, as well as the refrigerator or freezer.
Pantry
- Rice
- Bread
- Flour ? all-purpose usually works best
- Sugar
- Coffee or tea, or both
- Cereal
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Soy Sauce
- Snack Foods ? this will depend on what you like
- Salt
- Pepper
- Other spices as you see fit
Fridge and freezer
- Milk
- Butter
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Frozen pizza
- Frozen meats for future use
Cleaning Items
As important as the rest of the items in your apartment are, don?t discount the need for cleaning products. Always invest in this upfront as you might want to do a deeper clean before moving your items in. Of course, these items are also things you will use on daily and weekly intervals as you continue to keep your apartment a nice and clean home.
- Broom
- Mop
- Cleaning solution ? all-purpose or for each surface
- Soaps
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Dishwasher pods if dishwasher available
Conclusion
Remember the checklists provided above, and don?t hesitate to add or take away any items you think about along the way. Moving is a work in progress as you try to establish a life of your own and figure out what works best for you. Keep in mind that not all of these items are things you?ll need, and there is no harm in allowing a couple of things to wait for a later date.
Moving into your first apartment is as exciting as it is hard work. Once you?ve gathered all of your more oversized items, don?t forget to find a reputable moving company in Columbus OH, that will assist you with moving them into your new place of residence. The right movers will make the process seamless, so you don?t have to go around asking favors and paying others in pizza as they help you through the move. Not to say that might not also be an option, since there are quite a lot of shopping trips and moving days ahead of you as you settle into your new life.
