The Easiest First Apartment Checklist Ever

Getting your first apartment is a huge step! It doesn’t matter if you’re doing it solo or with roommates, either way it’s a sign that you’re truly ready for independence. 

But when it literally comes time to make the move, there’s kinda a lot to coordinate. It’s pretty easy to let certain tasks slip through the cracks, or forget to pick up important items. There’s nothing worse than waking up on the first day in your new apartment, only to eventually realize you don’t have a can opener or cereal bowls.

The New Apartment Essentials Checklist

If you’re in the planning stages of a move into a new, maybe even first apartment, make sure you plan for all your essentials ahead of time. Whether it’s dishes or duct tape, here’s a checklist of everything you need (beyond the major appliances and furniture) to make your home feel more… well, homey.

[See the printable checklist here!]

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What To Carry With You on Moving Day

You may have been scouring Pinterest for weeks planning how you’ll lay everything out and decorate, but don’t get too ahead of yourself! Putting together these few key essentials to keep with you on your body will ensure that the literal part of the move goes smoothly. 

• Change of clothes/overnight bag
• Cleaning supplies
• Dust rags/wipes
• Measuring tape
• Post-it notes/labels
• Toiletries
• Trash bags
• Water + snacks

 

 

Safety Essentials

It’s pretty important to be prepared for an emergency, injury, or natural disaster. Many apartments will already have some of these items, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check. Be absolutely, positively sure you have the following items:

• Carbon monoxide detector
• Extra drinking water
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Go bag
• Smoke alarm

 

Living Room

When it comes to your living area, you don’t need to go nuts right away. The goal should be to set up a comfy area to relax and entertain. Don’t worry, your friends won’t judge you if you don’t have an array of throw pillows and wall art just yet. For now, focus on the following:

• Bookshelves 
• Couch/seating
• Coffee table
• Side table
• Television (or at least other methods of streaming stuff, like a laptop or projector)
• TV stand/entertainment center

 

Kitchen

Assuming you plan to cook at home at least some of the time, at some point, you’ll probably want to get a few fun kitchen gadgets. This is stuff like an InstantPot, Britta filter, or air fryer. But these aren’t exactly cheap — or absolutely necessary. So until you have the funds saved up for bigger ticket items, make sure you have these basics to get by:

• Baking sheet
• Bowls
• Can opener
• Cling wrap
• Coffee maker/tea kettle
• Corkscrew
• Cutting board + knives
• Dish drying rack
• Dish towels
• Drinking glasses
• Eating utensils
• Foil 
• Food storage bags and/or containers
• Frying pan
• Ice tray
• Measuring cups + spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Mug
• Oven mitts 
• Plates
• Saucepan
• Spatula
• Stirring spoon
• Trash can

 

“There’s nothing worse than waking up on the first day in your new apartment, only to eventually realize you don’t have a can opener or cereal bowls.”

 

Food/Pantry Essentials

Until you have time to go on a major grocery run, you’ll want to have a few kitchen staples on hand for basic meals. For the average person, there are several items you’ll want to have on hand in the fridge and pantry, but this list may need to be altered based on your dietary preferences. Over time, you can accumulate additional spices and sauces as needed.

• Baking powder 
• Baking soda
• Bread
• Butter
• Cereal
• Coffee/tea
• Condiments (e.g., mayo, mustard, ketchup, etc.)
• Eggs
• Flour
• Milk
• Oil
• Salt + pepper
• Sugar
• Vinegar

 

Bedroom

Your bedroom should be a calming, comfortable place to wind down and rest up, so it’s important to have these key items that will make the space organized and cozy.

• Comforter
• Curtains/blinds
• Hangers
• Laundry hamper
• Nightstand/side table
• Pillows
• Reading lamp
• Sheet set (plus a spare)

 

Bathroom

You’ll get by as long as you have toilet paper, but stocking up on the following essentials will ensure you can stick to a new morning routine that makes any sense:

• Bath towels
• Body wash
• Conditioner
• Hand soap
• Hand towels
• Razor + shaving cream
• Shampoo
• Shower curtain + liner + hooks (often sold separately!)
• Shower organizer
• Bath mat
• Small wastebasket
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush + toothpaste 
• Washcloths

 

Cleaning Essentials

Between accidental spills and general upkeep, you might be surprised (though you shouldn’t be) to learn how much time you will spend cleaning. So you aren’t forced to sit there and stare at your spilled spaghetti sauce, make sure you stock up on these essentials:

• All-purpose cleaner
• Bleach
• Broom + dustpan
• Dish soap
• Glass cleaner
• Laundry detergent
• Mop
• Paper towels
• Plunger
• Sponges
• Toilet scrubber
• Trashbags
• Vacuum

 

The ‘Just-Existing’ Essentials

Finally, once you have your rooms stockpiled and ready, there are several miscellaneous items you’ll definitely need to keep your home functioning. Before you move in, be sure you have the following apartment “existing” essentials:

• Allen wrench set
• Basic tool kit (e.g., hammer, screwdriver, pliers, etc.)
• Batteries
• Duct tape
• Flashlight
• Ironing board
• Lightbulbs
• Nails + screws
• Power strip/surge protector
• Scissors
• Sewing kit
• Space heater
• Stepstool
• Window AC unit

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Bonus: How To Save Money on the Essentials for Your Apartment

Believe it or not, there’s a ton more stuff you’ll eventually want in order to get super comfortable in your new or first apartment. But not only can it be overwhelming to gather them, it’s pretty expensive, too. If you’re worried about blowing your entire first few paychecks at Target and Amazon, here are places you can go to get apartment essentials for cheap:

• Facebook Marketplace: Furniture is particularly expensive, which is why you might not want to buy new for your first apartment. You can find gently used couches, tables, chairs, and more at a fraction of the price from neighbors on Facebook. (You should also check out NextDoor, OfferUp, and Craigslist as well!)
• Buy Nothing Groups: Another way to use Facebook to score cheap apartment essentials: Join your local buy nothing group. These online groups allow people in your neighborhood to offer up stuff they no longer need for free or ask if anyone has a particular item. The main rule of these groups is that exchanging money or bartering is not allowed.
• Your New Secondhand Shops: Thrifting has been a popular way to save money long before TikTok made it cool. Google where you can find one-of-a-kind, vintage, and even designer items by looking up your closest thrift shops and consignment stores.
• Discount Chains: Marshall’s, TJMaxx, and Homegoods are great places to find kitchen gadgets, towels, sheets, and other home items at a steep discount.

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Overwhelmed? Never fear! We’ve got you covered with a printable checklist you can keep on your camera roll, or print it out on paper for that old-school feel. Either way, it will help you make sure you don’t miss a single thing that your apartment fundamentally needs.

Illustrations by Nicole Goux