Moving into your first apartment will be a memorable and exciting experience for first-time renters. The new sense of independence is thrilling as you enjoy the feeling of privacy you’ll find in your own little pad. However, it’s also essential to remember that successfully living independently requires a few critical steps to ensure your first apartment is successful.

‍  Kitchenware and Utensils

Whether you have any cooking experience or not, you will need to figure out how to use your kitchen, even for basic cooking. And to do that, you are going to need to stock up on some traditional kitchen supplies and utensils. Think about what you like to eat and the way you want to cook this can serve as a guide for choosing what you buy, but here is some basic kitchenware that everyone should have: 

• Pots and pans. 
• Casserole dishes
• Baking sheet
• Plates, bowls, and cups
• Coffee or electric tea kettle or both depending on your preference
• Coffee mugs 
• Fork, knives, and spoons 
• Cooking utensils, spatulas, tongs, spoons, and a knife set for preparing food
• Mesh strainer for fruit and making pasta 
• Cutting board
• Dish drying rack 
• Garbage can 

You can build off this as you develop your apartment and kitchen, but these items should give you an excellent base and allow you to cook some solid meals. You can find a lot of these items at thrift stores or dollar stores for reasonable prices.

 Cleaning Supplies 

Now that your kitchen is situated, you will need some supplies to clean up after cooking your fantastic meals and for your apartment.  No one enjoys cleaning, and this is one of the more annoying aspects of having a place of your own, but purchasing the right cleaning supplies and getting them ahead of time can make this arduous task a little easier on yourself. Some cleaning supplies that you must have for your first apartment are:

• Wood cleaner 
• Glass cleaner 
• Dish soap 
• Sponges for dishes. Scrub Daddy is a fun brand with great products

Along with these simple cleaning supplies listed above, some cleaning tools to make your life a bit easier are: 

• Broom and dustpan 
• Vacuum cleaner Bissell is a good value brand to take a look at. 
• Mop
• Microfiber sweeper 

The items listed above should be more than enough to keep your new place feeling new and clean; depending on whether you have pets, you may want to look into a lint roller or enhanced microfiber sweepers. 

‍Furniture 

It's time to discuss the fun stuff but big ticket items! Everyone has a design in mind with a sprinkle of their own design.f you are looking for some ways to decorate your new home, check out our blog article Make Your House Feel Like Home 5 Ways To Personalize Your Living Space.  Here are some suggestions to get you started: 

• Coffee tables
• Small dining table set with chairs 
• Desk and chair if you will be working from home or are a student 
• Nice sofa it doesn’t need to be huge or expensive 

The items you select to furnish your first apartment will be what begins to make your new environment more comfortable and truly feel like home. So it’s essential to prioritize and understand what furniture items are important to you and the people you are living with as you build out this new chapter in your life. Keep in mind furniture size in ratio to apartment room sizes. 

Putting Together Your Bedroom

Creating a comfortable bedroom is probably the most critical aspect of your first apartment. Make sure you purchase the essential items for this room. Unlike other rooms in your apartment, you must have your bedroom ready by the first night to ensure you recover from a tiring move (unless you hire movers :). So some essentials items for your first apartment bedroom include: 

• A mattress we suggest Original Mattress Factory to find an affordable mattress 
• New bedding such as sheets and a comforter as well as pillowcases 
• Bed frame
• Blankets 

Outside of the bed itself, some must-have furniture pieces for your first apartment bedroom should include: 

• End table
• Desk if there is room 
• Dresser 
• A TV stand or a TV mount could also be a solid option as well  

A good night's sleep is essential for a healthy life, so get some of these items even if you may just be moving locally. 

‍Bathroom Essentials

Bathroom essentials certainly aren’t the most glamorous items, but these are certainly some things you will want to have and avoid running out of. So when you get your apartment; you are going to want to make sure to stock up on some basics such as: 

• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• A shower rod, if the apartment doesn’t come with one, and a shower curtain 
• Personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, body washes, soaps)
• Hand soap 

In addition to these items above, you should consider building up a supply of first-care items in case you start feeling sick, or an accident happens (trust us, accidents do happen). Some of  the first aid items you shoud consider purchasing are as follows: 

• Band Aides 
• Tylenol  
• Hydrogen Peroxide 
• Hand Sanitizer 
• Antibiotic Ointment 

Personal care and first aid options in your new bathroom will relieve stress and prepare you for any challenge! So make sure to adequately stock up on these items. 

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Getting that first apartment is an exciting and massive accomplishment that anyone should be proud of! Whether you are moving cross country or making a local move, it requires additional time, money, and work. Part of that work is ensuring you have the essential items to make your new place feel like home! From getting the right kitchenware to ensure you can cook the best home meals to finding the right cleaning supplies to ensure your new home stays fresh. To developing your dream living room, making your new bedroom as comfortable as possible, and lastly, stocking up on your bathroom to ensure you and your guest have everything they need. 

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The planning process may seem like it’s all about budgeting as much as possible. However, it’s also about being prepared for challenges you might not expect. The best way to plan your first apartment is to take the time to figure out what challenges you might face so that you can be ready for them when they come.

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Are you moving into your first apartment? Book a move with your Moving Buddies to move differently today! Book an activity with Moving Buddy today!  

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