Moving is always exciting, but nothing is more heartbreaking than realizing you lost something in transport. It’s important to take your time when furnishing an apartment, however, you will require several things on the day of the move. This list’s purpose is to inform you how to spend money wisely and save money where you can. It is easy to get carried away in the spirit of the move, but you must slow down and separate your needs from your wants.
What Will I Need for My First Day in My Apartment?
There are a few things you will need for move-in day, such as:
- Toilet paper
- Trash bags
- Bottled water
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- AA and AAA batteries
- Extension cords
- Power strips
- Command hooks
You can find these items relatively cheap at a dollar store, however, gas stations and convenience stores will normally have them too. Bottled water is expensive and bad for the environment, so consider purchasing a Brita tap filter or a Brita pitcher.
A hammer and screwdriver are good tools to have on hand, but you should avoid hammering nails or screwing into the walls. Instead, use command strips to decorations, pictures, and art. You’ll be happy you did when you see your security deposit returned to you in full.
Landlords will provide smoke detectors, but you will need to buy the batteries for them. Ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors function so you don’t create a poisonous environment.
What Cleaning Supplies Will I Need for My Apartment?
You don’t want to show up to work without the tools for the job. There are a few things to note in your list of cleaning supplies, including:
- A broom and dustpan
- Sponges and soft rags
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Toilet cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Hand soap
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
It would be wise to include gloves, as you honestly don’t know what has been flushed down the toilet. An environmentally-friendly multi-surface cleaner will save you both space in your apartment and cash in your pocket.
What Will I Need for My Apartment Bathroom?
You already have toilet paper, tissues, trash bags, toilet cleaner, and a toilet brush accounted for, but don’t forget about the easy-to-miss pieces, like:
- A bathing towel
- Hand towels
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Body scrubby
- Bathmat
- Plunger
- Shower curtain
- Shower curtain rings
First-time tenants usually don’t know they must purchase a shower curtain and rings.
What Will I Need for My Apartment Bedroom?
If you weren’t able to move your bed frame, you will get by with a mattress on the floor. You really only need:
- A fitted sheet
- Sheets
- A comforter or blankets
- Pillow
- Pillowcases, and
- A dresser or closet hangers for clothes
- A dirty clothes hamper
Hanging your clothes in the closet is a great strategy to avoid having to fold your clothes. A hamper that doubles as a laundry basket is a wonderful investment if you don’t have in-unit washing and drying.
If you don’t like to be up with the sun, buy curtains when your budget allows. Forgoing a bedroom trash can and liner is a huge oversight. After all, who wants to run to the kitchen or bathroom every time they need to throw something away?
Once you have your bedroom arranged, think about where a mirror would fit nicely or envision what kind of nightstand you want next to your bed for your alarm clock.
What Will I Need for My apartment Kitchen?
The best way to save money when you move is to purchase all your kitchen items second-hand. Thrift stores, family and friends, or Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are excellent resources when scooping kitchen essentials like:
- Plates
- Utensils
- Bowls
- Glasses
- Mugs
- Knives
- Pots
- Pans
- Cutting boards, and
- A microwave can be extremely costly.
While most of your kitchen items can be bought used, don’t skimp out on cleaning sponges and dish towels. If anyone’s going to stain your towels for the first time, it should be you.
Hold off on buying kitchen furniture until you have a solid idea for what you want your layout to look like. For now, a couple chairs and a small table will work just fine. Additionally, an arsenal of plastic food containers is amazing. When ordering food to-go, consider washing and reusing the plastic to-go boxes, another easy way to reduce and reuse.
What Will I Need for My Apartment Living Room?
Living rooms can be furnished a million different ways, that’s why this room is so challenging. Give yourself time to figure out what you like and dislike about your living room and what you need will figure itself out.
If it’s too dark, buy a lamp. If you have hard floors, purchase a soft rug. Use a tape measure to get the dimensions of your door frames, living room, and the apartment community’s doors and hallways. These dimensions will dictate the size of furniture you buy.
If you’re reading this as a first-time tenant, buy your living room furniture second-hand. Used furniture bought for the right price makes it easier to leave behind when you move out.
What Can I Wait to Purchase for My Apartment?
Depending on your wants and needs, you may get to this step sooner or later compared to other people. Once you have the bare necessities, you can get creative.
If you have a TV, do you want it mounted on the wall, or do you want it standing on a table? Do you want one, big couch, or do you want several, smaller chairs? Do you want one, large coffee table, or do you want a couple end tables?
All you really need to remember is:
- Don’t nail or screw into the walls
- Buy as much as you can used or second-hand, ideally from family or friends
- Take your time furnishing your apartment
- The less you have, the less you have to clean
- Furnishing slowly will keep your space from becoming cluttered
