First Apartment Checklist

Getting your first apartment is exciting.

It’s also surprisingly easy to forget something.

You remember the couch. You remember the TV. You remember the bed.

Then you move in and realize you don’t have a shower curtain, trash cans, toilet paper, a can opener or anything to clean the place with.

Yep. It happens.

The good news is that you don’t need to buy everything before moving day. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Start with the things you actually need to live comfortably, then add the fun stuff once you’re settled.

Here’s the first apartment checklist I’d use.

First, Handle the Important Stuff

Before buying furniture or decorating, make sure the boring stuff is handled.

You’ll want to have:

• Signed your lease
• Paid your security deposit
• Paid required move-in fees
• Confirmed your move-in date
• Received your keys or move-in instructions
• Set up renter’s insurance if required
• Scheduled electricity
• Set up water if required
• Set up gas if applicable
• Scheduled internet
• Confirmed parking arrangements
• Confirmed mailbox or package delivery instructions
• Saved a copy of your lease
• Saved your landlord or property manager’s contact information

Keep copies of important documents somewhere you can easily access them.

I also recommend taking photos of your apartment before you move anything inside.

Take pictures of the walls, floors, doors, appliances, countertops, bathrooms, windows and anything that already looks damaged.

You want a record of the apartment’s condition when you moved in.

Your First Apartment Bedroom Checklist

You don’t need a designer bedroom on day one.

You need a place to sleep.

Must-have bedroom items

• Mattress
• Bed frame
• Pillows
• Sheets
• Blanket or comforter
• Pillowcases
• Mattress protector
• Hangers
• Laundry hamper
• Curtains or blackout curtains if needed
• Lamp
• Phone charger

If your budget is tight, spend your money on the mattress before worrying about expensive furniture.

You’re going to spend a lot of time there.

Nice-to-have bedroom items

Once you’re settled, you can add:

• Nightstands
• Dresser
• Full-length mirror
• Area rug
• Decorative pillows
• Wall art
• Storage bins
• Under-bed storage
• Bedside charging station

Don’t feel like your bedroom needs to look like Pinterest on move-in day.

Give yourself some time to figure out how you actually use the space.

First Apartment Kitchen Checklist

The kitchen is where first-time renters tend to underestimate how much stuff they need.

You don’t need a 72-piece cookware set.

Start with the basics.

Cooking

• Frying pan
• Saucepan
• Large pot
• Baking sheet
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Spatula
• Wooden spoon
• Tongs
• Can opener
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Mixing bowl

Eating

• Plates
• Bowls
• Drinking glasses
• Coffee mugs
• Forks
• Spoons
• Knives

Food storage

• Food storage containers
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap
• Zip-top bags
• Kitchen storage containers

Kitchen cleaning

• Dish soap
• Sponges
• Dish towels
• Paper towels
• Trash bags
• Kitchen trash can
• All-purpose cleaner

You can add specialty appliances later.

And I’d wait before buying every trendy kitchen gadget you see online.

Use your kitchen first.

Then you’ll know what you actually need.

First Apartment Bathroom Checklist

This is one area where you really don’t want to wait until after moving in.

Buy these before moving day.

• Toilet paper
• Shower curtain
• Shower curtain liner
• Bath towels
• Hand towels
• Washcloths
• Bath mat
• Hand soap
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body wash or soap
• Toilet brush
• Plunger
• Bathroom trash can
• Toilet cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner

The plunger deserves special attention.

Buy one before you need one.

Trust me.

First Apartment Living Room Checklist

This is where your budget can disappear quickly.

You don’t need everything at once.

Start with:

• Sofa or loveseat
• Coffee table
• TV stand if needed
• Television if you want one
• Floor lamp or table lamp
• Curtains or blinds if needed
• Small rug

Then live with the room for a while.

You might discover that the giant sectional you thought you needed doesn’t actually work with the layout.

Measure the room first.

And measure your doorways, elevators and stairways too.

A couch that won’t fit through the front door isn’t much of a couch.

First Apartment Cleaning Checklist

You don’t need a huge collection of cleaning products.

A few basics can handle most apartment cleaning.

• All-purpose cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Toilet cleaner
• Disinfecting wipes
• Sponges
• Microfiber cloths
• Paper towels
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Mop
• Vacuum
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Trash bags
• Laundry detergent

If you’re living in a small apartment, a compact vacuum can be especially useful.

You don’t need a massive cleaning machine taking up half your closet.

First Apartment Laundry Checklist

If your apartment has a washer and dryer, you’re lucky.

If it doesn’t, you’ll want to plan ahead.

Basic laundry supplies include:

• Laundry detergent
• Laundry basket
• Laundry hamper
• Dryer sheets if you use them
• Stain remover
• Drying rack if needed
• Hangers

If you’re using a shared laundry room, consider keeping your laundry supplies together in a portable basket.

It makes laundry day much less annoying.

First Apartment Organization Checklist

Small apartments don’t give you much room for clutter.

That’s actually a good thing.

It forces you to be intentional.

Consider:

• Storage bins
• Closet organizers
• Shoe organizer
• Under-bed storage
• Over-the-door organizers
• Drawer organizers
• Shelf organizers
• Storage ottoman
• Hooks
• Command-style removable hooks where appropriate

Before buying storage products, figure out what you’re actually trying to store.

Otherwise you can end up with a bunch of containers that become containers for other containers.

Yes, people do this.

First Apartment Safety Checklist

Your apartment should feel comfortable, but don’t assume everything is automatically secure.

Check:

• Door locks
• Window locks
• Smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Fire extinguisher
• Emergency exits
• Exterior lighting
• Door viewer or peephole
• Building access system

Know where the nearest emergency exit is.

Know where the fire extinguisher is.

Know how to contact property management after hours.

If your apartment allows it, renter-friendly security devices can also give you additional peace of mind.

First Apartment Technology Checklist

Modern apartments can require more technology than you might expect.

Consider:

• Wi-Fi router
• Ethernet cable
• Power strips
• Surge protectors
• Phone chargers
• USB charging station
• Smart plugs
• Smart bulbs
• Streaming device
• Laptop or computer
• TV

Don’t automatically rent every piece of equipment your internet provider offers.

Compare the long-term cost before deciding whether buying your own equipment makes sense.

First Apartment Grocery Checklist

Your first grocery trip can get expensive fast.

Keep it simple.

Pantry basics

• Rice
• Pasta
• Pasta sauce
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Bread
• Peanut butter
• Cooking oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Basic spices

Refrigerator

• Eggs
• Milk
• Butter
• Cheese
• Fresh vegetables
• Fruit
• Condiments

Freezer

• Frozen vegetables
• Frozen meals
• Meat or other protein
• Ice

You don’t need to completely stock your kitchen on the first day.

Buy enough for several meals and build from there.

First Apartment Tool Kit

You don’t need a professional toolbox.

But having a few basic tools can save you a lot of frustration.

I’d keep:

• Screwdriver set
• Hammer
• Adjustable wrench
• Pliers
• Tape measure
• Level
• Utility knife
• Allen wrench set
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Small tool box

A tape measure is particularly important.

Measure twice.

Buy furniture once.

Things You Should Buy Before Moving Day

If you’re trying to prioritize your spending, I’d put these near the top:

Toilet paper

Shower curtain

Bedding

Towels

Basic cleaning supplies

Trash bags

Trash cans

Basic kitchen supplies

Food

Phone charger

Laundry detergent

Basic tools

Plunger

These aren’t exciting purchases.

They’re just the things you’ll notice immediately when they’re missing.

Things You Can Wait to Buy

You don’t need to furnish your entire apartment in one weekend.

I’d wait on:

• Decorative furniture
• Expensive artwork
• Large rugs
• Extra kitchen gadgets
• Specialty appliances
• Expensive lighting
• Decorative storage
• Accent chairs
• Large entertainment centers
• Seasonal decorations

Live in the apartment first.

Then decorate it.

You’ll make better decisions once you understand the space.

Your First Apartment Budget

This is where the previous article becomes important.

Don’t spend your entire budget on furniture.

Your first month can be expensive.

You may have:

Rent

Security deposit

Utilities

Internet

Moving expenses

Furniture

Kitchen supplies

Cleaning supplies

Groceries

Renter’s insurance

Unexpected expenses

Build a little breathing room into your budget.

You don’t want to spend your final dollar on a sofa and then have nothing left when the electric bill arrives.

A Simple First Apartment Shopping Strategy

Here’s the approach I’d use.

Phase 1: Survival

Buy what you need to sleep, shower, eat and clean.

Phase 2: Comfort

Add your sofa, television, better lighting and basic organization.

Phase 3: Personality

Add artwork, plants, rugs, decorative pieces and other things that make the apartment feel like yours.

Phase 4: Optimization

After you’ve lived there for a few months, look for ways to improve storage, security, energy efficiency and organization.

This approach keeps you from blowing your budget during the first week.

First Apartment Checklist

Here’s the condensed version you can save:

Before Moving

☐ Sign lease
☐ Pay deposit
☐ Set up utilities
☐ Set up internet
☐ Get renter’s insurance
☐ Confirm parking
☐ Save lease documents
☐ Schedule movers
☐ Confirm move-in instructions

Bedroom

☐ Mattress
☐ Bed frame
☐ Sheets
☐ Pillows
☐ Comforter
☐ Mattress protector
☐ Hangers
☐ Laundry hamper

Bathroom

☐ Toilet paper
☐ Shower curtain
☐ Towels
☐ Bath mat
☐ Soap
☐ Shampoo
☐ Toothpaste
☐ Plunger
☐ Toilet brush

Kitchen

☐ Plates
☐ Bowls
☐ Cups
☐ Silverware
☐ Pots and pans
☐ Knife
☐ Cutting board
☐ Cooking utensils
☐ Food storage containers
☐ Dish soap
☐ Trash can

Cleaning

☐ Vacuum
☐ Broom
☐ Mop
☐ Cleaner
☐ Sponges
☐ Microfiber cloths
☐ Trash bags
☐ Laundry detergent

Safety

☐ Check locks
☐ Check smoke detectors
☐ Check carbon monoxide detector
☐ Locate fire extinguisher
☐ Locate emergency exits
☐ Save property management contact

Tools

☐ Screwdrivers
☐ Hammer
☐ Pliers
☐ Tape measure
☐ Flashlight
☐ Batteries

My Take

Your first apartment doesn’t need to be perfect.

It needs to work.

That’s the part I think gets lost when you look at apartment inspiration online. You see perfectly decorated rooms and assume you need to create the same thing immediately.

You don’t.

Start with a mattress, towels, toilet paper, food and a way to make coffee.

Then build the apartment around your actual life.

You’ll save money, make fewer bad purchases and probably end up with a space that feels much more like you.

And that’s really the goal.