So you got your first place. That’s huge! Congrats! Now you’re staring at that empty living room, and your brain is probably doing that thing where it screams, “YOU NEED A TORTILLA WARMER IMMEDIATELY.”
Stop. Please. Just for a second.
I remember my first apartment. I blew like three paychecks on garbage I never used. I had a fancy cheese board but no decent spatula. I had a million throw pillows but only one towel. It was a mess.
Let’s be real. You don’t need your apartment to look like an Instagram post on day one. You just need to not eat cold beans straight from the can while sitting on the floor. Unless you’re into that. No judgment.
Here’s the actual, no-crap list from someone who learned the hard way.
The “Can’t Even Have Your First Shower Without This” List
- A plunger: I’m putting this first because it’s the most important thing everyone forgets. You will need it. It will be at 2 AM. You will be a hero if you have one. Just go buy a plunger.
- A shower curtain: And that weird plastic liner thing that goes with it. Unless you want to flood your bathroom and become enemies with your downstairs neighbor on day one.
- One towel: Seriously, one. You can do laundry. You’ll be fine.
- Toilet paper: Don’t buy the 500-roll Costco pack. You have nowhere to put it. Just get a normal pack.
The “So You Can Eat Something That Didn’t Come in a Styrofoam Box” List
Forget the matching dish sets. Nobody cares.
- One good frying pan: This is your workhorse. You can cook eggs, grill a grilled cheese, sear a chicken breast, and fry up some veggies. Everything.
- One pot: For pasta, soup, and boiling water for ramen.
- One sharp knife: I’m not talking a set. Just one decent knife that won’t crush your tomato instead of slicing it.
- A cutting board: Don’t be that person cutting directly on the countertop.
- A spatula and a big spoon.
- A plate, a bowl, a mug, and one set of cutlery (fork, knife, spoon): That’s it. For now. You can always get more later when you have people over.
The “So You Don’t Feel Like a College Student Anymore” List
- A bed: Even just a mattress on a simple frame. Get it off the floor. It changes everything.
- Sheets and a blanket: Don’t overcomplicate it.
- A lamp: Overhead lights are the worst. They’re harsh and unflattering. One floor lamp makes a room feel like a home, not a doctor’s office.
- Trash cans: One for the kitchen, one for the bathroom. And trash bags to go in them.
- Basic cleaning supplies: All-purpose cleaner, a sponge, and dish soap. A broom. You’ll thank yourself later.
Stuff You Can 100% Ignore Right Now
Anything that only does one job (a garlic press, an avocado slicer, a bread machine).
“Decor” from Target that says “Live, Laugh, Love” on it. Your home should fill up with things that mean something to you, not stuff that just fills space.
A ton of furniture. Live in the space for a bit. See how you actually move around. Then buy a chair or a bookshelf.
And here’s a real talk tip nobody gives you: You’re going to accumulate stuff. Fast. You’ll have camping gear from that one trip you took, a box of winter clothes taking up your whole closet in July, or maybe you’re just not ready to get rid of your old college stuff.
That’s the worst part of a first apartment—the lack of space for your life.
Getting a small storage unit
It sounds extreme, but it’s honestly genius. It’s like a bonus closet for all the stuff you need but don’t need every single day. It keeps your actual apartment from feeling cramped and crazy, so you can actually enjoy living there instead of just storing things there. It’s a game-changer for keeping your sanity and your stuff.
So just start with the basics. Make a list from this. The rest will come later, I promise. Your first place doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Now go put a plunger in your cart. You’re welcome.
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