In this post, I’m sharing the ultimate list of apartment essentials you need for your first apartment! Maybe you’re moving into your first college apartment, your first apartment post college, or your moving out of your parents house for the first time. Whatever it is, this list of apartment essentials will be your best friend!
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Now, this list is not your regular apartment essentials list. I’m not going to share the bare bones essential items like a couch, mattress or coffee table. You already know you need to buy those things!
I’m going to share the apartment essentials that you may have forgotten about or you don’t know that you need yet! These items are truly life-changing for your apartment, and trust me you’re going to thank me later!
This post will lay out EXACTLY what else you need to buy for your apartment that you don’t already have. There’s probably a lot of things on this list that you either forgot about or haven’t heard of, so I’m excited to share these with you!
Here is the Ultimate List of Apartment Essentials You Need!
1. Bissell 3-in-1 Vacuum
This is the most affordable (it’s less than $25) and effective vacuum out there! People rave about this vacuum! I even gifted it to my brother for his birthday because he just moved into his first apartment. It works so well on hardwood floors and flat carpet, which is normally what apartments have and it even converts to a hand vac so you can do your couches too.
If you you’re looking for an awesome cordless vacuum, check out this one! This is the exact vacuum we own and it’s under $120! I can’t even explain on how amazing this vacuum is.
2. Pizza Pizzazz
I’m actually surprised at how many people don’t know about this yet. We’ve had one of these for as long as I can remember. It’s so easy to use, and it’s so much quicker than using the oven! Which I don’t really like to use anyways. We use the Pizza Pizzazz for fries, chicken nuggets, wings and anything that needs to be reheated. We’ve reheated fries that were five days old on it and they taste just like when we got them!
3. Compact Silverware Holder
A lot of apartments don’t have too much kitchen cabinet and drawer space. So, any kitchen space you do have is valuable! This silverware holder is perfect because it’s so compact and takes up little space in your drawer. Best part is, it can hold the same amount of silverware that a normal silverware holder would. It just saves you space!
4. Furniture Touch-Up Markers
These are under $10 and a must for every apartment owner! You literally color over the scratch on your furniture with one of the markers and it disappears. When we first moved into our apartment, I accidentally scraped one of the kitchen cabinets against another one because I opened it too far and it made a huge scratch along the top of it. It was so bad! But, these markers cover it right up so it looks brand new!
You can use these on basically any wood furniture you have-tv stands, beds, nightstands, cabinets, really anything.
5. Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Everyone needs microfiber cloths for cleaning! They’re so much better than using a paper towel or even just a regular cloth because they’re so absorbent and dry really quickly. I love cleaning mirrors with them too because they don’t leave any streaks.
I’ve also heard that you are only supposed to wash microfiber cloths with other microfiber things. So after I use one, I’ll toss it in a small basket I have in our laundry room until I have a few others to wash.
6. Branch Basics Starter Kit
We use Branch Basics for EVERYTHING. We have their Starter Kit and it includes all the cleaning solutions you’ll need to clean your entire apartment. It’s pretty neat, you get all reusable bottles and one bottle of concentrate, which is used to make all different cleaners! I have an entire Instagram story highlight talking about how to use the concentrate and how to clean your entire apartment with the different cleaning solutions.
7. Magic Eraser
Now this eraser is really magic! I don’t know how it works so good but it does. You just have to try it for yourself! You can get any mark or stain out with these erasers. Marks on the walls, your shoes, the tub, the stove, toilets, furniture.. EVERYTHING!
8. Silicone Baking Mat
I’ve talked about this so many times before, but I need to mention it again. Every apartment and home owner needs a silicone baking mat! You’ll never need to buy parchment paper again, these mats are nonstick, super easy to clean, and they bake your food evenly so that it doesn’t get burned on the bottom.
9. Labels for Organization
You will be able to find things so much easier if you use labels. These are so cute and cost you basically nothing on Amazon. If you put these on your containers before you move into your apartment it will make unpacking a lot easier too.
10. 5-in-1 Cooking Utensil
I am always looking for products that save me money and can be used in more than one way. This cooking tool is 5 utensils in 1 and will save you space in your kitchen drawers!
11. Nano Towel
This towel can be used to clean up basically anything with just water! It’s insane. You’ll save money because you won’t have to buy paper towels and this towel is so much more effective at cleaning up spills.
12. Google Nest Mini
We keep ours on our kitchen counter and it’s so useful! I always use it to set timers for when I’m cooking or doing a workout, we use the bedtime setting to play nature sounds, we play music from it (the speaker is actually very loud), and we like being able to ask questions and get an instant answer. It’s on sale right now for under $30 and it’s just a nice little gadget to have!
13. Roll Up Dish Drying Rack
This is another product that is great if you don’t have a lot of counter space in your kitchen! This drying rack goes right over the sink, so it doesn’t have to take up any precious counter space. When you’re done using it you can roll it up and it’s easy to store!
14. Wool Dryer Balls
You’ll never have to buy dryer sheets again if you get yourself a pack of wool dryer balls! I like these off Amazon. You get 6 of them for under $10 and they’re nontoxic, they eliminate static and speed up your drying time!
15. Comfortable Pillow
Everyone needs a pillow that is actually comfortable and gives you good support. I can tell you the $4 pillows from Target just don’t cut it. We bought a two-pack of king size pillows from Costco for our Queen size bed for $26 and they are perfection! Comfy, affordable and they totally give off hotel-vibes. If you buy King size pillows for a Queen bed, they’ll make your bed look more luxurious. I learned that little tip from another blogger, By Sophia Lee.
16. Portable Door Lock
Not gonna lie, I first saw this on Tik Tok, but it’s awesome. If you live alone, this little door look will give you that peace of mind when you go to sleep at night. It’s a bit of extra security and it’s super easy to use.
17. 16pc Dinnerware Set
This is the best dinnerware starter set that looks expensive, but is insanely affordable. You get 4 large plates, 4 small, 4 mugs and 4 bowls. You could even buy two sets right away if you want more dishes. There’s also a square version of this set if you don’t like round plates, which also looks very cute!
18. Museum Gel
This is something that I learned about more recently that I wish we would’ve bought years ago! You put a little bit of this gel underneath any glass vases or delicate items that you’re afraid might get knocked over. If you know you’ll be hosting guests a lot or you just want some reassurance that your valuables won’t fall, you’ll want this!
19. 6-in-1 Cake Stand/Serving Platter
You know I like to find things that can be used in multiple ways. This cake stand/serving platter is exactly what you need in your kitchen. You can use it as a veggie tray, a dessert stand, a dish for chips and dip, basically anything. It comes with a cover too, which makes it perfect if you’re bringing it to a party.
If you know someone moving into their first apartment or home, this would even make a cute housewarming present!
20. Portable Counter Vacuum
You will love this! It’s a small handheld vacuum that you use to pick up crumbs and dirt off your counters, your desk, your car, underneath your kitchen table. It’s so handy and there’s no cords so you can even take it when you travel to clean crumbs off of your car seats!
It’s so much easier than pulling out the vacuum every time there’s a few crumbs.
21. 3-Tier Shoe Rack
If you’re like me, you’ve got a lot of shoes, but not a lot of space to store them. This 3-tier shoe rack is perfect for storing your shoes (obviously you’ll need a few more to fit all of them), but it’s great to keep near your entryway. We keep ours right by our door so we can easily access our most-used shoes.
There’s even a 4-tier rack if you need more space.
22. 148pc Tool Set
Every apartment owner needs some sort of toolkit. There’s going to be furniture that you need to put together, or a frame that you need to hang up, so you’ll want to have a toolkit! This one is the best starter tool kits around. You’ll have all the tools and more that you need for basic repairs around your apartment at an incredible price.
23. Handheld Steamer
If you’re looking for an affordable steamer that ACTUALLY works, then get this one. It has amazing reviews on Amazon. It heats up quickly, gets the wrinkles out and doesn’t spill! You really couldn’t ask for more in a steamer.
I prefer steamers over irons because you don’t get those harsh creases. Steamers are also great for small apartments because they don’t take up a lot of space and you don’t need to buy an ironing board too.
24. Fire-Extinguishing Spray
This is something that most people totally forget to buy, but it’s so important! My brother recommended this exact fire-extinguishing spray to us because he has it for his own apartment and the reviews are great! Hopefully we will never have to use it, but just in case, it’s good to have on hand for any household fires. I like this one because it’s very simple to use- just point and spray. It’s small and easy to store, it’s less than $13 and it can spray a very wide surface area!
25. Good Cookware Set
Now, you don’t have to have the absolute best pots and pans for your first apartment. I know how expensive everything can be. But a semi-decent cookware set is a definitely essential. This 17-piece Stainless Steel Cuisinart set from Amazon is the perfect beginner cookware set! It’s got every pot and pan you will need!
I like Stainless Steel because it’s safe and easy to clean. Whatever cookware set you decide to buy, make sure you read how to care for the pots and pans so you don’t ruin them!
If you liked this post, pin it to Pinterest to your Apartment Essentials board so you can come back to it later!
What other apartment essentials are you buying that I should add to this ultimate checklist!? Also, if you’ve been living in an apartment for a while now, let me know which apartment essentials you actually used. I’d love to know!
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