The First Apartment Checklist: Essentials for Moving [2025]

Is it time to move out of your guardians' place and into your first apartment, but aren't sure what you need? If you've never shopped for an apartment before, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of things you have to buy. It's also a challenge to figure out your "must haves" versus what you simply think you need.

We put together this first apartment checklist with everything a person would need for their first apartment. You can customize it based on what you already have so that you can figure out what you still have to shop for. From coffee tables to cleaning supplies, let's get started!

First Apartment Checklist

Download the First Apartment Checklist

Right click the image below and "save image as" to download a printable version of our first apartment checklist:

Bedroom Checklist

Moving day is stressful, so a comfortable bed on your first night will be necessary! Plus, of all of the items on our checklist, having your mattress and bedding ready on day one is crucial. You can hold off on the bed frame at first, but the last thing you may want to do after moving is sleep on the floor.

• Mattress
• Bed frame
• Sheets
• Bed pillows
• Pillowcases
• Bedspread/Comforter
• Blankets
• Dresser
• Desk
• Nightstand
• TV Stand
• Fan
• Space heater
• Additional storage boxes/containers
• Trash bin
• Hangers
• Shoe rack
• Mirror
• Curtains
• Desk lamp
• Window coverings

Living Room Checklist

A comfortable and functional living room brings an apartment together for lounging and entertaining. While we encourage you to make this list your own, it's important to keep in mind that little details tend to make a room comfortable. You might have not given much thought to throw pillows or blankets, even seeing them as an annoyance, but it's those kinds of elements that usually make a room feel cozy. So if you feel like your living room is missing something, try a few smaller elements before you replace your furniture.

• Couch or Sofa
• Chairs/additional seating
• Coffee table
• End tables
• TV stand
• Area rug
• Throw pillows
• Throw blankets
• Coasters
• Plants
• Wall decor
• Wall hooks
• Extra lighting
• Television
• Streaming devices
• Speakers

Bathroom Checklist

The bathroom can be a tricky space between it has so many essential elements. Things like a shower curtain, extra toilet paper, and cleaning supplies are easy to overlook. You don't want to find out the hard way after a long day of moving that you're not able to shower in your new bathroom!

The primary goal for your bathroom is to ensure it's functional before adding decor. But once you're ready to decorate, keep it simple by making sure all of your bathroom decor matches. Towels, bath mats, and shower curtains are easy to match to create your ideal first apartment bedroom. Later you can add small pieces to make it feel more like home.

• Shower curtain and hooks
• Bath towels
• Hand towels
• Toilet brush
• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Plunger
• Shower mat / Bath mat
• Toiletries
• Small trash bin
• Small trash bags
• Hair towel/shower cap
• Bathroom cleaning supplies
• Air fresheners (Socket plugin)
• Candle
• Febreeze
• Potpourri
• Weight Scale
• Toothbrush holder
• Extra storage

Kitchen & Dining Checklist

Each apartment is unique in terms of what type of kitchen and dining furnishing will come in it. For example, if you don't have a dishwasher, you'll need different items for hand washing dishes.

Also, living off of paper plates and plastic utensils might work at first, but try your best to find full-time replacements. One chef's knife can only get you so far, so you'll want all your proper cooking utensils early. Not only will you save yourself some cash, but you'll also be saving the environment!

Although we don't consider it an apartment essential for moving day, it's a good idea to begin preparing for your first grocery list. We've prepared a separate first apartment grocery list for your first trip, covering everything from olive oil to filling your spice rack.

• Pots and pans
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Knife set with chef's knife
• Dish drying rack
• Baking tray
• Oven mitts
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cutting boards
• Mixing bowls
• Cooking utensil set
• Aluminum foil
• Wax or parchment paper
• Dining table and chairs
• Large and small plates
• Drinking Glasses
• Wine Glasses and/or Tumblers
• Paper plates
• Placemats
• Silverware set
• Silverware organizer
• Food storage containers
• Colander
• Bottle opener
• Wine opener
• Can opener
• Blender
• Coffee maker
• Toaster/toaster oven
• Crockpot
• Air fryer
• Waffle iron
• Dish soap
• Dishtowels
• Sponges
• Dishwasher pods
• Paper towels and holder
• Ziploc bags
• Plastic or other food wrap
• Parchment paper
• Trash can
• Trash bags

Laundry, Cleaning Supplies & Tools

Cleaning items often hide in closets, under counters in cabinets, and generally behind closed doors. For that reason, it can be easy to lose track of what supplies you need to clean and do laundry. But making sure you have these things on hand when you move in can be immensely helpful, since often the moving process creates unexpected messes.

Make sure you have a few other laundry essentials on hand, too, including cleaning products, stain removers, and a steamer. Even if you do laundry right before you move, you'd be surprised how quickly dirty clothes build up in your first week in a new place.

• Vacuum cleaner
• Broom and dustpan
• All purpose cleaner
• Toilet cleaner
• Window cleaner
• Large scrub brushes
• Mop
• Bucket
• Laundry basket
• Laundry detergent/pods
• Fabric softener sheets
• Iron/handheld steamer
• Ironing board
• Stain remover
• Sewing kit
• Bleach or whitener
• Basic home toolkit
• Battery-powered drill

Office Essentials

Even if you don't have a separate room for an office in your apartment, you often still need the elements of an office. A lot of us can remember our cellphone and laptop chargers, but there's other elements that make your home office work that you might not think about if you're living on your own for the first time. Most people who

• Extension cords
• HDMI cable
• Power strips/surge protectors
• USB outlets
• Printer
• Desk and/or Lap desk
• Office chair
• Book shelves
• Office lamp
• Desk organizer
• Filing cabinet or small drawers
• Extra pens & pencils
• Optional: Over-the-door organizers for small spaces

Safety Essentials

You don't want to forget about safety essentials until the moment you need something like a bandaid. Here are the small items you want to keep to make sure that you're prepared for an emergency:

• First aid kit
• Bandaids
• Wound cleaner
• Fire extinguisher
• Collapsable Ladder (for 2nd floor apartments)
• Batteries
• Flashlight
• Matches/lighter
• Light bulbs

Tips for Your First Apartment Checklist

Want to make sure your first shopping trip is a success? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Make Our List Your Own

This checklist is broken down by areas of your apartment, and then further by categories of large items. We encourage you to copy and paste this list into your own document so you can use it.

You don't need to buy everything on our list. The idea is to use it as a starting point to identify what is essential to you. Go through our list, and cross out any items that you know you don't need. Exercising your discernment here will also help you make better decisions while shopping, too.

Although our list of apartment essentials is large, you don't need everything at once. Save money by buying items over time. Also, search for items at local garage sales, thrift shops, or websites like Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace.

Learn How to Budget for Apartment Life

Budgeting for your first apartment is a matter of understanding your needs versus wants. That's why it helps to use a checklist like this one to take a holistic view of your new space. Our guide uses the 50-30-20 rule of budgeting to figure out what you can reasonably spend on rent, necessities, and fun. Check it out to learn more.

Learn How to Furnish an Apartment

Knowing what to buy is going to be dependent on knowing how to furnish your apartment. But furnishing your first apartment can be a bit overwhelming. That's why we dedicated an entire section of our blog just to furnishing an apartment. In general, there are some good rules of thumb to keep in mind:

• Measure your apartment before you buy large furniture items, and learn how to conceptualize square footage.
• Address storage early on, especially if your space is small.
• Decide on a theme. For example, if you like minimalism, pick that direction before you start shopping, and make sure you stick to pieces that will help you conceal your items.
• If you have a hard time picturing how things will look, try renting furniture instead of buying it.

Take It Slow

You're probably excited to pick out all your new items, but give yourself some time to shop for deals. You never know what you'll be able to find if you let yourself have a chance to look around. Plus, if you can find savings, you can start picking up items that aren't in your "must haves" list.

While this might seem overwhelming, many of these items you likely already have handy. If you don’t, buying brand new is not your only option. Check with friends and family for spares or shop around your local thrift store.

Looking for Your First Apartment?

Haven't found the apartment of your dreams yet? Take our quiz so that you can search around your ideal location for fantastic amenities within your budget. Flex your location, budget, or amenities to see even more choices! Our tools are perfect for first-time apartment hunters who need finding the best options.