Welcome to our 2021 Ultimate First Apartment Checklist. We spent 40+ hours to bring you the most comprehensive first apartment checklist on the Internet.
To make things easier, we’ve broken down the guide into 9 sections. The sections break down what you’ll need before moving in, and then what you’ll need for each space in your new apartment:
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Dining area
- Bathroom
- Medicine Cabinet
- Cleaning and Laundry
- Additional Necessities
Let’s start checking off this checklist.
First Apartment Checklist 1: What You Should Buy Before You Move

No one achieves a perfect apartment in a day. But you should start with the must-haves that you’ll need for your first apartment move.
Bedroom
Your bedroom should provide an instant feel of relaxation from day one. Here is everything you should buy before moving.
- Mattress
- Pillows
- Bedsheets
- Curtains
- Curtain rods and other accessories
- Cloth hangers
- Window blinds and shades
- Reading table
- Reading chair
Kitchen
The kitchen is probably the second most crucial part of your apartment. It’s the area in your apartment you’ll probably need to buy things the most for before moving.
- Table and chair
- Plates
- Cups
- Mugs
- Water glass
- Cutlery set
- Trash can
- Dishtowel
- Kitchen cleaning supplies
- Food storage containers
- Pots set
- Coffee maker
- Sandwich maker
Bathroom
Your bathroom is probably the first room you’re going to put to use after moving in — perhaps to shower away the move-in stress. So, buy everything you’ll need to make it functional from day one.
- Toiletries
- Shower curtain and accessories (liners and hooks)
- Bathrobe
- Bath towel
- Bath mat
- Soap holder
- Hand towel
- Personal grooming effects
Living Room
Your living room is likely to be the least used room in your apartment within the first few weeks you move in, so it might not be needing too many items.
Here are the essentials you’ll need to buy for your living room before moving.
- Curtains and drapes
- Curtain rods
- Wall frames
- Ambient lighting
Other Move-In Essentials
Here are the other things you’ll need to get ready for your first apartment.
- First aid kit
- Cleaning supplies
- Light bulbs
- Torch and batteries
- Duct tape
- Screwdrivers
- Hammer
First Apartment Checklist 2: What You Should Buy For Your Bedroom

After moving in and settling down, it’s time to start transforming your bedroom into a sanctuary. The place where you begin and end your day deserves all the attention you can give it.
Bedroom Furniture
Here is the bedroom furniture you’ll need to buy.
- Bed frame
- Dresser
- Nightstand
- One seater couch
- Small coffee table or ottoman
- Chest drawer
- Hanging chair
- Underbed box or shelf
Bedding Essentials
Here are bedding essentials you want to buy before or after moving into your new apartment.
- Two king-sized duvet covers
- Mattress topper
- Pillowcases
- Colorful throw pillows
- BBedsheets
- Blankets
- Comforters
- Blankets
Bedroom Decoration Essentials
Your bedroom should feel new and inviting. Here are the bedroom decorations you may want to buy.
- Wall frames and paintings
- Artificial flowers
- Decorative wall shelves
- Bedside lamp
- Ambient lightings
- Wallpapers
- Center rug
- Alarm clock
- Flower vase
- Candleholder and candles
- Storage boxes
- Bookshelves
- Floor lamp
- Trash can
Home Office Essentials
Use this checklist to set up a functional home office at a corner of your bedroom.
- Mini office desk
- Office chair
- Reading lamp
- Desktop or laptop
- Electrical cables
- Portable chargers
- Surge protectors
- Printer
- Printer stand
- File cabinet
- Reusable water bottle
- Rug
- File organizer or binder
- Scotch tape
- Stationery
- Wall shelf
- Binder clips
- Thump stack
- Stapler
- Glue
- Printing paper
- Notepads
- Pen and pencil holder
- Mobile phone holder
- Envelopes and stamps
- Office trash can
Other Bedroom Essentials
Here are other bedroom essentials you might want to consider for your bedroom.
- Closet organizers
- Extension cords
- Television
- Video player
- Sound system or wireless Bluetooth speaker
First Apartment Checklist 3: What You Should Buy For Your Living Room

The living room is where you welcome guests and loved ones. It’s your first attempt to impress them, so make it welcoming. Design the space to reflect your personality and tell visitors stories of who you’re inside.
Living Room Furniture
Here are the living room furniture pieces to buy and check off your first apartment checklist.
- Sofa set
- Coffee and side tables
- Media or TV stand
- Bookshelves
- Side tables
- Accent chairs
Living Room Entertainment Essentials
Entertainment systems can impact how much you enjoy spending time at home. These are the essential.
- Television
- Video player sets
- Sound system
- Video game
Living Room Decoration Essentials
Improve your living room allure by investing in the right decorative accessories. There is a class in simplicity. So, keep your living minimalistic and avoid cluttering the spaces.
Here are the decoration essentials to buy for your living room.
- Wallpaper (helps makes the living room space inspiring)
- Flowers
- Wall shelf
- Center rug
- Floor lamp
- An artistic chandelier or overhead lighting
Entry Area Essentials
These essentials help prevent tracking dirt, snow and rain into the apartment. If you have an entry area, then consider investing in them, and in the other essentials.
- Coat hanger
- Welcome mat
- Umbrella holder
- Boot and shoe storage
- Live or artificial flower plant (helps add character and charm to the entry area)
- Doorbell
First Apartment Checklist 4: What You Should Buy For Your Kitchen

You already set up a functional kitchen when you moved in.
Your focus after moving in should be to improve the current collections and invest in the right kitchen gadgets and other essentials.
Avoid spending on things you don’t need at the moment. Use this after-move checklist to buy everything you need for your kitchen.
Kitchenware Essentials
Buy more of this kitchenware to improve what you already have. You could buy the ware in matching sets or buy them in pieces to match them as you like.
- Dinner plates
- Salad plates
- Serving utensils
- Mugs
- Cereal bowls
- Serving platters
- Large stock pots
- Saucepans
- Deep frying pans
- Muffin pan
- Skillets
- Baking dish
Other Kitchen Essentials
This kitchen starter kit will make your kitchen more functional. Tick them on your first apartment checklist as you gradually add them to your kitchen collections.
- Kitchen cleaning supplies
- Baking sheet
- Cookie sheet
- Kitchen knives
- Cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Colander
- Foil
- Window blinds
- Plate organizer
- Cup organizer
- Spoon and fork organizer
- Knife organizer
- Serving spoon organizer
- Bottle opener
- Kitchen scissors
- Corkscrew
- Ice cube tray
- Funnel
- Measuring cups
- Potholders
- Dish drying rack
- Spatula
- Cabinet paper (for lining shelves)
- Dish soap scrubber
- Plastic bags (for storing foods)
Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances make cooking seamless. Investing in a suitable gadget can cut down on the time you spend cooking — freeing up valuable time for other pressing needs.
- Washing soap dispenser
- Water filter
- Electric blender
- Instant pot
- Microwave
- Oven
- Mixer
- Coffee pot or kettle
- Dishwasher
- Water purifier
- Hand-held blender
- Juicer
- Electric chimney
- Pressure cooker
- Ice cream maker
- Knife sharpeners
- Air fryer
- Electric grill
- Meat grinder
- Meat thermometer
- Whisks
- Vegetable peeler
- Grater
- Can opener
First Apartment Checklist 5: What You Should Buy For Your Dining Area

Whether in your kitchen or anywhere else, you’d need a place you can dine in peace. You’ll be spending a lot of time in your dining area, so make it cozy, clutter-free and full of styles.
Use this checklist to design a dining area that reflects your personality.
Dining Furniture
Investing in a quality dining table can enhance your dining enchantment. Here is the dining furniture to buy after moving in.
- Dining table
- Dining chair set
- China cabinet or a sideboard
- Wine bar storage
Dining Decoration
In different studies, Rutgers University and Harvard University found that having flowers at home increases compassion and happiness, reduces depressions and anxiety, and energizes people.
So, use them and other dining decorations to make the dining area more alluring and energizing.
- An area rug
- Photos, frames, and paintings
- Flowers
- Wall shelf
- Drapes, curtains, and blinds
- Curtain rods and accessories
- Ambient overhead Lighting
- Candle stand and candles or battery-operated candles for fire-safe options
- Tablescape
23. Other Dining Essentials
Here are the other essentials to buy for your dining area.
- Wine mixers
- Trash can
- Hand towel
- Wine glasses
- Wine collections
First Apartment Checklist 6: What You Should Buy For Your Bathroom

Your bathroom is also the ultimate judgment zone. Guests and people are going to judge you based on how they perceive your bathroom.
Use this checklist to keep things in order.
Shower and Bathroom Essentials
You already have most of your shower essentials sorted out before moving in, but you could add to the collection to make it more functional.
- Soap dispenser
- Toothbrush holder and paste dispenser
- Toilet lid cover, anti-slip mat and shower curtain set
- Flowers
- Toilet tissue holder
- Personal grooming products
- Medicine cabinet
Bathroom Cleaning Essentials
The activities that go on in the bathroom make it vulnerable to an overwhelming army of germs. Don’t move in unprepared. Use these bathroom cleaning essentials to keep your bathroom healthy.
- Disinfectants
- Hand gloves
- Toilet brush
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Grout brush
- Tiles cleaner
- Plunger
- Detergent
- Glass cleaner
- Floor scrub brush
- Disinfectant spray or wipes (to kill germs on doorknobs, flusher, sink and shower handles)
Bathroom Gadgets
Here are bathroom gadgets you might want to consider for your bathroom. Of course, they are optional.
- Aqua notepad
- Toilet bowl light (illuminate your toilet bowl at night)
- Towel warmer
- Waterproof Bluetooth speaker
- Bidet toilet seat
- Portable space heater
- Chemotherapy shower
- Waterproof shower TV (you can listen to the news while taking a shower)
First Apartment Checklist 7: What You Should Buy For Your Medicine Cabinet

It’s always helpful to have essential medical supplies. A well-stocked medicine cabinet helps you prepare for a swath of inevitable aches, injuries, and symptoms.
However, call your physician before administering medication.
Fever and Pain Relievers
Here are pain relievers you should buy for home use.
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
Skin and Wound Care
Use these supplies to treat minor skin wounds and skin-care treatments.
- Petroleum jelly (for minor burns, dry skin and eczema)
- Lotion
- Hydrocortisone 1percent (for insect bite, sting and rashes)
- Antibiotic ointment (bacitracin and Neosporin)
- Sunscreen
- Antifungals
- Calamine lotion (for minor skin irritation)
- Disinfectant (Dettols and alcohol wipes)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Soap (for disinfecting cuts)
Allergy Relief
Add these allergy relievers to the medicine cabinet.
- Antihistamine (runny and itchy nose, irritated eyes or skin, sneezing)
- Saline nasal spray (for the blocked, stuffy, itchy or dry nose)
- Allergy eye drop
Cold Care
These essentials will help you fight cold and cough.
- Cough syrup
- Menthol rub
- Honey (for cough)
Supplements
iHerb and Bodyunburdened.com recommend these nine essential supplements (1). Check them off your first apartment checklist as you add them to your medicine cabinet.
- Zinc (promote immunity)
- Vitamin C
- Activated charcoal (for food poisoning and bloating)
- Magnesium (ease headache, muscle cramping and promotes a restful night sleep)
- Elderberry (for flu, cold and immune-boosting)
- Echinacea (for colds and immune-boosting)
- Ginger (for nausea, stomach ache, heartburn and indigestion)
- Vitamin D (improves low mood)
- Oil of oregano (antibacterial)
Tools and Supplies
Here are the must-have tools for your medicine cabinet.
- Digital thermometer
- Bandages of different sizes
- Gauze and medical tape
- Tweezers
- Masks
Other Essential Drugs
Here are some of the eMedicine health recommended essential over-the-counter medications (2) you should have in your medicine cabinet.
- Aspirin (for arthritis and first-line treatment for heart attack and stroke)
- Loperamide (for diarrhea)
- Melatonin (for insomnia)
- Benzocaine (sore throat)
First Apartment Checklist 8: What You Should Buy For Cleaning and Laundry

Unless you intend to rely on a laundry service or laundromat for all your cleaning and washing needs, you’d need cleaning supplies to remove stains and wash clothes.
Laundry Essentials
Here are all the laundry and cleaning essentials you should buy for your apartment.
- Liquid detergent
- Powder detergent
- Baking soda (this is a natural fabric softener)
- Borax
- Chlorine bleach
- Color-safe bleach
- Washing soda
- White vinegar (softens water)
- Stain removers
- Fabric softener
- Coldwater starch
Laundry Gadget Essentials
Here are essential laundry gadgets to make laundry more effortless, efficient and joyful.
- Washing machine
- Portable cloth washer (if you travel a lot)
- Ironing board or ironing mat
- Dryer rack
- Iron
- Steamers
- Laundry bags
- Waste basket (for used clothes)
Home Cleaning Essentials
Use this checklist to get your home cleaning supplies and gadgets.
- Scrub brush
- Rubber glove
- Vacuum cleaner
- Dry-cleaning sponge
- Disinfectant
- Broom
- Mild abrasive
- Dust mop
- Mop bucket
- Trash bags
- Duster
- Glass and window cleaner
- Liquid soap
- Supply caddy
- Disinfecting wipes or spray
- Microfiber cloths
First Apartment Checklist 9: Additional Necessities

Here are the additional necessities you should buy after moving into your first apartment.
Home Toolkits
Here are the essentials you should buy for your home toolkit. Cross them off your first apartment checklist as you add them to your collections.
- Screwdriver set
- Measuring tape
- Toolbox
- Pliers set
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Hand saw
- Adjustable wrench
Utility Essentials
You want to check these utility essentials off your first apartment checklist as quickly as possible.
- Water and sewer
- Electricity
- Gas
- Waste pickup and recycling
- Internet
- Satellite and cable TV
- Telephone
Research utility providers and ring them up. If you are renting your home, you could ask the homeowner or real estate company for a list of the providers that service your area.
Ensure to understand all the utilities your rent cover before signing the lease agreement.
Safety Essentials
Your home probably has smoke detectors and other safety devices, but if it doesn’t, consider installing them as soon as you move in.
Use this safety toolkit to prepare your home for fire and other emergencies.
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke detector
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Gas leak detector
- Emergency escape kit
Miscellaneous
Here are the other essentials you should not forget to buy after moving in.
- Shoe rack
- Air fresheners for every room
- Sewing kit
- Command hooks
- Space heaters
- Raincoat, boot and umbrella
- Light bulbs
- Electric socket extension
- Candles
- Doormat
- Coat rack
- Stapler
- Fans
- Key hook
Wrapping It Up
Moving into your new apartment doesn’t have to be challenging. This first apartment checklist ensures you enjoy the process and embrace the new beginning.
It covers everything you’ll need to buy for your new apartment.
Of course, you don’t have to buy them all at once. You could begin your new life with the items in the First Apartment Checklist 1 and then buy the others gradually when you move in.
Remember to cross off your checklist as you add items to your home.