Image courtesy of Moving Feedback. 

Moving into an apartment for college for the first time is an exciting experience that can leave anyone with a lot of concerns. Living away from your family for the first time will be a fun new experience, but you can potentially deal with some issues if you aren't adequately prepared for it. You’ve been so used to having everything you need at your parents’ place, that you may not have even paid too much attention to what made the place so livable. Knowing what the most important things that are needed to make your apartment a comfortable space are will help you get started enjoying your new life. 

Your apartment should be a comfortable space that you’re happy to spend time in. You should aim to have the kind of space that you are excited to come home to after a long day of classes. When you have all the necessities prepped right after moving in, it makes your space livable and makes the time spent there feel relaxed. 

In an apartment, several places should be given your attention in order  to get the whole space where it needs to be. Your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom will need to be stocked with essential furniture pieces and items that you can’t live without. You’ll also want to use decorations that suit your tastes. Decorating a space goes a long way towards making it feel like it’s your own. It adds another layer of comfort. Here is an apartment checklist that will get you on track towards setting up your new apartment in the best way that you can! 

Kitchen

Keeping yourself well fed will help you get through your busy days. 

There are several things needed to have a usable kitchen. Even if you weren’t much of a cook before, getting used to making yourself meals in your new apartment will help to keep you well fed. Having basic kitchen appliances will make it so you can easily make meals whenever you need to. You can always stock your kitchen with fancy gadgets if you want to, but the basic kitchen necessities you need just to get started include:

• Cookware set

Having a cookware set is one of the main things you need to get started on cooking meals. A cookware set should come with a few different pots and pans of different sizes. Different foods can often be best cooked in different sized or shaped cookware, so you can get just one pot, but over time you might discover that cooking is a lot easier when you have more than one. 

• Measuring spoons/cups

Measuring utensils are great for new and experienced cooks. If you plan to learn how to cook, or try out different recipes, these will help you measure out your ingredients. Guessing measurements can work for some people, but oftentimes is not the best idea if you want to make something right. 

• Silverware
• Cups and Bowls
• Dish soap/Sponges

You could feel tempted to use plastic utensils when setting up your new kitchen, but getting reusable silverware is the best choice. Having solid plates and bowls will also make eating a lot more comfortable. It’s a good idea to have enough so that you can always have some to use even if you haven’t done dishes, and so that there is enough to go around even if you have friends over. 

• Cutting Board
• Sharp knives
• Can Opener

These will be needed for chopping and dicing foods, which is a large part of the cooking process. You don’t want to have all the pots and pans you need and then realize you can’t cut any of your ingredients up to add to the pots. 

• Mixing bowls
• Wooden spoons/spatulas

These are needed for mixing ingredients or for holding ingredients after you’ve sliced and diced them. It is really beneficial to have separate bowls for this part of the cooking process. Having glass, plastic, or even steel bowls to mix your ingredients in works so much better than using the bowls you eat out of. Using wooden spoons and spatulas also works miles better than using the spoons and forks you eat with to cook. 

• Bakeware
• Oven Mitts

Bakeware is important for making desserts and also for making less involved meals. If you’ve never baked before, you might not realize how simple it can be to make a dessert like cookies or brownies. There are many easy to follow recipes online that can guide you through the process. And when cooking meals in the oven, you can quickly prep the ingredients, place them in the oven and then focus on other things until the food is ready. It’s really convenient for when you’re busy but would like a home cooked meal. Things like cookie sheets, muffin pans, and deep baking pans can take care of your baking needs. 

• Toaster/Microwave

A toaster or a microwave is great to have for every home. A microwave is especially great for a busy college student. It is easy to warm up meals, and you can even cook in it if you need to. You can find plenty of recipes for microwave made meals online. A toaster is great for bread and frozen waffles, though you can always choose not to get a toaster and toast things by placing them on a baking rack in the oven for a few minutes at a time. 

Living Room

This room should be a haven of relaxation. 

A living room is the space you will be in almost as much as your bedroom, maybe even more. This is also the place that you will bring your guests to, so you need to make it a great space for you and for anyone who may end up visiting your home. The basic items that your living room needs are: 

• Couch

A couch will be the central part of your living room. A couch that is roomy, comfortable, and looks good is ideal for your place. The living room couch is where you will relax, maybe eat, and entertain. The couch is the largest piece in the living room and will set the tone for the room. Decorating around your couch can really pull a room together. 

• Coffee Table

A coffee table is useful for many reasons. It is something that takes up some living room space, as an empty living room usually looks sad, and it also can be used to hold decorations, food, and drinks. It is an important part of what makes a living room comfortable for you and for anyone you might have over. 

• Rug

A rug is good to have in your living room for decoration and for comfort. Placing a rug directly in the middle of your living room will make the space feel cozy and put together. This is a good opportunity to mix and match colors with your couch. You need a rug that compliments it well and ties the space together. 

• TV Stand
• TV

Having entertainment in your living room is a good idea. It is great for entertaining yourself and any company you may have. Any time that you can enjoy snacks and movies on a comfortable couch is a good time. 

• Curtain Rod
• Curtains

Curtains make good decoration for your living room and also helps to keep it private. Whether your apartment is in a house or a building, you want to avoid people on the outside seeing into it. With curtains, you also get to control how much sunlight can get into your room. This is another way that you can add color and personality to your living room. 

Bedroom

Your bedroom is the most important room in your apartment. 

Your bedroom is the room that you will sleep in every night, which makes it super important. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for ending your day in peace and starting the next one well refreshed. 

• Bed Frame

A bed frame is necessary for setting up your mattress. You might think that a mattress would be just as good on the floor, but it makes for a much more comfortable bedroom when your mattress is propped up on a bed frame. It will make your room look nicer and make your bed a lot more comfortable. 

• Mattress/Pillows

A mattress is the most important thing in your bedroom. Even if you don’t immediately have other pieces of furniture, you will at least need a mattress to sleep on to enjoy your nights in your new place. Having at least two pillows on your mattress would be ideal. A mattress is also the type of item you would do good to splurge on. Sleeping well really makes a difference towards your daily mood. 

• Nightstands
• Dresser

Having storage in your bedroom is ideal. You can store many things inside the drawers of your night stands and dressers and also store a few things on top. The items on top can be decorative, but also items that are necessary. Storing them on top of a dresser or nightstand makes them easy to reach. 

• Bed Sheets/Comforter

Bedsheets and comforters are the next most important things that you need to make your room comfortable. You’ll need to prioritize getting the types of sheets that suit the current season. Eventually, you should have sheets that work for the cold months and the warm months. 

• Lamp

Having a lamp in your room is helpful for when you need extra light or for when you want a smaller light than the bright overhead light. It can be great for all the reading and studying you will be doing once you start classes. 

• Mirror

A mirror is good for knowing exactly how you look before leaving your home. A full length mirror would be best for this. You can make sure that you look well put together each time you leave to take on your day when you have a decent sized mirror. 

• Rug

A rug is also a good addition to your bedroom. Placing a rug right by your bed will make your room feel cozy and comfy. You can choose a color that looks great with your favorite bed sheets. Having a rug will also make stepping out of bed a warm experience each day. 

Bathroom

A bathroom should have all of your hygiene needs. 

The bathroom is the place you go to when you need to take care of yourself. It should be a clean space stocked with all your bathroom necessities. 

• Shower curtain
• Bath mat
• Rug

A shower curtain will keep water from getting outside of the bathtub, and a rug will keep your floors dry when you exit the shower. A bath mat will keep you from slipping on your shower floors when it's saturated with water and shampoo. 

• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Plunger
• Cleaning supplies

These items are needed to keep your bathroom clean and well functioning. You can also store things to keep other rooms in your place clean in the bathroom cabinets. It is a great place for storing things you don’t want in other parts of the home. 

• Hand soap
• Toothpaste/Mouthwash/Toothbrush
• Shampoo/Conditioner/Body wash/Lotion
• Towels

These items exist to keep your body clean. You likely already know that you need these things in your home, but average items like this can be forgotten during a moving process when the mover is focused on the bigger items. It never feels great to be in a new home realizing you can’t brush your teeth, take a decent shower, or wash your hands. 

• First Aid
• Allergy medication/Ibuprofen
• Q-tips and cotton balls

These items should be stored in your bathroom for whenever they are needed. You should also add on any medications or personal items that you think you may need in case of potential emergencies or moments of need. 

Stocking your new apartment with the things you need before school starts can be a bit of a challenge. Having a list of basics to look at can help get some of the work out of the way so you can focus on the most fun parts of the process, like decorating!