Moving into your first college apartment is the first step into adulthood and independence. It is important to establish a clean, organized, and beautiful living space to start on the right foot! Here are the most important items to invest in to make your college apartment the perfect living space!
Kitchen Essentials
Whether you are the microwave everything or make-from-scratch type of chef, there are some common essentials you need to purchase for your kitchen.
- Plates
- Cups
- Mugs
- Utensil set with organizer
- Knife set
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Oven mitts
- Air fryer with different cooking options (bake, toast, etc.)
- Keurig
- Cooking utensil set (look for ones with a spatula, ladle, tongs, and whatever else you need)
- Sheet pan
- 9 x 9 baking pan
- Nonstick pot and pan set
- Cutting board
- Towels
- Paper towel holder
- Fruit basket
- Tupperware set (eco-friendly way to keep leftovers)
Living Room Essentials
This space allows for a lot of decorative freedom, but it’s easy for clutter to accumulate. Visually pleasing furniture and storage are essential.
- TV stand
- TV
- Coffee table
- Coasters
- Side tables
- Couch and/or couch covers
- Lighting
- Basket to store blankets
- Rug
Bedroom Essentials
College apartments typically are not the most spacious, especially the bedrooms. Invest in quality storage containers and organizers to help fit your clothes, accessories, and essentials into your space.
- Under the bed storage containers (a sneaky way to hide the out-of-season clothes)
- Hangers
- Closet hanger organizers
- Over-the-door hooks
- Laundry bin with a lid
- Storage ottoman (an extra seating area with lots of storage for larger clothing items, blankets, or shoes)
- Side table with built-in charging station
- Shoe organizer (hanging or shelves)
- Bedsheets
- Mattress pad
- Quilt or duvet
- Blanket
- Pillows
- Rug
- Storage mirror (can hold makeup, jewelry, fragrances, and more)
- Steamer
- Bed frame and mattress (if not provided)
Bathroom Essentials
This may be the smallest space in your apartment, but it has the most potential for the greatest amount of clutter and chaos. By implementing storage organization and essential bathroom items, keeping your bathroom squeaky clean is easy! Below-the-counter or hanging storage helps keep your counters clear and clutter-free.
- Hanging shower organizer (standing organizers take up too much floor space)
- Small and large stacking storage containers (large for hair tools, lotion, and mouthwash, and small for items like Q-tips, cotton pads, razors, and all of the other small basics)
- Small trash can with lid
- Shower curtain and liner
- Bath mat
- Towel set
Cleaning Essentials
Small spaces tend to get dustier and dirtier faster. Find a hidden space, like under the kitchen sink, in the laundry room, or in a storage closet, to keep all of your cleaning supplies.
- Vacuum
- Swiffer with pads
- Clorox wipes
- Bathroom cleaning spray
- Dishwasher detergent
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Clorox toilet cleaning wand
- Paper towel
- Scrubby or sponge
- Stove cleaner
Decorating Essentials and Tips
When decorating each room, keep in mind a color palette. The colors you choose need to be cohesive throughout the entire apartment. Not every space needs to have the same colors, but think about flow. Click here to learn more about planning a color scheme for your apartment. Below is a list of staples for decorating your apartment:
- Artwork
- Candles
- Plants
- Decorative books
- Decorative pillows
- Lamps and lighting
- Curtains
- Blankets
- Rug
Do not let this list intimidate you. Once you check off all of these essentials, you will be set with the perfect space to come back to after a long day of college classes and hang out with all of your college friends.
