Moving Soon? The Only First Apartment Checklist You Need (By Room + Budget)

You signed the lease. You've told everyone. Now comes the part nobody warns you about: figuring out what you actually need for your first apartment before you show up with a trunk full of stuff and realize you don't own a single dish towel. 

Good news: this is the only first apartment checklist you need, broken down by room, sorted by priority, and built to keep you from spending $300 at Target on things you'll use twice. Whether you're moving in solo or splitting it with a roommate, here's exactly what to buy, what to wait on, and what to skip entirely. 

Before You Buy Anything: Check What's Already There

Most apartments come with more than you'd expect. Knowing this before you shop can save you a surprising amount of money. Do an apartment walkthrough (or read your lease carefully) before ordering a single thing. 

Usually included: 

• Refrigerator 

• Stove and oven 

• Dishwasher (more common in newer buildings) 

• Microwave (sometimes) 

• Window blinds or basic curtains 

• Overhead light fixtures (not always the bulbs, though) 

• Smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector 

Almost never included: 

• Furniture 

• Smart home devices 

One thing to do on your first walkthrough regardless: take photos and video of every room before a single box comes in. Not only is this helpful for getting your security deposit back, but it also reminds you of the lay of the land before buying anything.  

Rough Budget Breakdown

Starting from zero? Here's what to expect, with and without the secondhand hustle. 

The biggest variable here is furniture. Buying even one piece secondhand can save you a pretty penny. Also, don’t forget to stop by your local thrift or consignment shop for gently loved items. This is especially helpful if you’re looking for a high-ticket item, such as a couch.  

Kitchen Essentials for Your First Apartment

The kitchen is where most people panic-buy. You do not need a full knife block, a stand mixer, and a panini press on day one. Just focus on the must-have kitchen essentials and build a list from there.  

Buy Before You Unpack 

• One good chef's knife (this beats an entire block of mediocre ones) 

• Cutting board 

• 10 or 12-inch nonstick skillet 

• Spatula, wooden spoon, ladle 

• Medium saucepan with a lid 

• Can opener 

• Dish soap and a sponge 

• Paper towels 

• Dish rack or drying mat 

• Basic silverware and dishes 

• The seasonings you can’t live without 

Add in Your First 30 Days 

• Sheet pan (you'll use this constantly if you want easy meals) 

• Mixing bowls 

• Colander or strainer 

• Measuring cups and spoons 

• Airtight food storage containers 

• Dish towels — grab six, not two 

What to Skip Until You Can Absolutely Afford It 

• Blender 

• Toaster oven or air frier 

• Full spice rack 

• Matching dinnerware sets 

• KitchenAid anything  

If you're on a tight timeline and budget, just focus on the top portion of this list. Future you, who didn't haul a waffle maker up three flights of stairs, will be grateful. 

Bedroom Essentials for Your First Apartment

Your bedroom is going to pull a lot of weight. You start and end your days in this space, and it should be a relaxing sanctuary that will set up the tone. Get the foundation right. 

Buy Before You Unpack 

• Mattress, if you don't already have one 

• Bed frame, platform, or at minimum a box spring (a bed frame is essential if you like an aesthetically pleasing space, though) 

• Sheets: two sets  

• Pillows 

• A comforter or duvet 

• Good curtains, especially if you're a light sleeper or your window faces east 

Add in Your First 30 Days 

• Hangers — more than you think you need, then double it 

• Dresser or a freestanding clothes rack if closet space is limited 

• Bedside lamp 

• Laundry hamper 

• Full-length mirror (technically optional, practically essential) 

What to Skip Until You Can Absolutely Afford It 

• Matching bedroom furniture sets from big box stores tend to be pricier, and some are lower quality than buying pieces separately.  

• Decor items like candles or decorative pillows 

A solid used dresser plus a good mattress will do more for your daily life than a matching nine-piece set that looks fine but wobbles. 

Bathroom Essentials for Your First Apartment

Small room, high stakes. This is the category most people forget until they're standing in their new apartment at 10pm. 

Buy Before Move-In Day 

• Shower curtain, liner, and rings — unless you have shower doors! This trio is a Day 1 must. If you forget it, your first shower involves a lot of towels on the floor. 

• Toilet paper 

• Hand soap 

• Bath towels: at least two per person 

• Washcloths 

• Toilet brush and holder 

• Bathmat 

• Plunger — buy it before you need it 

Add in Your First 30 Days 

• Toothbrush holder or cup 

• Bathroom storage: over-the-door organizer, a small shelf, or a few baskets 

What to Skip Until You Can Absolutely Afford It 

• Matching towel sets 

• Fancy shower caddies 

• Decorative soap dispensers — all of those can wait until you know the vibe of the space and aren't shopping under pressure 

Living Room Essentials for Your First Apartment 

If you're moving into a furnished place, skip ahead. Everyone else: start small and build. 

Start Here 

• Some kind of seating, even one secondhand couch. Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, and Buy Nothing groups are genuinely great for this. 

• Lamps (especially if you’re not a fan of overhead lighting) 

• Power strips and extension cords 

• Wi-Fi router, if your building doesn't provide it 

Add in Your First 30 Days 

• A coffee table or some kind of surface 

• A rug to anchor the space  

• A small bookcase or shelving unit for storage 

• TV or monitor if that's part of your setup 

What to Skip Until You Can Absolutely Afford It 

• Art 

• Throw pillows 

• Accent pieces 

• Decorative objects 

Wait a week to develop opinions about what the space needs instead of buying things that feel right in a store and look weird in your apartment. 

Cleaning Supplies + General Home Essentials

This category gets completely forgotten until you're standing in a pile of dust with nothing to do about it. 

Get Before You Move In 

• All-purpose cleaner (spray) 

• Laundry detergent and dryer sheets (or a reusable option) 

• Broom and dustpan 

• Mop or Swiffer 

• Toilet bowl cleaner and brush 

• Trash cans (at minimum one for the kitchen, one for the bathroom) 

• Trash bags in the right size 

• Vacuum  

Add in Your First 30 Days 

• Hand vacuum for quick countertop and couch cleanups 

• A cleaning caddy to store everything in one place so you'll actually use it 

Solo Renter vs. Roommate: What Actually Changes 

If you're moving in solo: You're buying everything yourself, which means budget is the whole conversation. Prioritize functional over decorative for the first few weeks.  

If you're moving in with a roommate: The move-in checklist gets a lot more manageable, but only if you talk through dividing belongings with your roommate before move-in day. Agree on who's bringing what, especially the big items: couch, kitchen basics, cleaning gear. A shared note or quick spreadsheet prevents the classic outcome of two blenders, zero spatulas, and a passive-aggressive first week. Here’s a simple way to split it: 

Also worth figuring out upfront: what happens to shared items if one person moves out? 

Now Go Find Your First Apartment!

The checklist is ready. The plunger is on the list. All that's left is the apartment itself. 

Whether you know exactly what you want or you're still figuring it out, Apartments.com makes it easy to search by neighborhood, price, and the features that actually matter to you like in-unit laundry (fewer trips to the laundromat) or a dishwasher (fewer debates about whose turn it is).