New Apartment Shopping List You Need to Make Before You Move

With all the excitement associated with changing homes, it is easy to forget essential things. We often do not notice them until they become needed and happen to be out of reach. The following tips will help you generate your own checklist and decide what your priorities are.

Buying Things for Your New Apartment Shopping List

The beauty of moving into your future place is in spreading the wings of your creativity, so do not hurry to do everything immediately. Buy items that are needed the most, and then continue furnishing your place gradually.

Kitchen Checklist

One of the first rooms you should take care of is your kitchen, so make sure you get all of the items from your checklist. You could use paper plates and cups until you purchase a dish set, but it’s better to obtain some necessary items before you move in.

Kitchen Essentials

Presumably, you will have a fridge in the apartment. If that is not the case, a refrigerator should be at the top of your kitchen essentials list. Other than that, you will require:

• Microwave
• Blender
• Toaster
• Coffeemaker
• Kettle
• Utensils
• Food storage containers
• Bottle opener, corkscrew, and can opener
• Cutting board

Dishes, Pots, Pans, and Glasses

While moving into your future apartment, you mustn’t forget to bring or buy dishes, pots, pans, glasses, and everything else you might use for cooking and serving meals. We recommend you bring the following:

• One medium or large fry pan
• One small and one large pot
• Oven-safe casserole dish, medium or large
• Plates and bowls (a few to start with)
• Glasses
• A few cups and mugs
• Serving dishes and spoons

Step Stool and Trash Can

One step stool and a trash can will be enough but do not make the mistake of not buying them. They will be very useful when you start moving in.

Bedroom Checklist

For your bedroom checklist, you’ll need the following items:

• Curtains
• Dresser
• Closet storage baskets
• Nightstand and nightlight
• Laundry hamper

Mattress, Mattress Topper, Pillows, and Bedding

A mattress is an essential part of your bedroom, together with your bed. Other mattress accessories, such as a pad and a topper can be bought later. However, for long-term living, the following things should also find a place in your home:

• Pillows, two to start with
• Sheets and pillowcases, minimum two of each
• Duvet or comforter and two duvet covers
• As many blankets as needed

Clothing Hangers

There is nothing that makes us feel as comfortable at home as a tidy room, and to make that happen, we need to hang our clothes in a closet instead of leaving them lying on the bed or chairs. So, hangers for the closet are important, even if they seem to be trivial.

Bathroom Checklist

Presuming you have essentials such as a toilet seat, the basics would include hand and bath towels and a shower curtain, along with the following toiletries:

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and toothbrush holder
• Soap and shower gel
• Bath mat
• Toilet brush and plunger

Apart from the things you bring to your new apartment, you should make sure to check if you need a hot water heater or hybrid heat pumps for your bathroom.

Toilet Paper

Getting toilet paper for your future place is crucial. This is something you will constantly require, so make sure you bring as much as you can. And stock up on it to avoid running out of it when you need it the most.

Cleaning Supplies

As for cleaning supplies, there are some things you will use from day one. A vacuum cleaner is an essential part of your cleaning supplies, together with a broom and a dustpan. However, you will also require the following items:

• A garbage can and bags
• Laundry basket
• Mop
• Bucket
• All-purpose cleaner
• Stain remover
• Sponges and washcloths
• Laundry detergent and softener

First-Aid Kit

Having a first-aid kit is essential, especially if you expect to do some work in your future place. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Living Room Checklist

Whether you’re living in a studio or a two-bedroom, you should make your living room the perfect place to relax, where you can do some reading and host family and friends. 

Nails, Wall Hooks, and a Toolkit

When moving in, the most important tools are a hammer, a screwdriver and nails, and hooks. Pliers can come in handy, as well as scissors, as you will have to take apart a piece of furniture to put it back together in your future apartment or hang something on the wall.

Comfy Couch

Needless to say, this is the most important item in your living room. Surely beanbags, cushions and other alternatives can do the job in the beginning, but when starting anew, you will certainly require a comfortable sofa to rest or relax while reading a book or to invite friends for a cup of coffee.

Coffee Table

If a couch is there for relaxing by having a cup of coffee or reading a book, then you should have a coffee table to put the mug or a book on. Make sure it matches your sofa in style and color.

Storage Solutions

The best option for storage in your living room would be a TV cabinet or a chest of drawers and bookshelves. So try to buy them as soon as possible if you want your living room to look tidy for yourself and your first visitors.

Before and After You Move In

The regular thing to do before moving in would be to replace the locks and fumigate or exterminate the apartment if needed. Then you will have to disinfect the fridge, as you will start using it right after you move in. Next, you should take photos of the whole place and make sure you document the state of each room. You definitely don’t want to end up paying for damages you are not responsible for. After moving in, start by assembling your bed and unpacking your boxes. 

Moving for the First Time

This is an activity that marks a significant change in your life, as there will be a bunch of things to think about and do, starting with your budget. Put your monthly income and expected expenses on the paper and calculate what you have left after deducting non-negotiable payments such as bills, groceries, transportation. And most importantly, don’t forget to set aside money for your long-distance move, since you will need reliable and professional moving services, along with insurance and packing supplies.