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The Ultimate First Apartment Checklist

Fill your first apartment with all the essentials using this comprehensive checklist.

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Updated on August 8, 2022

First apartment checklist - guide to what to get for first apartment (printable checklist) — Photo: Getty Images

Shopping for a first apartment isn't easy. You may be leaving your parents' house for the first time; or you may be starting afresh in a new city after graduating college or trading an on-campus dorm room for an off-campus place. Regardless of your life stage, perusing the seemingly endless variety of home furnishings, kitchen tools, and linens can feel overwhelming, especially if you're starting from scratch. To be sure, there are plenty of places to buy tableware online.

The good news is that this is your first apartment and your first time picking these items out for yourself—and it's practically guaranteed that it won't be your last time, so every decision doesn't have to mean a lifelong commitment to a mattress, a duvet insert, or an adorable loveseat that fits perfectly in a small apartment or starter home.

The key is to balance getting everything you need on the first apartment checklist with prioritizing the splurges that are most important to you. You may want to invest in a great dresser for your bedroom. If you're limited on space, a futon could be a more budget-friendly space-saving option than a sleeper sofa. If a powerful vacuum matters more to you than a good toaster, put your money into the vacuum and worry about upgrading your toaster later. And fight the urge to rush. It's true that sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment isn't fun, but it's better than spending money on items you don't actually like. Or items that offend your roommates (this is where the rules for decorating an apartment with roommates come in handy).

As you work through our ultimate first apartment checklist, don't forget to set a little cash aside for the surprising things you'll need for your first apartment—these little luxuries will make your first adult living space a little homier.

Below is our printable, portable first apartment checklist; after that, you'll find a digital version that you can keep on your phone during those all-important shopping trips. With any luck, you'll have your apartment fully stocked before your first lease is up.