College Apartment Checklist: All the Essentials You Need

So, you are leaving your parent’s house or moving out of your small dorm to settle in your first college apartment. That’s a pretty big deal! It’s both exciting and overwhelming. To make life convenient and cozy in your college apartment, you’ll need a few key pieces of furniture and basic accessories. Rest assured, you can always add a few luxury items later on.

Are you looking for a list of college apartment essentials? Well, we have prepared a complete college apartment checklist of items you will need.

1. Bedroom Essentials

The largest part of your budget will probably go towards bedroom essentials. If your apartment is located on campus, you might be lucky enough to have a fully furnished bedroom.

However, if you’re moving into an off-campus apartment, here’s everything that you need to buy:

• Bed frame
• Mattress
• Sheet set
• Nightstand
• Dresser
• Desk
• Chair
• Comforter or quilt
• A mattress topper or mattress pad
• Pillows
• Curtains or blinds for your room windows (if not included)

 

Besides these key items, you may want to add some bedroom decor. That may include items such as decorative pillows, photos, tapestries, area rugs, and posters. You also may choose to buy a desk or floor lamp to add flair to the room and provide light for studying.

No college bedroom is complete without a mirror, and you’ll also want to buy a few storage bins to keep extra stuff like off-season clothes and shoes.

2. Bathroom Essentials

Transitioning from sharing a bathroom in the college dorm to having a separate and personal bathroom is certainly progress.

This transition means outfitting your bathroom with the following essentials:

• Shower curtain (including a liner and hooks)
• Bathmat
• Towels
• Toilet paper (and a holder if not included)
• Facial tissues
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hand soap
• Body wash

Apart from these essential items, you’ll also need a wastebasket, toilet brush, plunger, and disinfecting spray.

3. Kitchen Essentials

College apartment essentials for the kitchen are simple. You’ll need a kitchen table and chairs. If you have a bar counter in your kitchen, you may think of buying bar stools. Consider rehabbing an old unused dining set that’s been stashed away in your parents’ basement.  The set would add a vintage touch to your new dining area.

Eating utensils, bowls, mugs, glasses, and plates are also essential.  Consider getting enough utensils for at least six people–you never know when you’ll have a guest over for dinner. And don’t forget to get an organizer for your utensils!

If your apartment doesn’t come with kitchen appliances, you’ll need to consider buying at least a micro-fridge, microwave oven, coffee pot, and toaster.

If you plan to cook often, you’ll definitely need a decent collection of spices and condiments like salt, pepper, oil, ketchup, and mustard.

You’ll also want to include cleaning supplies for the kitchen since it demands consistent and thorough cleaning on a daily basis. These should include:

• A Trash can and Trash Bags
• A Recycling Bin
• Dishwasher Detergent
• Sponges
• Hand Soap
• Multi-Purpose Liquid Cleaner
• Paper Towels
• Dish Soap

 

4. Living Room Essentials

For the basic and most essential item in the college apartment living room, consider buying a coffee table, a setup of TV, and couches. Consider buying dark-colored couches that will conceal staining and normal wear and tear.

For the TV setup, buying a TV stand is better than mounting it on the wall. You’ll also need to get extra shelves for books, board games, and decorative pieces as well. You are likely to spend most of your time in your living room, so think of ways to make it cozy and comfortable.

Decorate it in a way that reflects your personal style and gives off welcoming vibes. Adding a dark-colored rug is one way to bring the room together. You can also add indoor plants, candle stands, and wall art. You may get your car to your college apartment.

Last but not least, include a floor lamp for the living room in your checklist.

5. Miscellaneous items

Apart from buying essentials for each room, don’t forget to add general items to your list of must-haves for the apartment.  Having a first-aid kit in the apartment is a must since you never know when you or a guest may end up with a minor injury.

You’ll also want to clean your apartment regularly. So buying a vacuum cleaner, dustbin, and broom is also recommended. Being a student, include basic stationery items such as pens, paper, tape, and scissors on your list.

FAQs

How do I Decorate a College Apartment?

1. Start with a color scheme and coordinate your decor around it.
2. Use inexpensive items like posters, tapestries, and string lights to add personality and create a cozy atmosphere.

How Can I Make My College Room Cute?

You can use string lights or fairy lights to create a cozy atmosphere and decorate with posters, tapestries, throw pillows, and a colorful rug to add personality and warmth to your space.

What Cleaning Supplies should be on a College Apartment Checklist?

Cleaning supplies to include are a vacuum cleaner or broom, mop, bucket, all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant wipes, paper towels, trash bags, laundry detergent, and dish soap.

Final Words:

Making a new start is both exciting and overwhelming. And with our checklist of essentials for your first college apartment, we’re confident that you’ll start off on the right foot with everything you need.

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