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The Ultimate Checklist for Your First Apartment

#adulting! Make your new apartment feel like home in no time with this essential shopping list

Nena Farrell
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Doormat

Nothing is more welcoming than a cool doormat. A simple design with a punchy phrase keeps your front door fun.

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Catch-All Dish

Stop losing your keys by giving them a home in this sleek catch-all dish.

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Console Table

Create an entryway in your apartment with this console table. It provides the ideal drop zone for shoes, keys, and your bag.

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Letter Sorter

Don’t let your mail consume that console table! Keep it organized with an affordable yet beautiful sorter.

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Print Rug

Nothing takes a living space from bland to stylish like a good rug. Add a fun, graphic print in a neutral palette to your apartment for a versatile look.

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Reversible Color Block Rug

Want a colorful rug but can’t pick one? Grab a color block version to get two hues in one. Flip the rug when your decor changes, or when you feel like freshening up the space without going shopping.

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Single Bike Storage Hook

If you’re a biker, living in an apartment might mean there’s no space to stow your bike outside of your unit. Add this hook to any wall in your home for safe storage.

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Side Table Lamp

Good lighting is the key to everything, and your first apartment is no exception. Add this ceramic side table lamp to your living room, bedside table, or even entryway to add a chic touch to the space.

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Shelf Floor Lamp

Get two in one with this floor light: a modern side table and a bookshelf that doubles as a lamp.

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Desk Lamp

Upgrade your desk with a brass lamp, adding an instant touch of glam to your home workspace.

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Houseplant

Adding something living is an amazingly easy way to brighten up your new living space, and we’ve rounded up the best ones for novices to add to their home. We promise, even if you have a black thumb, you can't kill these houseplants.

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Clothing Rack

Apartments don’t always have the most built-in storage, so if your closet is constantly overflowing (or nonexistent!), grab a clothing rack to transform your room from a disaster zone into an Instagram-worthy set-up. Grab a rack with some bottom shelves to organize shoes or folded items.

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Armoire

Do you just need more general storage space? Add an armoire to serve as linen storage or a second closet.

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Shoe Rack

Keep shoe clutter to a minimum with this simple shoe rack. If you discover you need more storage, just grab a second one and stack it on top.

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Counter Table

Desperate for more counter space? Try adding this minimalist table to get both extra counter space and more storage in your kitchen.

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Kitchen Trolley

If you love a good kitchen island, grab this trolley for an instant moveable chopping station, bar cart, or storage rack.

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Lithuanian Linen Tea Towel

Hand towels are an easy thing to forget when you’re shopping for your first apartment, but they’re an immediate necessity once you wash your hands or spill in the kitchen. Pick up some pretty tea towels for something functional and aesthetically pleasing.

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Nonstick Soup Pot

Getting your first apartment isn’t just about rugs and a great entryway, but making sure you have the tools for everyday living. A large pot for cooking up soups, boiling pasta, and so much more is always a necessity.

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Nonstick Saucepan with Spout

Don’t forget a smaller pot for grains and sauces.

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Induction Fry Pan

A good frying pan will stay with you long beyond your first apartment, and this set of two should help kick off your relationship with your first kitchen.

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Nonstick Quarter Sheet and Baking Rack

Bake cookies, roast veggies, and do so much more with this sheet and baking rack duo.

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5-Speed Blender

Big smoothie fan? Get a small countertop blender to make anything from green drinks to milkshakes daily.

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Instant Pot

Apartment kitchens are small spaces, and it’s likely you’ll only be able to fit one extra appliance on your counter. If you’re looking to make a wide variety of recipes with minimal effort, try an Instant Pot, a.k.a. a slow-cooker and pressure cooker mash-up.

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Slow Cooker

If you love coming home to a good slow-cooked meal at the end of the day, or enjoy preparing big batches of meals for the week, pick up a slow-cooker for your kitchen.