First Apartment Checklist

This post may contain affiliate links provided for your convenience. We earn commissions if you shop through the links on this page. I am also an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases Read my full disclosure policy.

Sharing is caring!

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

What’s the first thing you need for your new apartment? The First Apartment Checklist, of course! I’ve moved 25 times thanks to the military and have helped my two daughters set up their first apartments, so I created this free printable checklist so that you know the basic items to start off in your new place.

There’s a lot to know when you get your first place, but you won’t have to worry about what you need to live in it comfortably.

Collage of 4 images of modern style furniture and image of checklist with title text reading First Apartment Checklist

When you think of your first apartment, you dream of a cool, hip place that is filled with items that express your style and is a place you’ll be happy to come home and invite friends to. You know, a cool, hip pad.

Whether you’re looking for a college apartment checklist or one for your first adult place, this first apartment checklist will get you started with the basic must-have items any new home needs. You can take the checklist with you when you go out shopping, when you place your online orders or when family or friends ask you for gift ideas. Whatever the situation, you’ll know exactly what you have and what you have left to purchase!

First Apartment Checklist

collage of 4 images of modern style furniture

When you think of your first apartment, you dream of a cool, hip place that is filled with items that express your style and is a place you’ll be happy to come home and invite friends to. You know, a cool, hip pad.

You have lots of ideas of things you’d like for your first home, but do you know the must-have items that you really need? No worries. My First Apartment Checklist pdf can be printed out so that you won’t forget a single must-have item. And they can be cool and hip, too.

Dress up any new apartment and make it your personalized home with these tips on how to install renter friendly wall lamps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of items I need?

To make it easier to shop and budget, I broke the items needed for your first apartment into 4 categories:

  • Furniture – This will most likely be the first time that you are choosing your own furniture. Knowing what you really need to start living in your first home will help you prioritize and budget for the items you need and create your own home.
    • CORT has furniture for every room in your new apartment. You’ll be plenty busy setting up utilities and arranging to move, so make it easier on yourself. You can find every furniture item you need on the First Apartment Checklist at CORT. Every. Item. You can also find lots of want-to-have items that will make your first apartment a home. CORT has stylish furniture that you’ll be excited to show off to your friends and come home to every night. See more ideas on the CORT blog.
  • Cleaning – You’ll most likely need to do at least a quick cleaning of the apartment before you move in. And even if you move into a (surprisingly) clean place, you’ll need to begin routine cleaning soon after you move in, so you need to start out with your basic cleaning supplies.
  • Set-Up Supplies – There are basic items that you’ll need when you’re living on your own, things like a shower curtain,  basic tools, hangers and food items for the first day or two. These are items that you’ll need from day one as you’re moving in so that you can begin living in the apartment immediately.
Room with modern dresser, bed with cream bedding and modern framed art
  • Linens – You’ll need more than just some bed sheets and a towel.For example, do you need curtains so that you can change clothes in your bedroom or even bathroom after an exhausting day of moving in?

What do you need for your first apartment?

The size and amenities of your apartment will determine what  you will need and what you can fit into your apartment. The checklist will help you consider items that you may need, but you should tailor the checklist for the specific needs of your new apartment. For example, you may not need a shower curtain if your shower has a glass door. But if your shower only has a shower curtain rod, you’ll certainly want that shower curtain and rings so that you can take a nice, relaxing shower after a long day of moving in.

What do you need when you move into your first house?

Just like with an apartment, the size and amenities of your house will influence what items you need to purchase. If you’re moving into a house as your first place, you may have more space, which will allow for more and bigger items, like furniture, to fit into your home. Just keep in mind that you don’t have to start with everything at once, Use the checklist to prioritize the items you must have when you first move into your new home.

How do I decide what to get?

Using the First Apartment Checklist, your apartment’s specific characteristics, your budget and your own preferences, you should prioritize your list of must-haves first and your want-to-haves for the future.

When you’re at such a big transition point in life, knowing your options for furniture will help you make the best choice for you. CORT Furniture Rental is a perfect solution for times when you’d like stylish furniture that fits perfectly into your lifestyle with the convenience that your busy, transitional life needs. 

Living room with grey sectional couch and modern wood coffee table and light blue bowl

Can’t you just imagine inviting friends over to hangout in this comfortable and great looking living room? You can find every one of these items at CORT.

College of 3 stylish furniture vignettes

Doesn’t this gorgeous furniture make you ready to jump into your new place?!

Collage of 3 modern style rugs, one yellow and white, one white with grey and one grey, white and blue

In addition to furniture for any room in your home and accessories to dress those rooms up, you can also find a carpet for every taste and preference at CORT.

Image of First Apartment Checklist

To get your free First Apartment Checklist, simply sign up for our free exclusive content below. You’ll receive immediate access to printable checklist pdf and will have access to all exclusive content on Organized 31, which includes hundreds of printable resources. If you’d prefer not to sign up for our free newsletter, you can purchase the checklist in our shop.


Thanks for being an Organized 31 Exclusive subscriber! You have access to hundreds of free printables on the site when you log in.

Here is your printable First Apartment Checklist pdf.

As a special opportunity for Organized 31 Exclusive subscribers, if you want or need organizing printables, you definitely want to check out this limited time low price offer on the Organizing and Gifting Resources Vault filled with even more printable activities, including ones only available in the Vault and new ones added frequently.

collage of colorful organizing printable pages.

Be sure to take it with you when you head out to go shopping to set up your first apartment.  Have fun creating a home you can be proud of.

For my top moving and travel tips, hacks and printables check out the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.

My friend, Corinne from Wondermom Wannabe, and I have sent 5 children to college and have 2 living on their own after college. We’ve created 4 College Cookbooks designed with recipes our own children use.

These cookbooks contain recipes that use basic, common ingredients and basic kitchen equipment. The recipes can be made in around 30 minutes at the most.

Each book provides 2 weeks worth of meals that feed 2. That’s a month’s worth of meals! There are 2 cook book bundles available on sale right now! The Vegetarian and Healthy Bowls Cook Book Bundle and the Ramen and Mac & Cheese Cook Book Bundle.

2 cookbook covers with orange and green circle that says "buy together and save"
2 cookbook covers with yellow and orange circle that says "buy together and save"

Similar Posts

4 Comments

  1. This is a great list! Definitely important to make sure you have things that you’ll need those first couple of days. I definitely wouldn’t have thought about curtains, so that’s a great reminder.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *