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7 Apartment Essentials For New College Students
2023-01-17

7 Apartment Essentials For New College Students

So, you’re one of many new college students moving into their own apartment for the first time. How exciting is that?! Think of all the freedom you’re now going to experience. But before you say goodbye to college dorm life, you’ll want to ensure you have the proper apartment essentials. 

Trust us when we say you realize how much stuff you need when you move out on your own. While you’re concerned about textbooks, tuition, and school supplies, it can be easy to forget lifestyle necessities. 

To make things easier, we’re listing 7 essentials you’ll need in your very first college apartment. 

1. Living Room Essentials 

Your living space should reflect your tastes. But before you start plastering the walls with band and movie posters, you might want to consider the essentials. 

Furniture 

Sitting on the hard floor while trying to re-watch Friends or The Office for the fifth time in a row doesn’t sound very comfortable. That’s where furniture comes in. A comfortable couch, sturdy coffee table, and sweet TV setup sound way better, right? Anytime you have someone over, you’re going to need a spot to chill out. If you’re not looking to break the bank, we recommend using a combination of a couch or futon, a loveseat, and an armchair. If you’re tight on space, you can also use ottomans and floor poufs as seating options. Make your living room look more inviting by adding some accent pillows, throw blankets, and an area rug to really tie it all together. 

What living room is complete without a coffee table? While you may think you can go without one, it can prove useful for your textbooks, board games, numerous remotes, and last but not least, never-ending cups of coffee. 

Entertainment

A TV in your living room may seem like an expensive and unnecessary purchase, but there’s nothing like a little unwinding time after studying for weeks on end. In addition to your TV, shelves or a media console can make your living space seem less barren and provide extra storage opportunities. 

2. Bedroom Must-Haves 

College dorms typically own the bedroom furniture you get when you move into them, meaning you’ll have to start from scratch with your new college apartment. 

Bedroom Furniture 

Your new bedroom will require a few additions to feel like a place you can rest. When inspecting the layout of the bedroom, consider some of these staple bedroom furniture pieces:

  • Mattress/Bedding: Finding the perfect mattress, box spring,  and bedding can go a long way. The last thing you want is to spend every night on the couch. 
  • Bed frame: You could go for the classic mattress on the floor, but a bed frame will give you the opportunity for more storage space.
  • Nightstand: A nearby nightstand is a perfect spot for all bedroom essentials, such as water, books, a box of tissues, an alarm clock, or a place to lay your glasses at night. Whatever floats your boat. 
  • Dresser: Where are all of your clothes going to go? No, the answer is not on the floor. A dresser will keep everything organized and in its right place. 
  • Desk: If you have the space, you may want to add a desk to your room. Not only will it work as a viable study spot, but it can keep you away from distractions in your living room. 

Once you have the bedroom furniture situation set up, you can think about adding wall art, a full-length mirror, and/or a comfy chair (we vote for a beanbag) into the mix. 

3. Bathroom Basics 

Say goodbye to the dreaded shower caddy and flip-flops. You’ve got a whole bathroom to yourself. But with every bathroom comes the bathroom necessities. 

Some bathroom basics to consider may include the following:

  • Bath mat
  • Bath towels
  • Hand towels
  • Washcloths
  • Shower curtain
  • Toilet paper

But what about the other bathroom musts? 

Toiletries & Storage 

You’ll need the usual: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. But you also have to think about your bathroom storage needs. Luckily, there are many stores where you can find small bins specifically for small spaces in bathrooms where you can keep towels, toilet paper, and more.

Cleaning Supplies

In addition, you’re going to want to keep the bathroom clean. Keeping a wastebasket, toilet brush, plunger, and toilet bowl cleaner nearby is always helpful; you never know when disaster will strike. 

4. Kitchen Necessities 

Your college apartment kitchen should always be stocked with the classics: Macaroni and ramen. However, you might want to consider the kitchen layout. 

Kitchen Furniture 

A kitchen table, chairs, or bar stools are a typical kitchen requirement, although they aren’t always necessary. You don’t need to drain your bank account to get a table that fits six people. Start small. Facebook Marketplace is a great source of affordable (and sometimes free) items.

Pots & Pans

Pots and pans in a variety of sizes are essential for a new kitchen. Think about frying eggs, boiling water for pasta, and baking cookies.

Dishes & Kitchen Tools

Plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, cutlery, and kitchen utensils like ladles and spatulas are important when eating or cooking. There’s no way around it. Sure, you can eat with your hands, but that will get old eventually. 

Some utensils and tools to consider include:

  • Silverware
  • Silverware organizer
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups/spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Bottle and can opener
  • Food storage containers
  • Dish towels
  • Oven mitts
  • Aluminum foil and cling wrap

Kitchen Appliances 

A microwave, coffee pot, and toaster are the holy trinity when it comes to the college kitchen. You might be too busy with classes and studying to prepare a full meal. That’s where these useful appliances can be the most helpful. Nothing says college like a pizza pocket and a cup of coffee to wash it down with. 

5. Pantry Staples 

When compiling your college apartment checklist, you’ll want to include the common pantry requirements:

  • Salt and pepper
  • Cooking spices
  • Condiments 
  • Cooking oil

Yes, it’s a brief list, but those four additions can assist you in your cooking adventures and potential mishaps. 

Additional Pantry Items

As you settle into your college apartment, you can include some other additions to the pantry, such as:

  • Paper towels
  • Napkins
  • Trash bags
  • Ziploc bags
  • Sponges
  • Kitchen cleaning supplies

6. Laundry Supplies

If you’re used to someone else doing laundry for you, this can be a bit of a wake-up call. Doing laundry takes up more time and energy than you might think. You’ll need detergent (most newer machines call for high-efficiency detergent), fabric softener (to keep your towels and sheets comfy), dryer sheets (to reduce static), and a drying rack for any clothes that warrant it.

7. Cleaning Products

If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that you’ll need to clean your new apartment sooner or later. Whether you’re having guests over or just want to tidy up, be sure to keep some cleaning supplies on hand, such as:

  • Wood cleaner
  • Glass cleaner
  • Dish soap
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Mop and bucket
  • Vacuum

If you’re excited about moving out of the dorm and into your own apartment but need a helping hand, contact us at Globe Property Management. Our dedicated team can help you find apartments for rent in Winnipeg and save you the trouble of searching on your own. With more than 185 residential neighbourhoods in the city, there’s sure to be a fantastic living space that suits your needs.  

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