Last week I moved into my first apartment. Three of my friends and I moved in to an apartment on campus for our sophomore year of college. Going from a standard dorm to an apartment was a transition that I was not at all prepared for. In the first 24 hours of living here I have discovered a lot of the items that did not initially cross my mind to purchase.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Now that you're not living at home or in a dorm you are responsible for cleaning your bathroom, including the toilet. This thought did not cross my mind prior to move in so I showed up with a box of Clorox wipes assuming that would be sufficient. It turns out I was wrong and for sure needed some toilet bowl cleaner.
Pots and Pans
I was lucky enough to move into a furnished apartment. I did not have to buy a bed or tables or chairs. However, I do not know what I was expecting with the kitchen. It came with a stove, oven, sink and fridge but nothing else. In retrospect that seems logical but when I first got here I was a little thrown off. So please, remember to get items to cook with.
Artwork for your Living Room
When I was planning for my apartment I picked out really cute decor for my bedroom. My roommate and I coordinated colors and picked out a ton of pictures. What we forgot to do was pick out decorations for the rest of the apartment. We have a living room, kitchen, hallways and bathroom we completely forgot about decoration wise. While it may not seem that important to decorate your space, doing so can actually help you to feel more at home once your there!
A Swiffer/ Vacuum
Floors get dirty, especially when you are moving in. You trek in dirt and other random items from outside on your shoes every day. That is why it is essential to have something that cleans the floors. My apartment does not have any carpeting so it made more sense for us to get a Swiffer Sweeper rather than a Vacuum. It does not really matter what cleaning device you get as long as you have one.
Moving into an apartment can be stressful and overwhelming. Suddenly you are responsible for a home rather than just a room. In order to minimize the amount of stress you place on yourself, make sure to plan in advance and on move in day just relax. Anything you forget can for sure be found at Target.