The Ultimate First Apartment Checklist

You’re moving into your first apartment, and you’re excited about the transition. You’ve spent months imagining how you’ll decorate the place, how it will feel about hosting dinner parties with friends, and how you’ll make the new space feel like home.

Before you can start hanging things on the wall, though, you have to move in. That’s where a first apartment checklist comes in handy! A first apartment checklist can help you make sure you don’t miss anything and stay organized. A first apartment checklist can make a huge difference in making your move less stressful.

Here at Gallo Moving and Storage, we provide local- and long-distance moving services for customers throughout the Greater Boston Area, so we know a thing or two about what goes into a successful move.

In this post, we’ll share our most helpful tips for a successful first apartment move, as well as a few tips on things to buy for the new apartment, how to save money when purchasing furniture, or shop other items.

Let’s dive into this ultimate first apartment checklist. Use this first apartment checklist when packing or shopping for your first apartment. This can help you save space and money by knowing exactly what you have and what you need when moving into your own apartment.

Moving to Your First Apartment: Checklist by Room

If you’re moving to your first apartment, it means you’re setting up a home on your own for the first time. As such, you’ll probably need to purchase some things to make your new house a home. We’ll discuss all of that later in this page.

For now, let’s talk about how to manage the things you intend to move to your new apartment. Whether you’re a college student buying your first apartment or moving out of your parents’ house, here’s our complete packing guide with a first apartment checklist by room. This way, you’ll have everything you need for your first apartment.

The Bedroom

The bedroom is generally one of the easiest rooms in the house to move for most apartments. Follow these tips for a streamlined move with your bedroom essentials:

Pack all bed linens, including sheets, pillows, and blankets into large boxes.
Use wardrobe boxes to keep clothing organized and on hangers.
Use book boxes to contain books, desk items, and other small belongings.
Take the drawers out of your dresser to make the bedroom furniture easier to move.
Use t-shirts and socks to pad more delicate items like picture frames or jewelry boxes.
You can use your laundry hamper to move dirty clothes you won’t have time to wash.
You can also use small trash cans to help transport some of your assorted items.

If you have bedroom items you won’t use in your new apartment, you can consider storing them until you’re ready to use them again.

The Bathroom

Pack your bathroom quickly and easily with these moving tips:

Collect toiletries into Ziploc bags and pack them into labeled book boxes. Pad all toiletries to keep them upright and prevent them from spilling.
Pack towels and bathroom linens into large boxes, which you should keep nice and light.
Wrap delicate items in towels to protect them during the move. Label these boxes with a marker and the word “fragile.”
Pack extra towels on top of boxes that aren’t all the way full. They’ll take up the extra space and stabilize the box without adding weight.

The Kitchen

If there are kitchen items you’re taking with you to your new apartment, follow these tips to pack them:

Pack large appliances, like blenders or mixers, alone in their box.
Wrap plates, coffee mugs, and cups in packing paper, and group them in boxes.
Arrange plates vertically in groups of four. Wrap each plate individually in packing paper, wrap each group in saran wrap and place it in a box. Stacking them vertically helps them stay stable during transport and helps decrease the risk of damage.
Roll knives in packing paper and wrap them in a dishtowel. Secure the whole thing with a rubber band. Place knives on their side in a box–never facing up.
Use plastic wrap to wrap up flatware groups. Place it flat inside a box, and add serving utensils, like spoons and spatulas, on top.
Stack bowls to make them easier to pack. If they’re made of a breakable material, wrap each bowl before you stack it. Otherwise, just place a piece of packing paper between each bowl.
Pack miscellaneous kitchen items like mixing bowls, kitchen utensils, and cookbooks, just like you’d pack other belongings. Group like items together in boxes and avoid making any single box too heavy because heavy boxes make moving difficult.

The Living Room

Your living space is what defines your new apartment. Make sure you get all your beloved living room items there safely with these tips:

Disassemble standing and table lamps and pack the shade and base separately. Use a sturdy box for the shade and line it with packing paper to protect the shade. Pack the base in its own box, surrounded by crumpled packing paper.
Consider asking for professional help for items like mirrors and large framed art prints or photos. These items are easy to ruin and can benefit from the skill of a professional. If you intend to move them on your own, use a carton that’s large enough for the item, and pack it carefully in packing paper.
Use large boxes for light, bulky items like decorative pillows, throws, and cushions.
Use the original box your TV came in or a specially-purchased TV box to move your television safely.

Remember: if you don’t have the time to pack your items on your own, Gallo Moving & Storage offers professional white-glove packing services you can rely on. Contact Gallo Moving today to learn more.

20 Things to Buy for the New Apartment: First Apartment Essentials

In addition to thinking about the best way to move the items you already own, now is a great time in the moving timeline to start thinking about how you’ll outfit your new space with the things you don’t already have.

Need a handy new apartment checklist ahead of the move-in day? Here’s our top selection of first-apartment essentials to invest in now. Treat this like the ultimate first apartment checklist:

Apartment Bedroom Essentials

Your bedroom is the place where you’ll go to relax and unwind at the end of the day. As such, it should be a comfortable, cozy, personalized space. Outfit your first apartment bedroom with the following essentials in the days and weeks following the day you sign your apartment lease:

A comfortable mattress. Go to a mattress store to try before you buy, or opt for a simple bed-in-a-box solution.
Sheets, a duvet cover, a comforter, mattress topper, and pillows. Most home stores have a large selection of these items in colors, textures, and patterns to suit every style.
A bed frame and nightstand. Look for sturdy, high-quality materials. The bed frame and nightstand can be a matching set or mix and match depending on your preferences.
A dresser. Your dresser should be large enough to accommodate your clothing and sturdy enough to last for years.
Window treatments like curtains or drapes. Look for treatments that provide privacy, block light, and add some style to your room.

Living Space Essentials Checklist

Make your living room a comfortable place to relax and entertain with these essentials on our apartment checklist:

A comfortable couch. Buying used is a great way to save your hard-earned money and get something sturdy and high-quality when purchasing furniture. Look at sources like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, and remember that you can always slipcover something that’s faded or made in a pattern that you don’t love.
A coffee table. A coffee table provides storage, style, and somewhere to place your morning cup of joe. Look for a sturdy version that fits the footprint of the room. Home stores often have reasonably-priced versions, or you can shop secondhand for a vintage find you love at discount stores. You can also grab some coffee table books or repurpose books you already own and love for this.
Throw pillows. Throw pillows make your space comfortable and personalized. Invest in a few in a style and pattern that you love.
Art pieces or framed photos. Bring your living space to life by hanging art and portraits that you love. Feel free to build this collection over time, starting with one piece that catches your eye. Your local thrift store might have some nice pieces to get you started.
An area rug. An area rug gives you something soft underfoot and helps bring a space together visually. Look for a rug that fits your space and comes in a pattern and style you like.

Kitchen Essentials

A well-outfitted kitchen takes time to build. Fortunately, you can give yourself a leg-up by investing in these essential must-haves:

Measuring cups and spoons. Make nightly dinners a snap with a set of sturdy, organized measuring cups and spoons. Look for a finish (stainless steel or plastic, for example) that you like in a color that catches your eye.
Cleaning supplies. Keep your kitchen clean and sanitary with some basic cleaning supplies like glass cleaner, trash bags, countertop cleaner, and dish soap.
Pots and pans. If you don’t already have cooking items, invest in a good set of pots and pans. They’ll last you for years and give you something to cook with.
Plates, cups, and bowls. Most home goods stores carry a selection of sturdy plate, cup, and bowl sets. Look for a brand like Corelle if you want something sturdy and unbreakable without sacrificing style. If you’re in a rush, pick up some paper plates for now! You can always upgrade your serving dishes down the road if you’re on a budget.
Cooking utensils. Cooking utensils like a spatula, wooden spoon, and ladle will do double-duty for all your meals and make cooking and serving food much easier.
Kitchen table and chairs. Most stores will carry a kitchen table and chair set. Or, you can see if there are any at thrift stores carrying a dining table if you’re on a tight budget.

Bathroom Essentials

Outfit your bathroom with these must-have bathroom necessities for your first apartment:

Bath towels. If you don’t already have quality bath towels, head to your nearest home goods store to invest in a few. Get enough for yourself and your guests if you plan to have them.
A first-aid kit. Treat minor cuts, burns, and scrapes on your own with a pre-made first-aid kit. Keep it in your bathroom cabinet for easy access.
A toilet brush and plunger. Keep your bathroom clean and sanitary with a toilet brush and plunger and a few basic bathroom cleaning supplies like glass spray and an all-purpose antibacterial cleaning spray. Don’t forget toilet paper!
Shower curtains. A shower curtain keeps water off your floor and lends some style to your bathroom. Look for a pattern you like in an easy-to-care-for material like vinyl. Also, don’t forget a shower curtain liner!
Organization bins. Keep your toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other small items organized with some simple plastic organizational bins that you can place under counters and on shelves. This is extra beneficial to do if you live in a small apartment.

Take the Time to Make Your House a Home

Everyone wants to feel settled when they move. It’s important to remember that the process takes some time, and it can often be weeks or even months before a space truly feels like your own home.

Be patient and don’t rush this process. In fact, rushing is one of the biggest moving mistakes people make. Investing only in things you truly love will help the space feel like your own, as will taking the time to get organized as you move in.

Gallo can Help With Moving Into Your First Apartment

If you’re facing a move into your first apartment, you don’t have to do it on your own. Gallo Moving and Storage is here to provide everything you need for your move, from a first apartment checklist to the boxes and packing paper you need to keep your items safe.

Ready to hit the road now that you have a first apartment checklist? Start planning for your move with Yembo, our free video quote tool. With Yembo, you simply use your smartphone to create a video tour of the items you’d like to move. From there, our software scans the items and creates a complete inventory. In just minutes, you’ve got an accurate quote that can help you budget your move. Get your quote now!

First Apartment Checklist: Everything You Need For An Easy Move