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Congratulations! You have secured your first apartment, signed the lease, got the keys, but now what? Moving into your first apartment is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. It might be the first place you move into from your parents’ house or your first place after you land that new job; it might be your first apartment in a different city or a country, or your very first apartment you move in to with a roommate.

Most of us have imagined what it would be like to move into our very first apartment, but now that the actual day is here, where do you start?

So many people have made a Kelson Group apartment their first home, so we wanted to put together a “First Apartment Checklist” for those of you who are just about to take on your first apartment move-in or have signed the lease to help you get a kickstart on your first apartment journey.

The First Apartment Checklist by room

For move-in day:

Setting aside some basic items for the move-in day will be the first thing you will want to do, and you will thank yourself later for it. Since most of your items will be packed in boxes, and some of it might even be coming in later through movers, it is so important to have some basic items easy to access:

• Tool kit
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Extension cord
• Toilet paper roll
• Paper towel
• Tissues
• Trash bags
• Bottled water
• Knife/scissor
• Furniture sliders/protection pads
• Soap, bath towel, shampoo & conditioner

For the bedroom:

A good night’s sleep after long days of hauling your boxes and arranging your house is so important. So even before you look for a bedframe, get a hold of your mattress. And of course, a mattress cover, sheets, pillow would be the next obvious picks.

You may want to also pick out some hangers in advance, so that as soon as your boxes arrive, you can put away the clothes, neatly tucked inside the closet. This will mean not living out of the boxes for days to come. Some other bedroom essentials:

• Bedframe
• Full-length mirror
• Nightstand
• Nightlight
• Laundry hamper
• Curtains/window treatments

For the bathroom:

We already covered a bath towel, soap and shampoo for the move-in day, and that’s because after the hard work of moving in, you will probably crave for a nice bath or shower. Apart from these basics, there are some things you will need for your bathroom:

• Hand towels
• Toilet paper
• Bathmat
• Toothbrush holder
• Hand soap
• Trash can
• Anti-slip shower mat
• Toilet plunger (don’t worry – we provide that!)

For the kitchen:

For many, this is the heart of the home as how well you eat often determines how well you live. But depending on the apartment, the space you have and your needs, every kitchen will be different. If you don’t cook often, or you mostly eat out, this space wouldn’t need as much focus. However, if you do cook everyday, ensuring that you find everything when you need it, is so important.

• Kitchen drawer and cupboard organizers
• Plates
• Bowls
• Glasses
• Mugs
• Pots and pans
• Cutlery and knives
• Cutting board
• Dish soap
• Dish sponge
• Dishwasher soap

For the living room:

Your living room space is where you will probably spend the most amount of awake time. Having furniture that is comfortable, and fits perfectly in the room without overcrowding, is very important.

• Couch
• Coffee table
• Light fixture/lamp stand
• TV
• TV stand
• Dining table and chairs (in case of a larger living room)

Miscellaneous/cleaning:

There are so many household items that are basically used for the entire house or we could feature anywhere, depending on your preferences. These are basic items, essential but often taken for granted when living in a shared household.

• Welcome mat
• Shoe storage
• Cleaning supplies
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Extra batteries
• Emergency light/candles and matches
• Artwork
• Plants