The ultimate first apartment checklist

Key points

• Before moving into your apartment, understand what decor alterations are allowed in your lease.

• Invest in multipurpose furniture, under-bed storage and drawer organizers to keep your place tidy.

• Movers charge $150 per hour for moving services, on average.

You’ve scoured listings, toured several properties, filled out an application and finally landed your first apartment. Now it’s time to kick back and … not so fast. 

Now it’s time to determine how to make the most of your new rental property. Before moving in, consider what you will pack, apartment decorating guidelines and just how much you’ll need to clean before unpacking. 

And because nobody chooses “chaos” as a decorating style, we’ve enlisted the help of organizing expert Natasha Swingler, who offers decluttering tips to 5.9 million Instagram followers. 

You’ll find it all in this ultimate first apartment checklist. 

What do you need to know before moving into your first apartment?

Though the ink has barely dried on your new lease and you can’t imagine moving out, it’s good to take stock of your inventory before you move in. 

Check if the apartment includes window treatments (curtains or blinds), furniture and appliances. Apartments usually come with appliances such as a microwave, but some places might require you to bring your own clothes washer and dryer, or even a refrigerator (this is often the case with rentals in Los Angeles). 

Understanding what’s included and what you’ll bring will help you decide whether to load up your belongings in a car or rental truck or call a professional apartment moving company. You can also look into container moving services such as U-Pack and PODS.

National providers charge $150 per hour, on average, according to USA TODAY Homefront’s November 2023 moving survey, which incorporated quotes from moving companies such as Moving APT and JK Moving.

Noting the measurements of your new apartment is vital — you’ll need to know if the height and width of the apartment entryway will fit major pieces of furniture such as a bed frame or a couch. It would be a shame to procure the perfect couch only to find out it won’t fit through the door on moving day. 

Read the fine print on your lease to see how decorating can affect your deposit before you run out to get a gallon of bold paint. Some landlords allow repainting with color approval or a stipulation that you’ll paint the walls back to the original color when you move out. Others may be stringent about alterations, such as swapping out a lighting fixture or replacing cabinet hardware for aesthetic reasons.

What do you need to pack before you move into your first apartment?

What not to pack is as important as what to pack. “Declutter before moving in so that you are starting with a clean slate,” said Swingler, whose book Creating Effective Spaces: Declutter, Organize and Maintain Your Space came out in April. This strategy applies as much to new college grads as to retirees now downsizing to a smaller place.

Rather than moving with a box marked “bathroom stuff” that you haven’t opened in months, pare down to what you need by making a bathroom essentials checklist. Donate, sell or discard items that you can do without.

As far as what you should bring, repurposing a major piece of furniture is always a good idea. For example, if you have a bed frame already, you can buy a new duvet, sheet set and pillows to make it fresh in your new home. 

Similarly, giving a dresser or desk a fresh coat of paint and new drawer pulls is a great way to save money and give your new apartment a personal touch without affecting your deposit.  

For more on what to pack, here’s a room-by-room breakdown of apartment essentials. 

Living room

Less is more when it comes to decorative pieces, so be selective. “It can be tempting to cover every surface with décor, yet too many pieces can create visual clutter,” Swingler said. “Less decor will also make cleaning your space easier.” You’ll appreciate fewer trinkets when it comes time to dust. 

Swingler recommended picking multifunctional pieces, such as ottomans that can be used as seating and have built-in storage for spare throw pillows or blankets. 

Here’s what to consider packing for your living room:

• Bookshelf
• Coffee table
• Couch (or futon if you plan on hosting overnight guests)
• Floor lamp
• media console
• Rug
• Side tables
• Throw pillows
• TV

Kitchen

Keep your kitchen organized from the get-go. Invest in a few inexpensive items: drawer organizers for your silverware, stackable storage containers for the pantry and a pot rack to free up cabinets. 

“Save counter space with an over-the-sink cutting board that doubles as a colander,” Swingler said. “There are collapsible options available so that it can be stored flat and take up less space.” For cookware and dishes, garage sales and thrift stores are excellent sources for inexpensive finds. 

Just be sure to pack your dishes properly during the move. Then, you can funnel your budget to more expensive, specialized items — say, the cappuccino maker of your dreams.

Consider the following items when packing your kitchen:

Bedroom

Organization is key in the bedroom. A shirt or two thrown on a chair can quickly grow into a messy mound. Setting up your closet for accessibility can keep the clothes piles at bay. 

“Maximize closet space with a customizable closet organizer system featuring shelves, drawers and hanging rods,” Swingler recommended. Store bulky coats or out-of-season clothes in storage bins under your bed if your closet space is limited.

Here’s what items you should consider when packing your bedroom:

Bathroom

Aside from hanging a shower curtain, the space under the sink steals your attention in the bathroom. Swingler suggested using stackable drawers and dividers to separate toiletries, cosmetics and grooming essentials. Save those hard-to-reach areas for items you rarely use. Wall-mounted shelving or cabinets are an option if your under-the-sink storage is limited.

Consider packing the following:

Miscellaneous

These are the general apartment supplies you’ll want to keep on hand. If your place has an entryway closet, they’ll likely end up there — meaning your coats and bags may end up elsewhere. 

Hang a wall-mounted coat rack to keep clutter to a minimum. “The entryway is the initial greeting upon returning home and the final sight before leaving,” Swingler said. “Maintaining organization and tidiness in the entryway is important as it establishes the ambiance in your home.” A catchall is handy for collecting mail and keys.

Consider bringing the following items with you:

What’s next?

Schedule your movers as soon as you’ve agreed upon a move-in date with your landlord, especially if you hope to book a Saturday or Sunday — weekends fill up fast. Some moving companies offer small move services perfect for apartment relocation: Mayflower has Snapmoves and Allied Van Lines has Allied Express.

As for keeping your apartment as organized as when you unpack, Swingler suggested incorporating regular checkups into your routine. “As your priorities change, adjust your organizational strategies accordingly,” she said. “Rearrange furniture or experiment with new storage solutions to optimize space and functionality.”