A Checklist for Moving Into Your First College Apartment

Moving into your first college apartment is very exciting – finally, you can create a space of your own, which will be your base for studying, hanging out, and plotting new adventures. For this new chapter of your life, we created a checklist with everything you need to set up your new home so your move and arrival go as smoothly as possible.

The first step in preparing for your first college move should be figuring out the logistics of how you will transport your belongings. If you need help finding a mover or even just helpers to load and unload your items, connect with our partners HireAHelper for assistance. With over 16 years of experience, they’re experts on finding the perfect helper.

Pack a Box with First Night Essentials

Pack one box with everything you need on your first night; this will be the first thing to open in your new home, and it will help avoid long searches through all your boxes to find your toothbrush. The box should include bathroom essentials like a towel, soap, shampoo, and toilet paper, as well as everything you need for your first night of sleep, including bed linens and your pajamas. Be sure to label this box in very noticeable colors to find it easily.

It seems surprising, but it also makes sense to put a shower curtain in this box. Having a shower curtain on your first morning in your new flat will guarantee you a cozy shower to start the day and avoid a flooded bathroom. And if you are buying a shower curtain, you can also grab a bathroom mat.

Cleaning Supplies

Ensure that you have cleaning supplies in reach when you enter your new house because you might want to clean everything before you start to unpack. You’ll need the absolute basics: a universal cleaner, a disinfectant bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, glass cleaner for your mirrors and windows, and don’t forget to buy dishwashing soap. Also, you should buy a mop, sponges, cleaning cloth, trash bags, a toilet brush, a vacuum cleaner, and a dustpan and broom. These essentials should give you a clean and fresh start to your new life!

Kitchen Supplies

If you didn’t do it before, now is the right moment to learn how to cook! But what do you need to prepare some basic meals? You should buy a set of cutlery, sharp knives, cups, glasses, a spatula, small and big plates, as well as bowls for morning cereal. You need at least one big bowl, a frying pan, and a big and small pot. Some handy extras would be a cheese grater and a blender.

And don’t forget the two survival essentials: A coffee machine and a kettle, and maybe a microwave for quick heating. The first will bring you through early classes and long nights of studying, the second will make you a tasty instant Ramen within minutes if you’re too lazy to cook. And the microwave is pretty useful too.

Basic Tool Set

Basic tools like a set of screwdrivers, a small saw, and a hammer are handy to have in every apartment. You can use it to put together your furniture, but it’s also great to find creative solutions to your flat’s interior. If you don’t have tools and you need a drill or an electric screwdriver, ask around at your campus – you can find a place to borrow equipment.

Build Up Your Bed First

If you’re wondering where to start with furnishing your new apartment – begin with your bed. A good night’s sleep will make the rest of the furnishing and decorating much more pleasant. Many students don’t have bed frames and put their mattresses on the floor or pallets instead; this can be a cheap option. However, in small college apartments, a bed frame can provide you with more storage area for things you don’t need in your everyday life, like extra linen or towels. If you decide to get a bed frame, you might consider buying simple boxes which fit under your bed for storage.

Create a Good Space for Studying

Some students prefer to use the library for studying to separate working and living areas – if this is not for you, a suitable desk for working is essential. You will spend a lot of time here, and you must have enough space and the necessary equipment to get started. You should buy a good and bright desk lamp because reading in the dark is tiring for your eyes and brain. Equip yourself with a set of text markers, good pens, post-it notes, and everything you need for long days at the desk. If you have space, devote this area only for work – this is your concentration space – and use other spaces in your flat for lunch breaks and chilling.

Plants, Furniture and Decoration

It’s often underrated but is essential to make a home you feel comfortable and safe in. You might want to get posters you love, print friends and family pictures to hang them up, or buy plants to decorate your home. Whatever boosts your comfort or creativity is welcome here. This is for making your home your own.

Unique doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out the local buy and sell lists and pages for bargains, go to the second-hand market for new and unique pieces of furniture or beautiful rugs and ask around if anyone has plant babies that can find a new home in your flat.

Conclusion

If you organize these basics, you can turn an empty apartment into your new home very fast. But you should also be patient in this process – getting used to a new place and creating it in a way you feel comfortable always takes time. We wish you an excellent start to your new college life! And don’t forget, CitizenShipper offers affordable rates and free estimates on moving anything you want to bring with you on this new journey.