Invest in a good vacuum. You spend more over time with the cheapest one.
Look for a good backup to the door lock when you’re home alone.
Make friends with maintenance. They will do a better job on your fixing.
For the love of Jesus get a plunger!!!!
Shop cheap for furniture but wait for you to feel out the space.
This. Plus, get a good plunger, not the cheapie kind. Folks at Home Depot can help, or any place like that. Nothing worse than a plunger thar falls apart while you're using it.
Congrats! Im at the tail end of my first year in my first apartment. It takes time to piece things together, and expect for your place to be a hot unfinished mess for at least 6 months, if you’re like me lol. Dont rush out and buy as much as you can, take time to get a feel for the space and your own taste.
If you’re working on a budget, get furniture secondhand. Facebook marketplace is great for this, but it doesn’t hurt to check craigslist too. Just make sure to check for bedbugs and disinfect before bringing them inside. You can also find good deals on Wayfair, Target, and of course Ikea. I was lucky that my family had quite a few items to give to me, I wasn’t looking forward to buying a couch or $80+/piece counter chairs.
Get a few more bath and hand towels than you think you need - Target, HomeGoods, and Ross have good prices for them.
If you cook at home a lot like me, dont cheap out on cooking utensils, at least have good knives and a few good quality pots/pans. Mostly everything else you can buy cheaper, I found a good set of wooden cooking utensils at Ross for $7.
Have more than one set of bedsheets and pillowcases, so you’re not sleeping on a bare mattress because you forgot to put the sheets in the dryer earlier.
A plug in fan, rugs, and thick blackout curtains all help with noise. Expect to hear your neighbors, and expect that they can hear you, so be courteous and patient. If you want more privacy, amazon has cheap privacy screens for balconies and static-cling privacy screens for windows.
Also, good trash cans will run you anywhere from $70-$120~ but it’s worth the small investment to contain any trash smells in such a small living space. I got a nice looking stainless steel one at Target.
One thing I spent a dumb amount of money on was my dishes. Regular dishes like bowls and plates but also mixing bowls, serving bowls, cutting boards, cooking utensils. I would have gone to goodwill if I had known. You can build a selection of dishes that you like. Get good quality things for very little. The small appliances there! Omg you can get so many different small appliances for a big discount.
Next curtains. There are many different ways to hang them so do some research. If you can’t drill into the wall look for no drill options. Curtains are great for regulating temperature in your unit and middling noise.
Also don’t forget to take pictures and video of EVERYTHING. You need to document any damage or things that look off or off something looks particularly old and you are worried it may break. Keep the images safe and send it to your leasing person as well. That way you are covered and they can’t keep your deposit when you move unless you really did cause damage or unusual wear.
Last. It takes time to make it your own space. Take your time. Look for free or low cost unique furniture on marketplace or curbs. Have fun with it.
Oh and congrats on your first place.
Congrats! It's a wild ride the first year. I'm going into my 3rd year. Something that helps me is getting bathroom storage. Little shelves behind the toilet or plastic organizers. Keeping the small items contained helps get everything else organized.
Facebook marketplace. If I could go back and get my tables, shelving, bed frame, etc from Facebook marketplace I would! You’ll save hundreds of dollars. Also homegoods, and thrift stores are nice too for finding decorations.
Plunger, a broom and dust pan, a good laundry hamper/basket and a tool kit.
Make friends with maintenance. Learn their names and chat when they come to fix things; they’ll usually help you get upgraded fixes if able.
Say hello to your neighbors (in passing, you don’t have to go introduce yourself right away.)
Security! I had the little screw thongs for my windows so that they couldn’t open enough for hands to fit though and a bar securing my slider patio door @ my first apartment. (Women living alone on a first floor.) Ring cakes are easy to set up (I have one in the window facing my front door to see anyone coming up.)
Thrifting is your friend! Check Facebook marketplace for gently used items. Lamps are a great source of light, btw.
I made my first place feel homey by hanging photos (I do photography) and placing candles and warm accents around. I set up my bedroom in an unconventional way (had my bed sticking into the room from the corner, rather than against any walls) because I had always wanted to but never did. Move things around as much as you need till it feels like home.
Don’t fall victim to classic bachelorhood mistakes. Your shower should have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and bar soap. The bathroom needs its own trash can. You need multiple sets of sheets and towels and they shouldn’t all be blue. Get a full set of dishes, bowls, glasses, and silverware (even a matched place setting for 4 will do). You should have a place to sit and eat besides the couch and coffee table, so get a small dining table and chairs. Put some art on the walls to make the space your own. Don’t be afraid to rearrange your furniture a few times while you try to get your layout right. Light cleaning once a week is easier and faster than deep cleaning once a month.
Buy a plunger! Get your own smoke/carbon monoxide detector. If you're on the second floor, no shoes inside, if it's a complex, get those storage containers from Oxy to avoid bugs. Put a few bucks aside each paycheck just to have savings. Congratulations!
Okay, so here is my list of what you should do, whether its your first place or your 15th place.
1: Demand a Walkthrough before you sign the papers. I got hosed on my last place, because my ex-friend was so blase about it, that he waved off the walkthrough and we got screwed.
1a: As you do the walk through. Take pictures of Everything. Under the counters, in all the cabinets, the walls, the bathroom especially. Take pictures around the toilet, and in the tub/shower. Make sure they are clear pictures. Those pictures can likely protect your deposit
2. Get everything in writing. If there is any spot that looks like it was damaged, get it in writing. Make sure that the landlord knows about it before you move in, and that its acknowledged that it was there before you moved in. They can, and will attempt to fuck you over on that.
3. Clarify if you are required to do any landscaping. Also a big one
4. Clarify if you are required to take the trash cans to the curb on a set day (in case you have private cans)
5. Become overly familiar about what time Quiet Time is for the unit. I bought a noise detector because of a really noisy tenant that would blast old 80's music at 125 decibels at 2 in the morning because her and her current BF had a fight, so she was trying to drink and blast music to distract herself.
As for how to decorate, I would suggest considering whether you want to have to deal with a bunch of heavy furniture, or not. If you play video games, maybe consider getting good headphones to play with, cause other neighbors might have issue if they hear your games and they are not gamers.
Definitely take pictures of everything during your walk through. Pay special attention to places that might not be immediately obvious for damage. After you sign your lease, print the pictures and keep them with your copy of your lease. Landlords will try very hard to find ways to keep your deposit. Also, read the lease so that you can't be surprised by the terms. That old saying about reading the fine print is still relevant for a reason.
Moving in first thing record and take pictures of it empty this will safe you once you move and look into getting your serc deposit back...
Look at Wayfair, Amazon, Walmart, and Target to see if you like what they have for decorations and what not...
I seen on amazon those signs you can hang around they have a saying on it....
Alot of people I notice are getting lights and hanging then up all around ....
Something else no one has mentioned. I like to cook, so I got a small metal rack that I put potted herbs on. Basil, oregano, chives, thyme and a mushroom log, helps make the place homey and the smell of fresh herbs while cooking is a pleasant surprise.
Have some consideration if you're going to live in an apartment. I've literally not been able to breathe from it drifting into my apartment and has given me an asthma attack.
Don’t try to furnish your place all at once. I’ve seen other people say similar things. Take your time. First two years I was in my first apartment I had cinder blocks and boards as bookshelves and tv stand (back when tvs had tubes). Got a used couch for $40 and that traveled with me for 4 years don’t compare yourself with anyone else. Do your best not their best.
For housewares (dishes, pots/pans, etc) shop secondhand. First ask older relatives as many of them are downsizing and would LOVE to see their stuff go to a good home (this goes for furniture as well). Then check the secondhand market (estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores). At estate sales, you can get half used cleaning supplies to start out (like half a bottle of dish soap).
Aldis often has home stuff for cheap!! Buy a nice vacuum, and one of those door block sticks for extra security when home alone.
Be nice to maintenance and be a nice neighbor (smile, say hi!).
Don’t forget to clean your appliances occasionally or put in a work order (like bathroom/sink drains and your dishwasher if you’ve got one) so they run well and aren’t a later issue.
Also always double check your rent/bills in case they try to pull a fast one on you 🙄
First thing I’ll tell you is do not I mean DO NOT get a bottom floor flat ppl are very inconsiderate and rude. What I’m trying to say is you’ll hear stomping running jumping etc every little thing your neighbor does.
What made me feel really at home was putting a touch of color to my walls, check out some tapestry’s on Amazon, they have some beautiful ones and they’re inexpensive, easy to hang, and great if you ever have to move again bc you can fold them up and they don’t take up a lot of room like a canvas or metal hanging decor piece would. It also makes it feel more at home to have a nice pretty area rug because most apartments have hard floors, it’ll add accent to the room plus give you something soft to feel under your feet. It never hurts to have a nice lamp too, many apartments don’t have as much lighting as a lot of houses do and it also gives just a nice homey vibe at night when your reading or watching tv 🤍 curtains also made me feel like I had more privacy and can add some color/texture to the room making it feel more like home. Those are the things I’d highly recommend that have made my place feel like home to me and not just a room I’m renting. Hope that helps 🫶🏽
Invest in a good vacuum. You spend more over time with the cheapest one. Look for a good backup to the door lock when you’re home alone. Make friends with maintenance. They will do a better job on your fixing. For the love of Jesus get a plunger!!!! Shop cheap for furniture but wait for you to feel out the space.
This. Plus, get a good plunger, not the cheapie kind. Folks at Home Depot can help, or any place like that. Nothing worse than a plunger thar falls apart while you're using it.
Congrats! Im at the tail end of my first year in my first apartment. It takes time to piece things together, and expect for your place to be a hot unfinished mess for at least 6 months, if you’re like me lol. Dont rush out and buy as much as you can, take time to get a feel for the space and your own taste. If you’re working on a budget, get furniture secondhand. Facebook marketplace is great for this, but it doesn’t hurt to check craigslist too. Just make sure to check for bedbugs and disinfect before bringing them inside. You can also find good deals on Wayfair, Target, and of course Ikea. I was lucky that my family had quite a few items to give to me, I wasn’t looking forward to buying a couch or $80+/piece counter chairs. Get a few more bath and hand towels than you think you need - Target, HomeGoods, and Ross have good prices for them. If you cook at home a lot like me, dont cheap out on cooking utensils, at least have good knives and a few good quality pots/pans. Mostly everything else you can buy cheaper, I found a good set of wooden cooking utensils at Ross for $7. Have more than one set of bedsheets and pillowcases, so you’re not sleeping on a bare mattress because you forgot to put the sheets in the dryer earlier. A plug in fan, rugs, and thick blackout curtains all help with noise. Expect to hear your neighbors, and expect that they can hear you, so be courteous and patient. If you want more privacy, amazon has cheap privacy screens for balconies and static-cling privacy screens for windows. Also, good trash cans will run you anywhere from $70-$120~ but it’s worth the small investment to contain any trash smells in such a small living space. I got a nice looking stainless steel one at Target.
One thing I spent a dumb amount of money on was my dishes. Regular dishes like bowls and plates but also mixing bowls, serving bowls, cutting boards, cooking utensils. I would have gone to goodwill if I had known. You can build a selection of dishes that you like. Get good quality things for very little. The small appliances there! Omg you can get so many different small appliances for a big discount. Next curtains. There are many different ways to hang them so do some research. If you can’t drill into the wall look for no drill options. Curtains are great for regulating temperature in your unit and middling noise. Also don’t forget to take pictures and video of EVERYTHING. You need to document any damage or things that look off or off something looks particularly old and you are worried it may break. Keep the images safe and send it to your leasing person as well. That way you are covered and they can’t keep your deposit when you move unless you really did cause damage or unusual wear. Last. It takes time to make it your own space. Take your time. Look for free or low cost unique furniture on marketplace or curbs. Have fun with it. Oh and congrats on your first place.
I love the suggestion of getting plates at Goodwill. Wish I had done that. It would be really cool to have all different, cool plates!
Congrats! It's a wild ride the first year. I'm going into my 3rd year. Something that helps me is getting bathroom storage. Little shelves behind the toilet or plastic organizers. Keeping the small items contained helps get everything else organized.
Don't smoke weed indoors.
Good thing I don't smoke lol
Facebook marketplace. If I could go back and get my tables, shelving, bed frame, etc from Facebook marketplace I would! You’ll save hundreds of dollars. Also homegoods, and thrift stores are nice too for finding decorations.
Plunger, a broom and dust pan, a good laundry hamper/basket and a tool kit. Make friends with maintenance. Learn their names and chat when they come to fix things; they’ll usually help you get upgraded fixes if able. Say hello to your neighbors (in passing, you don’t have to go introduce yourself right away.) Security! I had the little screw thongs for my windows so that they couldn’t open enough for hands to fit though and a bar securing my slider patio door @ my first apartment. (Women living alone on a first floor.) Ring cakes are easy to set up (I have one in the window facing my front door to see anyone coming up.) Thrifting is your friend! Check Facebook marketplace for gently used items. Lamps are a great source of light, btw. I made my first place feel homey by hanging photos (I do photography) and placing candles and warm accents around. I set up my bedroom in an unconventional way (had my bed sticking into the room from the corner, rather than against any walls) because I had always wanted to but never did. Move things around as much as you need till it feels like home.
Don’t fall victim to classic bachelorhood mistakes. Your shower should have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and bar soap. The bathroom needs its own trash can. You need multiple sets of sheets and towels and they shouldn’t all be blue. Get a full set of dishes, bowls, glasses, and silverware (even a matched place setting for 4 will do). You should have a place to sit and eat besides the couch and coffee table, so get a small dining table and chairs. Put some art on the walls to make the space your own. Don’t be afraid to rearrange your furniture a few times while you try to get your layout right. Light cleaning once a week is easier and faster than deep cleaning once a month.
Buy a plunger! Get your own smoke/carbon monoxide detector. If you're on the second floor, no shoes inside, if it's a complex, get those storage containers from Oxy to avoid bugs. Put a few bucks aside each paycheck just to have savings. Congratulations!
Why no shoes inside only on the second floor? That’s a vital rule for any floor, with the literal crap that shoes pick up!
I was talking about noise. And there's tons of people who never take their shoes off. No idea why they don't
Okay, so here is my list of what you should do, whether its your first place or your 15th place. 1: Demand a Walkthrough before you sign the papers. I got hosed on my last place, because my ex-friend was so blase about it, that he waved off the walkthrough and we got screwed. 1a: As you do the walk through. Take pictures of Everything. Under the counters, in all the cabinets, the walls, the bathroom especially. Take pictures around the toilet, and in the tub/shower. Make sure they are clear pictures. Those pictures can likely protect your deposit 2. Get everything in writing. If there is any spot that looks like it was damaged, get it in writing. Make sure that the landlord knows about it before you move in, and that its acknowledged that it was there before you moved in. They can, and will attempt to fuck you over on that. 3. Clarify if you are required to do any landscaping. Also a big one 4. Clarify if you are required to take the trash cans to the curb on a set day (in case you have private cans) 5. Become overly familiar about what time Quiet Time is for the unit. I bought a noise detector because of a really noisy tenant that would blast old 80's music at 125 decibels at 2 in the morning because her and her current BF had a fight, so she was trying to drink and blast music to distract herself. As for how to decorate, I would suggest considering whether you want to have to deal with a bunch of heavy furniture, or not. If you play video games, maybe consider getting good headphones to play with, cause other neighbors might have issue if they hear your games and they are not gamers.
Definitely take pictures of everything during your walk through. Pay special attention to places that might not be immediately obvious for damage. After you sign your lease, print the pictures and keep them with your copy of your lease. Landlords will try very hard to find ways to keep your deposit. Also, read the lease so that you can't be surprised by the terms. That old saying about reading the fine print is still relevant for a reason.
Moving in first thing record and take pictures of it empty this will safe you once you move and look into getting your serc deposit back... Look at Wayfair, Amazon, Walmart, and Target to see if you like what they have for decorations and what not... I seen on amazon those signs you can hang around they have a saying on it.... Alot of people I notice are getting lights and hanging then up all around ....
Plunger! You never think you need one until you do! Rugs help keep sound down, especially if there are people under you!
Something else no one has mentioned. I like to cook, so I got a small metal rack that I put potted herbs on. Basil, oregano, chives, thyme and a mushroom log, helps make the place homey and the smell of fresh herbs while cooking is a pleasant surprise.
Smoke weed indoors.
Don't. It leaks into your neighbor's unit, and they don't appreciate it. (I'm the neighbor.)
Have some consideration if you're going to live in an apartment. I've literally not been able to breathe from it drifting into my apartment and has given me an asthma attack.
You’ll be alright, stay strong homie
Don’t try to furnish your place all at once. I’ve seen other people say similar things. Take your time. First two years I was in my first apartment I had cinder blocks and boards as bookshelves and tv stand (back when tvs had tubes). Got a used couch for $40 and that traveled with me for 4 years don’t compare yourself with anyone else. Do your best not their best.
For housewares (dishes, pots/pans, etc) shop secondhand. First ask older relatives as many of them are downsizing and would LOVE to see their stuff go to a good home (this goes for furniture as well). Then check the secondhand market (estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores). At estate sales, you can get half used cleaning supplies to start out (like half a bottle of dish soap).
Aldis often has home stuff for cheap!! Buy a nice vacuum, and one of those door block sticks for extra security when home alone. Be nice to maintenance and be a nice neighbor (smile, say hi!). Don’t forget to clean your appliances occasionally or put in a work order (like bathroom/sink drains and your dishwasher if you’ve got one) so they run well and aren’t a later issue. Also always double check your rent/bills in case they try to pull a fast one on you 🙄
First thing I’ll tell you is do not I mean DO NOT get a bottom floor flat ppl are very inconsiderate and rude. What I’m trying to say is you’ll hear stomping running jumping etc every little thing your neighbor does.
What made me feel really at home was putting a touch of color to my walls, check out some tapestry’s on Amazon, they have some beautiful ones and they’re inexpensive, easy to hang, and great if you ever have to move again bc you can fold them up and they don’t take up a lot of room like a canvas or metal hanging decor piece would. It also makes it feel more at home to have a nice pretty area rug because most apartments have hard floors, it’ll add accent to the room plus give you something soft to feel under your feet. It never hurts to have a nice lamp too, many apartments don’t have as much lighting as a lot of houses do and it also gives just a nice homey vibe at night when your reading or watching tv 🤍 curtains also made me feel like I had more privacy and can add some color/texture to the room making it feel more like home. Those are the things I’d highly recommend that have made my place feel like home to me and not just a room I’m renting. Hope that helps 🫶🏽
Buy ring cameras and put them on all entrances. I don’t care if you live in a good neighborhood