20 First Apartment Necessities Every Grown-Ass Woman Needs
Congratulations, you have your first apartment! You are officially an independent, grown-ass woman! This is an awesome milestone, but unfortunately this comes with bills, cleaning, and sometimes finding your way around a new city. While having a first apartment to yourself is exciting and gives you a space to make your own, do whatever you want, and a place to invite friends to chill, sometimes we all forget a few things we need to survive our first apartment rent-or want to make a bland apartment a little more like home. Making your first apartment feel like home will seriously eliminate some stress in your life, and can help equip you to take on life’s many challenges. So keep reading for 20 things every grown-ass woman needs in her first apartment!
1. A charming teapot set for when entertaining company.
Every grown ass-woman definitely needs a teapot in her first apartment. If you live by yourself, you probably only need one cup of tea at a time, but when company comes over you may want to have a teapot around to serve hot drinks, and feel super classy.
As a bonus, if you ever feel crazy awkward having people over, a good way to break the ice can be to offer some tea, and make simple conversation while making tea for your guests, as it keeps you occupied so you aren’t like me and struggling for words while staring at your guests. A teapot in a cute color or print can also add some personality and livelihood to a boring rental kitchen, and turning to tea instead of soda will have major health benefits.
2. A Keurig.
If you’re like me and the first thing you do every morning is groggily make yourself a cup of coffee. Having a Keurig coffee maker around not only saves you money instead of those long runs to Starbucks, but you also have an excuse to drink that second cup without brewing an entirely new pot.
A coffee maker that can also make you a mug of hot chocolate, a mocha (mix a little instant coffee into your hot chocolate and add cinnamon for a kick of flavour on cold days), or a cup of tea in one convenient spot is all you need.
3. A sturdy frying pan set– even if you hate cooking!
If you’ve ever watched Disney’s Tangled, you know there are many unconventional uses for a frying pan, but my favorite is for scrambled eggs or a quick sauce. A frying pan is a cooking must have, and is used for tons of quick recipes.
Being able to cook a few basic meals is something everyone should learn, so a frying pan will be your best friend in the culinary arts if you aren’t ready to make anything too fancy, but need to eat like literally every other human. Cooking independently and not dashing to the corner store for fora quick meal or begging for leftovers will seriously help you out in the long run.
4. An extra set of bed sheets.
You probably already have your own set of bed sheets, but having extra sheets for laundry days – yes you NEED to wash your sheets every few weeks – and having some extra for unexpected guests, friends that drop by, or just a blanket to cuddle up with on the couch, leaves you that much more prepared. (Super cozy blankets can also get you through the winter without cranking the furnace to tropical temperatures.)
5. A decent toilet plunger.
It’s gross and I don’t like to talk about it all too much- but you need a plunger, seriously. Toilets get clogged, bathrooms get gross, and you need to be able to fix a clogged toilet or drain without losing your cool. A good plunger and a scrub brush will last years and will go a long way to surviving your first apartment. Just do it.
6. Proper shower storage.
Not all first apartments are created equal and sometimes you end up filling your bathtub ledge with all your shampoos and tripping over them constantly. I know it’s super easy to just stuff your beauty products in a pantry and then root through them frantically as needed, but having a place to store your shower stuff saves you from forgetting something mid shower and keeps your bathroom tidy so you don’t have to hide it if your parents drop by.
Shower caddies, DIY build in shelves – depending on your rental policy – or over the shower attachments are a great way to add a little storage and organization and eliminate some of the stress of quick morning showers.
7. All-purpose disinfecting wipes.
Now that you are a bona fide, grown-ass woman, you need to be able to clean your own apartment. Let’s face it – sometimes there is no time to clean but at least a bi-monthly wipe down will keep your apartment fresh. Keeping an all-purpose cleaner, sanitizing wipes and cleaners for specific jobs can make cleaning suck a little less.
8. An ironing board and iron.
Investing in a new, sturdy, ironing board will save you in the long run when you’re late for work and realize your favorite blouse is wrinkly!
9. A proper vacuum.
If you remember when I said that you should try and keep on top of cleaning your apartment, affordable, cordless vacuum is one of the best ways to clean up little spills and avoid a dust bunny complex. A vacuum that is easy to access, easy to carry and lightweight will be worth the money spent and the time begrudgingly pushing it around.
10. These trendy glass drink coasters.
Remember when your grandmother told you put your drink on a coaster every time you had a drink? I won’t say I told you so, but she was right. You don’t want to stain a nice table with rings, and coasters are much cheaper and way more effective than repainting a table or getting a new one, so a package or two of cute; durable coasters will protect your furniture and can also look super luxe and grown up.
11. A real, living plant or flower.
Before you make any plans to adopt a pet or take care of any living thing it is probably best to do a trial run. Getting a plant is a great way to add an inexpensive form of decoration to you apartment, and adds tons of personality to your space in a totally responsible and I know what I’m doing way.
Rubber plants, cacti, and any kind of succulent are super easy to take care of and require very little watering, but with proper care ivy and flowers can be just as easy, and will give your room some color. And yes just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean that you have to give up geeky stuff; you may just choose to go a more tasteful route, like using this adorable Bulbasor planter to care for your new gardening hobby.
12. A decent kitchen table.
No matter how small you really do need a table. Somewhere that can separate your kitchen from your living room or separate a work space from your TV is completely worth the investment for the peace of mind. Having a separate work space or designated eating area can help you focus and relax, and will create a great spot for work, eating dinner, or to spread out your stuff.
A table to eat at is also great for when people come over, and allows comfortable seating. You don’t necessarily need a separate kitchen table and dining table – especially in a smaller rental. Just one table with enough room for a few guests that looks presentable will go a long way.
13. Some art for your walls.
Whether you’re into fashion, science, video games, or anything else, there will be art that suites your personality and tastes. Art is an awesome way to express your interest and make boring walls look less bland, and make a rental or new apartment feel more like home. A more grown-up way to display art is to used frames and similar colours in varying sizes, canvases, or wall hangings instead of taping posters to the wall.
Posters are an awesome option, but pasting them to a canvas or framing then will help them to last longer and look a lot more grown up than they did in your dorm. You don’t have to give up your Legend of Zelda poster (like me) or your collection of band post cards, just display them with pride.
14. A reliable bookshelf.
A bookshelf isn’t actually just for book, despite its name. A solid shelf is a great way to store books, binders, textbooks, art, book ends, plants (See where I’m going with this?) and little knick-knacks that make your apartment yours.
Shelves are an awesome catch-all, and a great way to look organized. They can hold all of your stuff in an aesthetically pleasing way. A bookshelf in a neutral colour with adjustable shelf heights will last years and is a great way to store pretty much anything while also keeping it on display and where you can see it.
15. A dehumidifier.
Your place will get dusty, and stuffy, and moist and hot and cold, especially if you have very little time or commitment to cleaning. Dehumidifiers can even help remove allergens from the air and keep you from getting sick, which is a major bonus. This 3-in-1 air condition, fan and dehumidifier is perfect to save money on a/c, as it will keep small spaces cool and remove excess moisture.
16. Supplies for an organized, tidy AF desk.
Wherever you choose to do your work, an organized work space, preferably separate from distractions is almost mandatory to get any work done, so finding an organizational system that works for you is key.
Desk Organizer
A desk organizer is a great way to avoid clutter and always have a pen when you need it. An organized file folder, one that collapses so you can take it with you is an ideal way to store receipts for taxes, manuals that you’re going to need later, list and paperwork that usually ends up under a pile of other lost things.
Chalk Calendar
A calendar that will stick to a wall with a spot for notes is a great way to organize your scheduled appointments and make the list or notes of anything you need like groceries or a reminder to call someone back if- you’re anything like me, you need to put notes everywhere. An organized desk is the start of actually having you stuff together, and knowing where your important files are.
17. A reliable printer.
No work space is complete without a printer. Scanning and saving documents imprinting your files is a necessity, so having a good color printer may not keep you from cramming in assignments at 3 am, but you will be able to have them ready without scrambling for a computer on campus.
18. A large bean bag chair for guests to lounge on.
It may seem financially daunting, but a legitimate bean bag chair can be an excellent investment piece for your home. It will quickly become a designated spot for relaxation, a quick meal (we all are guilty of eating on the couch), and a spot for your friends to chill instead of on your bed, the floor, or a questionable diner like you may have done pre-apartment living. Plus, it is much easier to move around than a sofa.
19. A rug with some personality.
Rugs are an excellent way to add a bit of character to a space while keeping dirt out of your house or just keeping your feet warm, and are great for sitting on if you want to stretch out or sneak in some crunches while binge watching Friends. Rugs come in various sizes, materials and prices, but elegantly add some flair to your space, or hide undesirable spots on your floor.
20. The proper lighting.
Last but not least is lighting. Lighting. Is. Everything. Not every apartment comes with bright, warm lights, and sometimes the lighting situation is flat out terrible. Try keeping a standing light in a darker room, or a desk lamp for some extra light during late night study sessions, or some cute string lights that you can hang up pretty much anywhere that needs a dose of illumination.
Lights are easy to move and adjust so only buying one or two and moving them as needed is a perfectly viable option to avoid constantly squinting at papers in a dim part of a room.
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
What are other things every grown ass woman needs in her first apartment? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Featured image source: lovethispic.com
Tags: apartment necessities, first apartment, first apartment necessities, grown ass woman, grown-ass women, things for apartment, things for first apartment
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