The time has finally come. After years of living with your parents – and living with their rules – and a cramped first year away in your dorm room – you are ready to make the big jump.
You and your buddies are a short time away from picking up the keys to your very first apartment!
Exciting stuff, right?
It is, but it is also stressful to think that a lot of the things that you have taken for granted over the years will be your responsibility now. That’s a lot, and it might even be enough to make you appreciate how much your parents did for you over the years.
At the very least, it might make you realize that having your own space isn’t all about having control over the television, not having to turn down your music because your sister is sleeping or planning a big party.
The first thing that you’ll need to do – you’ll need to do it before you even move in, actually -- is fill it up with the stuff you need. Fear not, we are here to help you buy all that you need to move into your first shared apartment.
Bedroom
The bedroom will be the place that you spend most of your time in, especially if you are in an apartment with roommates. So, it’s important that you make it comfortable and a place that you’ll be happy to spend a large amount of time in.
You’ll probably have a bed and desk that you can move from your childhood bedroom, but this might be a good time to evaluate whether you want to upgrade these items. Additionally, you should invest in a proper work chair to use at your desk. You might not think that you can develop a sore back or neck from sitting in a poor chair, but, trust us, you can. Spend the money to get a proper chair.
You’ll also want to make sure that you have enough storage. Older places may have much smaller closets than you are used to, so an armour or other storage bin might be useful. This is where function, can take priority over style. Most of us are going to have to watch our money. Rather than storing your summer clothes in a closet, think about grabbing a storage bin instead.
If you have roommates, plan on making your bedroom an apartment within the apartment. You may want to invest in a mini-fridge and a small smart television. Noise-canceling headphones are also a great idea because, well, roommates make noise that can make it hard to sleep or study!
Bathroom
Storage is the thing here. You’ll want to make sure that you have a way to distinguish between your stuff and your roommates. Find a small box or bag that can hold all your stuff.
Unless you want to share your toothbrush. We won’t judge*.
*We will. Don’t do that.
Kitchen
Don’t assume that you can use your roommates’ plates. Bring your own.
You don’t need a lot. Or your grandma’s Fine China. Just grab one bowl, a dinner plate, and a couple of glasses. Additionally, grab a frying pan and sauce pot. The less, the better. It will force you to wash things as you use them and, more importantly, it will prevent the Great Dish War of 2022-23.
Many friendships have become victims of previous Great Dish Wars.
Livingroom
This is where the collective needs to come together. You each will have your own space to do your own thing, so make the living room a fun, study free space.
Are you sports fans? Chip in and grab that 72’ TV to watch the playoffs on! Like music? Now is the time to get those speakers. PS5? Yup!
But, make sure that there is a plan in place for when someone leaves. Write out a little contract that makes it clear who owns things and what the rules are to use them. If you buy something together, work out in advance what happens when someone wants to move out.
Other stuff
There’s a lot of other stuff you might not think of. You’ll need tools, brooms, mops, rakes, snow shovels, and a bunch of other stuff. You might not realize all that you need immediately, so work out how you're going to acquire those things as you move forward.
A little planning in September can make for less conflict in May and, hopefully, a second year of living together in your very own shared apartment!
