The student apartment search can be a stressful one, and making that first big move can be just as stressful. That’s why it’s best to be prepared with all the basics before you unpack all of those cardboard boxes and settle into your new student apartment. If you or someone you know is moving into a new college apartment soon, make sure these college apartment essentials are on hand. Get these must-haves for a friend, or keep them for yourself to use after the apartment search is over and you’re ready to start student apartment life.
College Apartment Toolkit Essentials
Once your apartment search is over and you’ve moved in to your new apartment, you’ll find yourself with an apartment full of unpacked boxes, unassembled furniture, and undecorated walls. That’s why every first-time student renter should have a toolbox with all the essentials. This toolkit should include screwdrivers (both Philips and flathead), duct tape, a hammer, a tape measure, a level, scissors, pliers, a crescent wrench, picture hangers, and nails and screws of assorted sizes. Have this toolkit handy when you move in, and you’ll be prepared for any building, repairing, adjusting, or decorating that you need to do.
College Apartment-Friendly Décor
Chances are that your apartment search has landed you an apartment that, while great for a student just starting out, probably doesn’t allow for a lot of permanent decorations. If your apartment’s lease prohibits painting or putting holes in the wall, don’t worry! You can opt for décor ideas like putting up temporary wallpaper, using 3M Command strips to hang posters or framed art, using a rug or throw pillows for some color, and adding your own lamps to make the room a bit cozier.
College Apartment Pantry Essentials
Now that you have a real kitchen and refrigerator, you can keep foods of all kinds in your apartment. Search your empty cupboards, however, and you’ll soon learn that there’s more to a well-stocked kitchen than what is in the fridge. To build a stock of non-perishables, get canned foods like beans, tomatoes, soups, and vegetables; stock, broth, or bouillon cubes; pasta; pasta sauce; a basic collection of spices, including salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, and nutmeg; olive oil; vegetable or canola oil; and baking essentials like powdered sugar, white sugar, brown sugar, flour, vanilla extract, baking soda, and baking powder.
College Apartment Kitchen Essentials
Having a full fridge and all the right dry ingredients won’t do you any good if you don’t have the right tools in the kitchen. You’ve probably already got a set of cutlery and some cookware, but don’t forget about items like a bottle opener, corkscrew, can opener, colander, ladle, tongs, and spatula.
College Apartment Roommate Essentials
If, in the course of your apartment search, you have acquired a roommate, you’ll need some tools to coexist peacefully. One such useful tool is the chore chart. Create one when you first move in, put it in a readily-visible place (like the refrigerator door), and adhere to it as best you can.
More ApartmentSearch.com Tips
Want more college apartment search tips and ideas? Check out our posts on finding the right college apartment, space saving tips for students, and the best cities for recent college grads.
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