You have finally made it out of your parent's house. Congratulations, you are now officially an adult. You are probably a bit nervous having left the comfort of home and dorm life behind. This move, while exciting, comes with some anxiety. Relax, with a few well chosen accessories your place will become the go-to hangout for all your friends.
First, do the boring part, the part that ensures your safety. Check the batteries on your smoke alarms and either locate the fire extinguisher or go out and buy one.
While we're on the grimmer aspects of renting, Carbon Monoxide (CO2) will kill you dead! Make sure your CO2 alarm is plugged in at all times. The only way safety devices can save you is if they work.
Next purchase is either curtains or blinds to give you some privacy. Your neighbors aren't delighted to see you scratching that itch while you sit in the living room watching TV, and you certainly don't want them to. Do yourself and your neighbors a favor and spend a few bucks on window treatments.
Now that you've got your privacy, you can take a shower. You'll need towels for you're the bath, and your face and hands. Please get hand towels. Don't force people to dry their hands on something you've wiped your body with.
Towels for the kitchen are essential. A garage full of paper towels only lasts so long. But a good stack of dishtowels can last you a lifetime. Cheap, reusable, and decorative, dishtowels will save you money in the long run.
If you need a shovel to forge a path through those dirty clothes lying all over your place, get a clue and purchase a collapsible clothes hamper with wheels. You can wheel the thing all over, picking up clothes and putting them in the hamper as you go. On laundry day you can roll the hamper to the laundry room. Once the laundry is done, roll it back full of clean clothes, put the clothes away, collapse the hamper and you have saved yourself some precious floor space while being tidy as all get out.
Throw pillows aren't just for decoration. Use them as extra seating. A pile of large throw pillows or cushions can double as an extra comfy seat for movie night with friends. A plushy pillow bed can also make a great crash spot for unexpected sleepovers or drunk friends.
As for kitchen appliances, don't buy what you will never use. Come on, will you really be making gruyere fondue, paninis or Belgian waffles? I don't think so. You do not need specialized cooking appliances. All you need is a microwave, a toaster oven and crock pot.
Every once in a while you need to hunker down and get dirty. The right cleaning products can save you cash and time. Your cleaning kit should include:
- Dish detergent
- All purpose, preferably antibacterial cleaner in as big a jug as you can find
- Scrubbing compound
- Micro-fiber clothes
- Sponges
- Empty one liter spray bottles
This should take car of the kitchen and bathroom. For the floors you might want a Swiffer for the occasional wash. However, a broom, dustpan, and vacuum are a must to keep your floors free of dirt and mud.
A coat rack can be a real space saver even in warmer weather. Hang your keys, backpack, purse, or the bikini you need to take back to the mall. With all this free floor space, you might have enough room for a table and some chairs!
A place to put a table is at a premium in most apartment units. If you and your friends want to chow down and chat instead of watch TV, you should be looking for a small kitchen table with chairs. Depending on your entertaining style, you may be just fine with a large coffee table instead, a place to set down your drinks and chips when you and your guests are not eating or drinking.
Now that you are organized, invite those envious friends over and show them what you have accomplished with your new space. Maybe you should add a blender after all to your kitchen needs for those prize-winning Margaritas you are famous for. Yup, your friends will be green with envy.
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