Okay, deep breath. You have the keys. The place is empty. You’re standing in the middle of the living room, and the only thing in there is that one weird smell every new apartment seems to have. Now what?

Forget those perfect blogs with the matching throw pillows. Let’s get real. This list is from someone who has lived through the “I have no can opener and this can of beans is mocking me” phase.

Step One: The “Oh Crap, I Need to Live Here” Basics

You need to be able to sleep, eat, and shower. That’s it for week one.

• A Bed: Not a fancy one. A mattress on the floor counts. I’m not judging. But get a decent pillow. Your neck will thank me. You can worry about a headboard in like, five years.
• For the Kitchen: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go to the store and buy one of everything. You will use two things: a skillet and a pot. That’s how you make 90% of all food. Get one good knife. A sharp one. A dull knife will send you to the ER faster than you can say “avocado pit.” You need one big spoon, a spatula, and for the love of all that is holy, A CAN OPENER. You will also need:
  • One plate.
  • One bowl.
  • One fork, one knife, one spoon.
  • One mug.
  • (Yeah, get two of each if you have a partner or want to pretend you have friends over).
• For the Bathroom: You have your toothbrush. Cool. You need a shower curtain. Check if it needs rings. This is the most common mistake. No one remembers the rings. And listen to me carefully: BUY A PLUNGER. You buy a plunger before you need a plunger. This is the number one rule of adulting.
• Cleaning Stuff: You need all-purpose cleaner, some paper towels, and trash bags. That’s enough to start.

Step Two: The “Okay, This is Starting to Feel Normal” Stuff

After you’ve survived a week without ordering pizza every night, you can think about this.

• A chair: Just one. You need somewhere to sit that isn’t your bed or the floor. It makes a huge psychological difference.
• A lamp: Overhead lights are the worst. They’re harsh and make everything look sad. A cheap lamp with a warm bulb makes a place feel like a home.
• A trash can: For the kitchen. And maybe a small one for the bathroom.

Stuff You Can 100% Ignore (For Now)

Do not waste your money on:

• A matching dish set for 12 people.
• Any kitchen gadget that only does one weird thing (looking at you, egg slicer).
• A ton of art and decor. That stuff should come slowly, when you find things you actually love.
• Anything “just in case.”

And hey, here’s a thing nobody tells you: You’re gonna end up with stuff. Stuff you don’t need right now but can’t get rid of. Maybe it’s your winter clothes taking up your whole summer closet. Or those boxes of childhood things your mom finally “set free.” This is the part where I tell you that we see this all the time.

Final Thought

People use our storage units as their “extra closet.” It’s a cheap way to keep your actual apartment from feeling cramped and chaotic. You can stash your seasonal stuff, your “maybe I’ll need this someday” things, and all those boxes you just don’t want to deal with yet. It keeps your new space clean and simple, which is exactly what you need right now.

Your first place isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to be yours. It’ll come together one weird yard-sale find and one IKEA trip at a time. Just start with the basics. You’ve got this.