Apartment/House Essentials

At some point during your college journey, you may be living off-campus. Perhaps, leasing a room in a house or maybe having your own apartment. You may be living alone or with some of your friends. In whatever case, the process of setting up your apartment can be quite exciting (especially if it is your first time having your own apartment). During my sophomore year, I lived in a house near North Campus. It was a really great experience, but during my first weeks, I realized I needed some things that I didn’t know I needed. Here I will break down some of the apartment/house essentials you must not forget about when packing or shopping for your new place. 

When it comes to the Kitchen you should pack:

• Plates and Soup/Cereal bowls

• Mugs and glasses

• Silverware

• Silverware organizer 

• Cutting knives and board

• Vegetable Peeler

• Measuring Cups

• Bottle/Can Opener

• Food storage containers and bags

• Pots and Pans

• Trash Can and Recycling Bin (don’t forget trash bags)

• Dish soap and Sponges

• Paper Towels

• Hand soap 

• Dish towels

• Any other utensils you may need: Spatula, Slotted Spoon, Ladle, etc. 

The following are some recommendations (they depend on your personal needs and preferences):

• Microwave 

• Fryer

• Blender

• Rice Cooker

• Toaster

• Coffee maker

• Waffle Maker

• Scale

When packing and shopping for items for your bedroom, you should consider:

• Unfurnished apartment:

• Desk and Chair (make sure it’s comfortable or get a beanbag)

• Nightstand

• Mattress (if not included)

• Furnished and Unfurnished Apartment:

• Sheet set and blankets

• Pillows

• Curtains or Blinds (Check if any are included)

• Lamps

• Rug

• HDMI cable and cable extension

• Air Conditioner

• Mirror

• Shoe storage

• Storage Bins/Baskets

• Trash can

• Clothes hangers

• Hampers

• Shower curtains and hooks

• Bath and hand towels

• Bathroom and Bedroom cleaning supplies: Toilet Brush, Plunger, Disinfecting Spray, Vacuum

• Any Decorations you like: Posters, Pictures (make sure not to use nails when hanging things to a wall, it’s usually not allowed. You can use 3M hanging strips as an alternative.), Decorative Pillows.

• Some non-essential recommendations for your bedroom:

• TV (May be considered essential)

• Desktop Computer (could be good to study with a bigger picture)

• LED Lights (They look great!)

• Physical Calendar (If you are old-fashioned and like to set up reminders)

• Minifridge (So good)

• Plants (So you are not the only living thing in your bedroom)

• If the landlord allows it, get a pet (I have Betta fish named Blue, the best decision I ever made despite the fact that he doesn’t do much)

If you are leasing an unfurnished place, you should first take a look at what is included. Depending on this you can make an informed decision on what to buy. If you are living with roommates you should consider discussing your needs with them. Perhaps you could split the bill on a Sofa, TV, Dining Table, or any other living room equipment you may need. No matter what type of apartment you will be living in, don’t forget cleaning supplies, and again, remember to check what is included in your contract and talk to your roommates about who is responsible for bringing what (Personal Experience: Having two toasters and two microwaves is kind of useless). Good luck setting up your apartments.

Written by Sergio Mendez

Summer Orientation Peer Advisor

Undergraduate Student

Guatemala