<p>So I'm finally moving off-campus with 3 of my best friends and I wanna make a list of everything that we'll need and figure out who has what and what we need to buy. I've looked online and have found lists that include a million different types of handtowels but nothing that I actually NEED. So what have you guys found to be important in your apartment that we may forget about or are just really important?and has anyopne found a more useful list somewhere?also, any decorating tips would be appreciated, I wanna try to starch fabric to some walls and somehow paint our sillouhettes on the living room wall if we can, but beyond that we're clueless!</p>
<p>Is it furnished? If not you’ll need a couch, a dining room table, some sort of coffee table, some chairs and a few stools wouldn’t hurt. A toaster, microwave, plates, silverware, some pots and pans and other cooking utensils. For the room you’ll need some sort of desk, a nice chair, a dresser and another little table. Seriously, get a couple little tables for the living room and it makes it look MUCH less empty, even if you don’t have all sorts of things on the walls.</p>
<p>well, i’ve never had my own apartment, but i’ve lost my house before and we had to refurnish an apartment from scratch before so perhaps i can help you:</p>
<p>the pots, pans, and utensils thing is completely true. you need kitchen supplies especially if you plan to cook alot. You know, get some good baking pans, skillets - all the good stuff. You also might want some tupperware/ziploc containers or whatever brand you prefer because you are going to want to store leftovers at some point I imagine. Of course you’ll need all the things you needed in your dorm: bedding, coat hangers, an ironing board, (an iron)…probably get a good bath mat and a set of towels too. Otherwise I second chuy: all the major pieces of furniture </p>
<p>Don’t forget little random things either. I clogged the only toilet in our appointment the first night, and wouldn’t you know all the walgreens/rite aids were closed. Invest in a plunger! (and bathroom cleaning accessories). Umm other than that I guess I’d have to say little tools like screwdrivers and hammers. Incomplete list I know but I hope it helps some :)</p>
<p>PS: yard sales can totally be your friend. i don’t know if you are into them or not, but you can definitely grab an end table or two cheaply and make it work.</p>
<p>shower curtains, detergent, vacuum</p>
<p>A crap load of screws and a good screw driver. I’m constantly finding something that needs to be hung up or fixed or something. I think I use this more than anything else.</p>
<p>A small step ladder.</p>
<p>Doormats </p>
<p>Paper towel holder</p>
<p>batteries</p>
<p>flashlight</p>
<p>A cordless drill (if you need to hang blinds).</p>
<p>A wooden bar stool.</p>
<p>Power strips.</p>
<p>Vacuum cleaner if you have carpets.</p>
<p>Microwave or toaster oven unless you’re always going to eat out.</p>
<p>Dish drying rack.</p>
<p>Glasses, dishes, cutlery.</p>
<p>One or more bookcases.</p>
<p>Sponges.</p>
<p>Paper towels.</p>
<p>Check to see what appliances are included before you go out and buy something you don’t need. My apartment next year has a built-in microwave, so no need to go buy one. But it doesn’t have a dishwasher, so I need to pick up a drying rack. A friend is in the opposite spot–needs to buy a microwave, but has a dishwasher.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t want to drop $50+ on a microwave and not need it. Yeah you can return it but not worth the hassle IMO.</p>
<p>Rent furniture.</p>
<p>It is much, much, much cheaper than buying (at least in the short term). I mean if you live far away from home and will be axing/ selling most of your stuff away at the end of the semester/ year anyway.</p>
<p>My two roommate and I all chipped in for this one rental plan for a semester. It was extremely cheap, they moved in all the furniture for us - the beds, desks, drawers, lamps, couches, tables, chairs before we even got to the apartment - all the Queen sized beds in all the rooms. It was fantastic.</p>
<p>So basically, our apartment looked like a fully furnished house, quite stylish and professional, too - like 30 somethings had chosen the furniture - rather than some Kum-bi-yah tacky we-have-no-furniture-except-crates-and-a-bean-bag-chair place. Plus, Queen sized beds!</p>
<p>What was the alternative, buy a new mattress for myself for one semester, than have to transport it 1000 miles home somehow and be responsible for storing it for my lifetime? No thank you, heh.</p>
<p>Also, to the above: it costs about $15 at Target for a fully functional microwave.</p>