Stuff you should have when moving in?

I'm prepping to actually have a place of my own (first time). I know I need a mattress, a lamp, toilet paper, and stuff to make food in (along with the food), but I feel like I'm missing a couple things. It's a small studio, so I don't expect to need anymore than two lamps (maybe not even that if there's already fixed lighting, they're remodeling a couple units so I'm not sure how it's going to look, but everyone I know that lives/has lived there said it's for real and it checks out in my book.).

Curtains unless you want people looking in. Cleaning supplies, especially the floor, kitchen, and bathroom. Don’t forget toiletries. Towels. Even with overhead lights a lamp would be nice. Pillows. Sheets. A blanket. You’ll figure it out once you’re there. No need to buy everything at once. Start living there and then buy a bit at a time, especially if you don’t have much room.

Yup, don't forget vacuum cleaner too, at some point, or broom, mop... Good on you Muddy, you'll love having your own space🙏

A bed. I mean mattress is ok but eventually you want a bed. If it’s a studio, you want to save space. Ikea has beds with massive storage drawers. The one we have also has shelves on the side and a shelf over headboard. You can fit everything in that storage. You don’t need dresser or shelves. It fits everything!!!! Ours is full size as it’s in the spare bedroom for grandkids etc But my daughter has one with less storage and twin size but it opens up into full size if need to. They aren’t expensive. But they are life saving beds for small places because of storage.

How about a first aid kit and fire extinguisher?

ITA that you'll build what you need very intuitively as you begin to live there. Congrats on the move.

Thanks guys.

(I can't sleep on a bed. I don't know why, but I've slept on a mattress on the floor or on a couch for 10 years when given the choice. Hell, even IP I put my mattress on the floor because that's the only way I can sleep. Entertaining for staff, certainly.)

I dont like that floating feeling either. I need solid beneath me. And no space for under-the-bed monsters. Theres enough of them lurking elsewheres.

I am the under-the-bed monster! Right now my bedroom is weird I have a frame but a mattress on the floor and I sometimes hide under the frame. This is why I never bring partners over

Don’t forget stuff like detergent, cleaning supplies etc when I moved into this place I have multiple sets of finger nail clippers and files so I got rid of some, but somehow I got rid of all of them! I had to go out and buy new clippers and files, but they are better than all of them that I had. So it worked out. Do find out what the laundry situation is. I had pods. But here is liquid soap only. So I’ve been using the laundry room on the sly to use up my pods. No idea why you can’t have pods.

flashlight or nightlights, earplugs, ice cream

towels, both kitchen and bath. Washclothes/dishclothes if you use either. Something to eat off of and with (paper plates and plastic utensils?). paper towels. You may want some good cleaning products to give the place a good once over before you move in (I'm thinking spray bleach, clorox wipes, etc).

I remember renting a carpet cleaner for one place I moved into. The carpets were incredibly filthy -- the leftover water was a very dark grey.

I told the landlord, and he said they were just cleaned.

A few things that come to mind:

- Trash cans for the kitchen and bathroom
- Dish rack
- Toilet brush

Funny, we just bought a new mattress. It came with a memory foam topper, so it's higher than our old mattress. Last night was the first time sleeping on it and I had that floating sensation. Also, our smaller doggo had a hard time getting onto the bed.

Once I got to sleep, though, I slept very well. The old mattress was really saggy and my back and ribcage sometimes hurt when waking up. In contrast, I feel great this morning.

Hi Muddy. A small chest of drawers maybe? I'll add getting a coffee table. They're both plentiful enough out there that you can size up and choose what would work best.

If you are on Facebook, find your hyperlocal (several neighborhoods within a city) Buy Nothing group by inputting your zipcode. Warning, they have strict rules and only accept people who already live in the neighborhood. You cannot post ahead of time. But once you move in, join the group, make a post, introduce yourself, explain what you have said to us here, and people will gift you things they do not need. Preface the post with ASK.

Also, monitor the group posts prefaced with GIFT. Those are from people who would like to get rid of something they do not need by donating it. Express interest in the things you like by commenting. Read the group etiquette rules before commenting.

I have been in my group for almost three years, since I moved into my current apartment. My friend who lives in another city told me about this group. Some of the things I got by following and responding to others' GIFT posts are things I did not know I badly needed but they now are making my life much easier:

- a huge three-bulb standing lamp for my bedroom
- a laundry sorter on wheels with three compartments
- a metal grid organizer that attaches to the wall
- an over the door set of hooks which I now use to hang dry clothes that should not be tumble dried

Things I got that I did know I needed:

- a large IKEA sofa (before posting an ASK, I responded to one person's GIFT post, did not get that sofa, but another woman found my comment, reached out to me and asked if I needed her roommate' sofa and I said yes)
- a desk which was actually delivered to my door the day I posted an ASK
- bath towels (have stains but but were perfectly clean when I picked them up)
- a little dish detergent to tide me over while I was waiting for a shipment from Amazon with a large dishwashing liquid bottle

AND MANY MORE.

I realize that because I live in Silicon Valley which is an affluent area, people have an abundance to donate which might not be the case depending on where you studio is located. But I still recommend you try the Buy Nothing group.

Also, for several months in 2021 I rented a studio, a semi-basement, without a kitchen. I accumulated some items from the Container Store at that time that helped organize that very small space. I now rent a 2-1, but these items are still extremely handy. Back when I was at the studio, my long term friend came to visit and commented on those items, admiring how efficiently they helped utilize the small space. So when you move in, if you have some budget and have a Container Store in your vicinity, post and I will provide the links and images. They also ship in the US but you need to spend a certain amount to qualify for free shipping.

The Container Store has sales on dorm organizing stuff yearly, but it is too late now. But the goal of setting up living in a dorm is similar to what you are facing now, so maybe look up subreddits dedicated to dorms?