Divvy Guides

First Apartment Essentials Checklist (2026)

Moving into your first apartment hits different from a dorm — suddenly you’re responsible for the stuff a dorm quietly provided. No more shared kitchen down the hall, no RA, no furnished common room. Here’s everything a first apartment actually needs, sorted so you can split it with roommates without ending up with three colanders and no trash can.

Kitchen (the most-forgotten category)

Pots and pans set
Knife set and a cutting board
Can opener, peeler, measuring cups
Plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware
Microwave [link] and a coffee maker
Dish rack, dish soap, sponges
Food storage containers

Living room

Seating — even a futon or floor cushions to start
A small TV [link] and stand
Area rug to make a bare floor livable
Lamps (apartments love to skip ceiling lights)

Bedroom

Bed frame and mattress
Sheets, comforter, pillows
A dresser or storage bins
Blackout curtains

Bathroom

Shower curtain and liner
Bath mat and towels
Plunger and toilet brush
A small trash can

Cleaning & maintenance

All-purpose cleaner, dish soap, paper towels
Broom, dustpan, and a small vacuum
Trash cans and trash bags
A basic tool kit — you’ll need it sooner than you think

Easy to forget

Surge protectors and extension cords
A first-aid kit
Light bulbs
A fire extinguisher (and check the smoke detectors)

Split the shared stuff before you shop

Here’s where roommates waste the most money: everyone buys “just in case.” You only need one microwave, vacuum, TV, rug, trash can, and set of cleaning supplies for the whole apartment. Sort out who’s bringing what before the first shopping trip.

That’s the whole point of Divvy — claim the items you’ve got, see what’s missing, and split the cost-heavy shared stuff fairly instead of triplicating it.

👉 Set up your apartment list free at joindivvy.app.

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