8 Things You Need for Your First Apartment

Furnishing your first apartment can be tough. You are most likely dealing with a limited budget, hand-me-downs galore, and a somewhat elastic definition of your style. But the good news? Your first apartment is also your first chance to decorate from scratch and explore looks that don’t work in a shared space. In other words, it’s time to get decorating! Below are just 8 "musts" to add to your first apartment:

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1. Accent Wall

Choose a color that is light enough to repaint when it’s time to leave, but switch up the standard white/eggshell/grey paint that you may have in your rental. Light yellow, peach, and robin’s egg blue are all lovely options that can add so much to a room, and paint is affordable, too. You can’t go wrong with Home Depot, Walmart, or Lowe’s.

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2. Framed Original Art

Everyone can afford art, it’s just the artist that changes the price. Go to farmer’s markets, art fairs, and shop second-hand to find art that fits your home furnishings and your budget. Too challenging? Buy a vintage magazine on eBay and remove a page or two (old ads and fashion spreads are fantastic conversation starters!). And frames? IKEA is a great place to get any frame for less.

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3. Accent Rug

Choose a color you want to incorporate in your apartment decor, and select a rug that brings it in through in small touches or a full-on solid. Whether you choose patterns or solids, however, be sure that the shade is spot-on. For discounted rugs, we recommend Overstock, which currently is featuring some massive price cuts during their Labor Day blowout sale!

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4. Quality Tableware

Placemats, matching plates and cups, and quality silverware might feel like an extravagance, but they aren’t. A new apartment is the perfect place for entertaining, and looking “grown-up” begins with proper place settings. It doesn’t need to be stuffy, though… you can use colors galore, funky plates, and cool stemless wine mugs.

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5. Quality Sheets

Planning on splashing out on something big, but you’re not sure what really matters? We’ll tell you -- sheets matter. Get the highest thread count you can afford from discount sellers on Amazon or at Overstock.

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6. Plants

Are you the opposite of a green thumb? Join the club. Avoid inevitable plant death in your new apartment with simple greenery that is much easier to keep alive… like succulents. There’s even a subscription service available at Succulent Studios that delivers special selections each month.

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7. A Lovely Lamp

Those inset ceiling lights and fluorescent bulbs are not going to improve a small space, but you know what will? A lamp -- any size -- that casts a warm glow at night. Use direct, strong lights in working areas (like over a desk or an easy chair).

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8. A Hamper

Without a nice hamper, things can get messy quickly. Find a wicker hamper or a rolling, soft-sided basket to keep everything organized. Without it, you’ll face a mountain that’s as unsightly as it is annoying to deal with every time you do laundry. And if you don’t have a washer-dryer in your apartment, get a hamper that has wheels.