As you’re heading off to college , there are a lot of important things that are likely on your mind. Making sure you're on time for orientation, getting your class schedule, and buying all of your textbooks to name a few. 

If you chose to live in an apartment, you have a bunch more to add to your plate. Now you need to add managing your rent, buying groceries, and budgeting to your list. Another important thing to consider is what to get for your new apartment. Looking at countless inspiration photos can make it difficult to decide what to get and what not to. So, we have compiled a list of essential items that we recommend you get for your college apartment.

In our modern age, there are endless choices on where to buy. However, as a college student, you should prioritize what is allowed in your budget overall. What can you save on and what you want to splurge on will be determined by your budget. Here is a list of the types of shops you should consider going to when searching for things to fill up your apartment.

• Big Box Stores: They will usually have anything you need in one place. You can also get a better idea of the size and color of the item you want.
• Thrift Stores: You may not find everything you need, but you will find things unique and cheap. If you're looking to save money, thrift shops are a great place to look!
• Online: You can buy almost everything you can think of in the style you want. The only issue is that it takes time for things to deliver to your apartment.

Getting ceramic dishes and cups you can wash will save you money in the long run compared to having to purchase paper plates and plastic cups every couple of weeks. So, save yourself some money and save it for something important later!

The amount of dishes and cookware you get will depend on a lot of factors. Does your apartment include a dishwasher? Does your apartment have a lot of cabinet space? Does your apartment have a lot or not a lot of counter space? For this article, we will assume your apartment will be small. In this case, only get what you need. 

For dinnerware:

•  2-4 cups
• 1-2 bowls
•  2-3 plates
• Enough silverware to last a couple days 

For cookware: 

• 1 big pot 
• 1 small pot
• 2-3 large cooking spoons
• 1 spatula

If your apartment has more cupboard space and a dishwasher, you can get away with getting more, but for those that have to work with less, only get a few so that you're not spending too long washing dishes. Speaking of washing dishes, your new apartment will need a drying rack so you have a place to put your freshly cleaned dishes.

Depending on the size of your apartment, you may have some room to fit a couch. Couches come in many styles, shapes, and sizes, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one you like, that fits your vibe of your apartment, and that will fit your budget. Couches make for a great place to hang out with your friends to watch your favorite shows on T.V. or on your laptop. If someone is staying over, they’ll have a place to stay.

When you move into your new apartment, you’re going to have to deal with a lot of boxes everywhere filled with memorabilia from home, clothes, books, games, and anything you decided to bring to your new apartment. On top of that, you’ll be buying school supplies, furniture and other things for your apartment. That’s going to be a lot of boxes filled with a lot of stuff. So, it’s important that you organize all of that as soon as you can so your apartment doesn’t become crowded with unpacked boxes and unorganized books and clothes. 

Fortunately, there are a plethora of organizational options to choose one. For books, a simple bookshelf is recommended. It can be tall or short based on how many books you already have and plan to get in the future. For clothes, of course you should get clothes hangers and drawers to organize everything, but also consider getting a shoe rack. Shoes strewn about everywhere will quickly eat up precious space. 

Don’t have a lot of square footage to work with? Hang shelves on the walls! More than likely, your landlord isn’t going to like you drilling holes into their walls, so get apartment-friendly wall shelves, hooks, and hangers. You can even use your door to organize your stuff. Door hangers for your new apartment can hold coats, your backpack, or scarfs you have.