The Ultimate List Of Apartment Must Haves | 75+ Save & Splurge Options For Every Apartment

1. Pots & Pans

Obviously, if you're going to be cooking in your apartment, you'll need a nice set of pots and pans! At a minimum, you should get a frying pan, a few pots, and a cookie sheet. That should give you enough variety to allow you to cook different meals. 

If you're looking for something that takes up a little less space but still gets the job done, check out the Always Pan! It has rave reviews and an amazing aesthetic! 

2. Dishes

3. Cups/Mugs/Glasses

4. Utensils

15. Bedframe

This is another one of those expensive items that you just have to get. I have an upholstered bed frame, and I think it makes your bed look soo cozy. A bed frame is a super important apartment must have.

16. Mattress & Mattress Topper

Okay, there was no way I was going to fork over $1,000 for a mattress when I was buying everything for my apartment, so I got this exact amazon mattress. 

No matter what mattress you get, you can make it feel like a $1,000 mattress easily with THIS mattress topper. 

I have a whole post about How I Made My Cheap Mattress ($260) Feel Like a Hotel Bed if you want more tips & tricks! 

17. Duvet Cover & Comforter

You're going to need a good duvet cover to make your bed feel extra cozy and luxurious. White duvet covers are classic and clean, you can't go wrong with one! 

I have this comforter to fill my duvet cover, and it gets the job done! What I did to make the duvet & comforter look really fluffy and expensive was I got TWO duvet inserts. Once you get them, throw them in the dryer with a tennis ball, and it will get them even fluffier. 

18. Sheets

This saves vs. splurge option really comes down to how picky you are about your sheets! I have never really been a sheet "snob," but I have friends who can only sleep on the nicest sheets . 

Maybe ask for some nice sheets as a gift!! I always go with all white, but if you want to do a beige or another neutral color, it would look really amazing!

19. King Size Pillows

This is one of my favorite tips...Use king-size pillows on a queen-size bed. I promise, they fit, and they will take your bed up a level. I can't remember where I learned this from but whoever I did, thank you because this looks really good.

I also am a big fan of satin pillows (if you're really looking to go all out, use silk pillows). They look fancier, are better for your hair and skin, and the ones I have are as cheap as you can get. I got a set of two for $10. I KNOW! Such a good deal. I've had mine for a year now, and I've only had one break. For how cheap they are, I'll call that a win.

Another reason I love these pillows, they have a zipper close which makes them look a lot more polished. I hate being able to see the pillow through the pillowcase (it automatically makes it look more sloppy)!

20. Throw Pillows

I'm a big fan of three-throw pillows with a lumbar pillow in front. You want to know why?! Because in the morning when it's 6:00 am and I'm quickly making the bed, I can throw those up there, give it a chop, and it covers half of the bed. 

On my bed, I am using these pillow covers from Amazon in the cream white color. I get my inserts in the clearance section at HomeGoods or Marshalls, and I get my pillow covers from Amazon.

For more ways to make your bed look super cozy and nice, check out My Step-by-Step Guide on How To Make Your Bed Look Expensive (like WAY more expensive).

29. Bath Towels

Again, this is kind of a given, but you're not going to want to forget bath towels!! If you really want some nice bath towels, get bath SHEETS, they're way bigger and literally feel like you're in a blanket.

This is one of those things that is definitely splurge-worthy because you really can tell the difference between cheap towels and expensive towels.

30. Hand Towels

You're going to want cute hand towels for both your bathroom and kitchen. I love these Turkish-style towels because they're simple but still interesting and pretty!

Serena & Lily is pretty dang expensive, but if you have money to spend on these cute towels, do it !!

31. Bath Mat

If you need a cute bath mat, I've got you covered. I found these 16 Best Bath Mats That Will Take Your Bathroom To The Next Level, and they are soooo cute. 

If you're looking for something super plain, easy, and cheap, this Amazon set of two is perfect for you. 

32. Shower Curtain & Liner

Your apartment may come with a basic shower curtain, but if you want to step it up a notch, you can get a cute shower curtain. Some of my favorites are from Target, but there are a ton of similar looks on Amazon. 

I have also rounded up the 15 Best Shower Curtains That’ll Take Your Bathroom to the Next Level if you want more shower curtain recommendations!

33. Shower Caddy Organizer

Unfortunately, most apartment showers have barely any shelving or places to set all of your bottles. I definitely recommend getting a shower caddy to give yourself some extra organization and space. It also makes the whole shower look neater than bottles being all over the place. 

If you need advice on how to keep your shower super clean, I put together The Best Shower Cleaning Checklist, Products, And Life Hacks. 

34. Trash Can

Again, this is kind of a given, but I wouldn't want you to forget! I like this super simple black trash can from Amazon, but if you want to be fancy the Serena & Lily seagrass basket waste bins are gorgeous! 

This Target Trash Can is a total dupe for the Serena & Lily one!! Save yourself $28 and get that one!

35. Bathroom Wall Decor

To make your bathroom seem less empty and plain, get some decor to go on your walls. For inspiration, check out My Apartment Bathroom Tour. 

If you want to have some framed art in your bathroom, BSL made Super Trendy Bathroom Wall Art that you can download for free! 

36. Couch

37. Chairs

38. Coffee Table

A coffee table is another one of those things that are practical, but also just really fun to decorate! I love my solid coffee table, but sometimes I wish I had a coffee table with two levels so I could put a basket with games or blankets on the lower level and all of my decor on the top. 

I also put together the 21+ Best Coffee Tables That Will Make Any Space Look Stunning for more options! 

39. Bar Cart

A bar cart is pretty much an apartment essential. I just finished putting together my bar cart, and I could not be more obsessed with how it turned out. If you want to see how I styled my bar cart, check out my post: How I Decorated My Bar Cart To Look Expensive (while sticking to a budget). 

40. TV Stand/Wall Mount

If you have a TV, you probably will have to put it on a TV stand if you can't drill into the walls for a TV mount. Most apartments do not want you to put holes in the wall, but if you are able to, you're going to need a TV mount. 

Also, part of me is jealous of people with TV stands because it's an excuse to decorate another area. Stack some cute coffee table books and a little plant, so cute. 

41. Floor Lamp

This isn't really a necessity for all apartments, but in some apartments, you definitely need a floor lamp! I have been loving the arc floor lamps lately, they're definitely trendy right now. 

There are a ton of floor lamps at IKEA, Target, and even Home Depot!! 

42. Throw Pillows

I'll admit it, I am a little obsessed with throw pillows. There are so many cute ones out there, and they make such a big difference in the way your space looks.

These pillow cover sets are so cute, and you will love them because they are already coordinated, and you don't have to worry about figuring out what looks good together.

43. Throw Blanket

Throw blankets go hand in hand with throw pillows in making your couch look put together and cozy. You will love neutral throw blankets because they add texture and layers but don't take away from the look of your throw pillows. 

Amazon has a ton of cute throw blankets, and I also always keep an eye out at Target and Home Goods!

44. Rug

I have tried out a TON of rug options in my apartment, and I'm pretty much an expert at this point. I have everything you need to know about rugs in my posts: 8 Best Places To Buy Rugs For ANY Budget & The Absolute Best Cheap Rugs That Look Expensive. 

45. TV

Okay, I linked two TVs from Amazon that are both 50 inches, but I think you may have more luck shopping Black Friday sales at Target or Best Buy! I got my TV on Black Friday and it was less than $300 if I remember correctly.

It is just the TCL brand, but it works perfectly for me, and I would never notice the difference between that and a TV that is $1,000+.

46. Streaming Device

Paying for cable is a whole other ballpark that you have to figure out with your internet provider. If you just want to stream Netflix, Hulu, etc., definitely look into getting a Roku or Apple TV. Some TVs even come with this setup already built-in!

47. Wifi Router

This is a major apartment must have. You seriously can't live without WiFi, so make sure you have your system all figured out! This is another thing that may be better to figure out through your cable/internet provider (Xfinity, AT&T, etc.).

48. Speaker(s)

You always need a Bluetooth speaker for playing music when you have guests over or even just day today. You will be obsessed with this Marshall speaker (like I am) because it is so cute that it totally functions as decor! It comes in a brown and white color if that is more your apartment style.

49. Laundry Detergent

I love this Downy Calm laundry detergent, and you will too! If you want to be fancy, this glamorous wash has rave reviews, and people say it's amazing for washing your sheets & bedding.

50. Dryer Sheets

Here's the Downy Calm again, but seriously it smells sooo good. Mrs.Meyer's products always smell amazing, so I know the dryer sheets would be amazing!

51. Iron

If you are a big ironer, you will definitely need to bring an iron with you to your apartment! If you're like me and too lazy to iron anything, you need Downy Wrinkle Release Spray!! It always amazes me, you can spray anything, and the wrinkles fall right out! 

52. Rags

It's funny because I don't remember ever actually buying rags for my apartment, but I use them daily!! So moral of the story is that you definitely need rags!

I use multipurpose cleaning spray for everything and always use my microfiber rags with it!

61. Picture Frames 

A gallery wall will be your absolute favorite way to fill empty wall space in your apartment. I just finished putting together a gallery wall in my apartment, and I LOVE it. 

Here's How I Created a Cheap Gallery Wall That Looks Expensive (RENTER-FRIENDLY!).

62. Plants

Plants (whether they're real or fake) are so pretty in every space!! They add some life, so your apartment doesn't look so cold and not homey.

I just got a live plant for my coffee table, and somehow, against all odds, it is still alive . Anything is possible people. 

63. Candles

You definitely need candles in your apartment!! I love both scented candles and fun, decorative candles like the bubble one I linked above. 

Capri Blue candles smell SOO good, but they are definitely pricey. My all-time favorite candles are the Sand + Fog candles from HomeGoods/TJ Maxx. 

64. Decorative Books

If you look around my apartment, there are coffee table books everywhere. The thing is, they can be super expensive, so I have some tricks to save money! I look for all of my books from Goodwill & just turn the dust cover inside out so it just has a plain white cover. 

65. Coasters

You can live without coasters, but I think they are a perfect little piece of decor. They also protect your wood surfaces from getting water and heat rings!

66. Vases

I have had my eye on this black Crate & Barrel vase forever. The round vase is sooo popular right now and probably all over your Pinterest feed. 

You can honestly get any vase like this and fill it with faux branches for beautiful decor!! I have also DIYed this vase look by painting vases from thrift stores with a baking soda/paint mixture.

68. Flashlight

If you're living in an apartment on your own, there's honestly nothing scarier than the thought of the power going out and you being stuck in the dark . Definitely get a flashlight (or two) when you're moving into your apartment.

Even if you think you'll never use it, I feel better just knowing I have one.

69. Tool Kit

Ladies need tools too!! If you're a DIY girl like me, you're definitely going to need some tools. When you're putting together your IKEA furniture and hanging stuff on walls, you're going to be happy to have a little tool kit!!

70. Light Bulbs

This is something you probably would forget to bring with you to your apartment and then have to go buy later on when your light bulb burns out. Having a couple on hand is all you need!