When you are just starting out, perhaps in a college dorm or your first apartment, it can be hard to understand how much stuff you really need to live comfortably and even harder to plan if you’ve not been responsible for housekeeping and routine maintenance. It’s best to begin by creating a list and then working against it to check off what you may already own, what you can borrow and what items might need to be purchased either new or second-hand.
The bathroom is a good place to start as it may be the first room you will use. It’s important to have an assortment of towels, starting with one bath sheet or bath towel, one hand towel and two washcloths for each person, along with an assortment of hand and guest towels and one or two bath mats. You will need a shower curtain and liner along with shower curtain hooks; check to see if a shower curtain rod is provided as you may need to get a new one.
Most bathrooms require curtains or some sort of window treatment for privacy; you may need to invest in a curtain rod or blinds. You may also need a soap dish, toothbrush holder and toilet tissue holder. Extra towel racks are always useful but be sure check before mounting any permanent hardware as it may be in violation of your lease. Suction-cup hooks and tension towel bars are another option. Niceties such as fogless shower mirrors, handheld shower heads and shower radios are all fun to have but not essential.
The bedroom is the next room to focus on as you will need a place to sleep even on your first night. Make sure your pillows are handy and not packed in a moving box. In terms of bedding you will need a sheet set and a bed ensemble along with a mattress protector.
