[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/essential-items-you-need-for-your-first-nyc-apartment\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/essential-items-you-need-for-your-first-nyc-apartment\/","headline":"Essential and Useful Items You Need for Your First NYC Apartment","name":"Essential and Useful Items You Need for Your First NYC Apartment","description":"Moving into your first NYC apartment is exciting, but you might be a bit underwhelmed by how far […]","datePublished":"2022-10-14","dateModified":"2025-10-10","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Essential-Items-You-Need-for-your-First-NYC-Apartment.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Essential-Items-You-Need-for-your-First-NYC-Apartment.jpg","height":674,"width":1144},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/essential-items-you-need-for-your-first-nyc-apartment\/","about":["General"],"wordCount":2090,"keywords":["bed frame","ceiling hooks","Cleaning Supplies","clothing lines","Extension Cords","hanging shelves","household electronics","Kitchen Essentials","mattress","NYC apartment","NYC buildings","portable closets","small apartment","storage","Trash Cans","wall hooks","wall lights"],"articleBody":"Moving into your first NYC apartment is exciting, but you might be a bit underwhelmed by how far your money goes. It might be the best city in the world, but it comes at a high cost and in tiny apartments. Even the outer boroughs are getting more expensive, and in many cases, you might end up having to share an apartment with a roommate or two (or three). With such limited space, you need to be careful when deciding what to bring into your new home. In order to maximize your space, here are a few essential items you will need to make your NYC apartment a home.Comfortable BedThis should go without saying, but you\u2019ll need a place to crash that will hold up to consistent use. Sure, an air mattress or futon might be fine in the beginning, but in order to get a good night\u2019s sleep, you\u2019ll need to invest in a quality bed and mattress. You don\u2019t need to spend a ton of money, though. Nowadays, you can get fairly decent foam mattresses for less than a thousand dollars, depending on the brand and size.When choosing your mattress, take your time. You want one that supports your body and won\u2019t break down in a few months. Maybe that means spending more money, but having a comfortable mattress will do more for your mood and job performance than almost everything else! Do your research and, when possible, test out the mattress before you buy.While you\u2019re at it, pick up a bed frame. You can find relatively cheap metal ones that do the bare minimum, or you can splurge on something more expensive. Bed frames are essential items for any bedroom as they protect your mattress from getting dirty and they free up floor space under the bed for storage. If you want to get fancy, you can purchase something like a captain\u2019s bed, which comes with built-in drawers for your clothes, sheets, or other items. Or you can invest in a Murphy bed to really clear up floor space.StorageUnless you\u2019re an extreme minimalist, you\u2019ll need to invest in some storage options for all of your belongings. Since you have limited floor space, your best bet is to get creative with vertical space. That means investing in hanging shelves, ceiling hooks, portable closets, wall lights, wall hooks, clothing lines, and the list goes on.Before you start throwing around your money, take these steps:Take stock of everything you currently own and consider items you might need to purchase down the line for your new apartmentMeasure every room and don\u2019t forget to measure the height!Get a stud finder and then mark off where the studs are in each of your rooms. While you can use wall anchors, your hanging shelves will be sturdier when screwed into a studThink about what kind of storage would work best for different rooms and items. Maybe you want a blocked off storage tray\/box for things like your cables and cords, and wall hooks for your pots and pans. Storage Solutions vs. Space SavedStorage SolutionApprox. Space Saved (sq. ft.)Cost Range ($)Floating Shelves10\u201315 sq. ft.$30 \u2013 $120Captain\u2019s Bed (with drawers)20\u201330 sq. ft.$250 \u2013 $800Murphy Bed35\u201350 sq. ft.$1,200 \u2013 $3,000+Portable Closet12\u201318 sq. ft.$60 \u2013 $250 When choosing your storage options, try to find items that are both sturdy and look nice. You don\u2019t want your wall shelves to suddenly break on you, especially once they get loaded up with items! In terms of aesthetics, find options that match the look you\u2019re going for. If you\u2019re going for an industrial look, maybe metal shelves or cabinets would be cool. For a clean look, go with floating shelves and magnetic hanging strips. There are a lot of options, so look them over.Extension Cords\/Surge ProtectorsYou don\u2019t get to choose where the electrical outlets are located, unfortunately. While you can and should plan the layout of each room based on the location of outlets, you likely won\u2019t have enough for all of your electronics. After all, many NYC buildings predate cell phones and other household electronics. You can expect that there likely won\u2019t be enough outlets and many won\u2019t be in ideal locations.Luckily, you don\u2019t need to hire an electrician to add more outlets to your apartment. Instead, invest in both surge protectors and a few extension cords. If you planned out your apartment well, you should hopefully have at least one (hopefully two) central outlets that you organized your furniture and electronics around. Buy several surge protectors for these outlets with the appropriate number of sockets in them.Don\u2019t overload a single outlet, as you might end up tripping the breaker if there\u2019s too much power going through it. Usually, you can get away with hooking up 3-4 items into a single outlet. Any more than that and you might end up with some issues, especially with power-hungry kitchen appliances.In the event that you can\u2019t organize your room around an outlet, invest in some extension cords. Do your best to keep the cord against the wall to avoid tripping over it. That might mean borrowing a staple gun or getting some adhesive clips to put against the baseboard. Either way, the goal is to keep the cord out of the way.Kitchen EssentialsEating out every day for dinner can get expensive. Even if you\u2019re not the best cook in the world, you\u2019ll likely do some home cooking once you move into your new place. And while it might be useful to have some paper plates and plasticware the first few days after you move, constantly using disposable plates and flatware can get expensive as you’ll need to buy new ones consistently. Plus, it\u2019s not great for the environment either!When choosing your plates and bowls, go for ceramic items that are dishwasher and microwave-safe. Bowls and plates are stackable, so get a few. Yes, it might take more space, but it\u2019s good to have a few extras in case you entertain some guests or you just don\u2019t want to wash dishes immediately. The same is true for your flatware. Invest in several spoons, forks, and knives! Kitchen Essentials InventoryItemQuantity RecommendedAverage Cost ($)Approx. Space Required (cu. ft.)Notes \/ TipsDinner Plates4\u2013620\u2013400.5Stackable; choose microwave & dishwasher-safe ceramic.Bowls4\u2013615\u2013350.4Great for cereal, soups, and salads. Stack for easy storage.Cups\/Mugs2\u2013410\u2013250.3Opt for a matching set to save space and keep it tidy.Glasses410\u2013250.3Choose tempered glass for durability.Forks, Knives, Spoons (Set)4\u20136 each25\u2013500.2Stainless steel sets are long-lasting and compact.Total Estimated Space: ~7\u20139 cubic ft.Total Estimated Cost: $300 \u2013 $700 (depending on brand & quality) When it comes to cookware, get a nice pot and a couple of pans. You\u2019ll also need a spatula and a chef\u2019s knife. Invest in quality items. Sure, you can probably get a 3-piece pan set for $20, but chances are it won\u2019t last very long. The same is true for knives. Get one good chef\u2019s knife and a paring knife. You don\u2019t need to buy the most expensive option on the market, but a good knife will make cooking more enjoyable and safer.Trash CansIt\u2019s not exciting, but trash cans are a must-have for your apartment. After all, you\u2019ll need some place to put your trash. It\u2019s a good idea to have a trash can in every room, but you don\u2019t need a giant trash bin in every room. Instead, keep a small one in your bathroom and bedroom and a larger one in your kitchen. You probably don\u2019t need anything larger than a 15-gallon bin, especially if you live alone.There are a lot of different designs when it comes to trash cans, so choose one that makes sense for your apartment. Do you want to have a foot pedal to open the lid, or are you okay with a simple revolving lid? There are even some that have motion-activated lids! While you\u2019re getting your trash cans, don\u2019t forget to pick up some trash bags as well.Cleaning SuppliesLiving in a small apartment means things get messier faster. Unfortunately, messes also mean your apartment looks and feels smaller and dingier than in a large house. With that said, cleaning is often faster and easier since you have less space to clean. The best cleaning method is to clean as you go. So instead of letting those plates sit in the sink for a few days or for the floor to get dirty, do the work immediately. You\u2019ll end up doing less in the long run. Cleaning Supplies ChecklistCleaning ItemQuantity RecommendedAverage Cost ($)Approx. Storage Space (cu. ft.)Notes \/ TipsVacuum Cleaner (Compact)160\u20131501.0Stick or handheld models work best for small NYC apartments.Mop or Multi-Surface Cleaner120\u2013500.5Go for a collapsible or spray mop to save space.Multi-Purpose Cleaner1\u20132 bottles5\u2013150.1Perfect for countertops, windows, and bathroom surfaces.Dish Soap & Sponges1 bottle + 3\u20135 sponges8\u2013150.1Replace sponges every 2\u20133 weeks for hygiene.Toilet Brush & Cleaner1 set10\u2013250.3Essential for maintaining bathroom hygiene.Laundry Detergent1 bottle10\u2013250.4Liquid or pods\u2014choose based on washing machine type.Rubber Gloves1\u20132 pairs5\u2013100.05Protect your hands when cleaning harsh surfaces or chemicals.Microfiber Cloths \/ Rags3\u201355\u2013150.1Reusable and ideal for dusting and polishing surfaces.Tile Cleaner \/ Bathroom Spray1 bottle8\u2013200.1Removes mold and soap scum; use weekly for upkeep.Plunger & Drain Cleaner (Drano)1 each15\u2013300.3Quick fix for clogged sinks or toilets\u2014keep accessible.Total Estimated Space: ~3\u20134 cubic ft.Total Estimated Cost: $160 \u2013 $350 (depending on brand & quality) Some standard supplies you should have on hand include:Rubber glovesMulti-purpose cleaning solutionVacuum cleanerMop or ragsDish soapSpongesToilet brushToilet cleanerTile cleaner for the bathroomLaundry detergentHamperYou can find all of these for an affordable price, so make sure to stock up! Also, don\u2019t forget other necessities like a plunger, Dran-O, hand soap, etc.ToolsYou might be able to get away with putting together simple furniture without tools, but actual tools will make your life a lot easier. Plus, you\u2019ll want some good tools if you plan on hanging shelves on your wall. You can get basic tool kits for pretty cheap, but they might not last you very long. Plus, a lot of tool kits include things that you probably won\u2019t really use too often, so why not just purchase key items like:HammerScrewdrivers (Phillips\u2019 Head and Flathead)PliersDrill + bitsScrews and nailsYes, tools aren\u2019t cheap, but you\u2019ll be happy to have them if you ever need to make any basic repairs and improvements to your furniture and apartment.Moving to Your New NYC ApartmentNow that you have a list of basic essentials, it\u2019s time to make your move! Instead of going the DIY route, consider hiring professional movers like us. We\u2019ll get you into your new place in no time at all with zero hassles!FAQMy lease says I can\u2019t make any modifications to my apartment. Can I put up shelves?Before you put up shelves, call up your super\/building manager and ask if it\u2019s okay. In many cases you can put them up, you will just be responsible for taking it down after you move and fixing any holes in the wall. If they say you cannot install them, see if you can find creative ways to utilize book shelves, storage containers, cabinets, and more.I\u2019m moving in with roommates. How do I manage the cost for household items?Before you buy anything, you should talk with your roommate(s) to figure out if either of you already have some items that can be shared like tools, cleaning supplies, etc. That way, you won\u2019t end up with two of the same things. From there, work out a budget and payment method. The best way to do it is to split any costs down the middle for shared items.Can I bring my old mattress or should I buy a new one?You can certainly bring your old mattress to your new apartment, especially if you just got it not too long ago. However, if it\u2019s not particularly comfortable or you\u2019ve had it for 6+ year, you might consider buying a new one."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Essential and Useful Items You Need for Your First NYC Apartment","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/essential-items-you-need-for-your-first-nyc-apartment\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]