Everything you need for your first apartment

Depending on how much you’re paying in rent, you may not be eating out as much as you’d like, and a good cookware set can help you save money and hone your cooking skills. This 10-piece French cookware set is gorgeous, with gently curved sides and smooth, rounded edges. The 18/10 stainless steel is durable and resists rust, corrosion, stains, and chemical reactions while cooking. The set includes a 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart saucepan with lid, a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, a 5-quart casserole pan with lid, a 10-inch skillet, and a 12-inch skillet.
Sur La Table Classic 5-Ply Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set, $569 at Amazon

If this is your first time paying rent, you may also want to limit trips to your favorite coffee shop. However, this space-saving espresso machine lets you enjoy your favorites at home. It has a 15-bar pressure pump and two programmable settings for single-serve espresso or drip coffee. The espresso machine uses capsules, so you don’t have to worry about measuring coffee or dumping out coffee grounds.
illy Easy Espresso Machine, $279 at Amazon

Another must-have for coffee lovers is this 8-cup drip coffee maker. It even has a cold brew function. The aluminum alloy body is durable, and the removable water tank is easy to fill, empty, and clean. The coffee maker maintains a temperature range between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit and has an adjustable flow control. The anti-drip design eliminates mess, and the hot plate keeps coffee warm for up to 40 minutes.
Kismile 8-Cup Drip Coffee Maker, $180/ Sale $110 at Amazon

This 12-piece wooden utensil set is handmade and eco-friendly. The natural teak wood is also BPA-free and non-toxic. The non-stick set includes a large wooden turner, a spatula, a slotted spatula, a skimmer, a slotted round spatula, a mixing spoon, a soup ladle, a scraper, a fork/spoon, and a serving spoon, along with nine 3-inch hanging hooks, a spoon rest, and a caddy.
Woodenhouse 12-Piece Teak Wooden Utensil Set, $55 at Amazon

If you like color choices, this electric stand mixer comes in black, red, aqua blue, rose, and silver. It’s perfect for cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more. The stand mixer has 7 speeds to handle everything from slowly folding and combining ingredients to whipping cream. The stand mixer has nonslip feet, a tilt-up head, and includes a dough hook, whisk, flat beater, and a stainless steel 4-quart bowl with a removable splatter shield.
Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer, $127 at Amazon

Always drink pure water with this countertop water filter pitcher. It reduces 99.6% of lead, as well as PFOS, PFOA, chloride, microplastics, benzene, and more. The pitcher has a 15-cup capacity, so you don’t have to constantly refill it, and can dispense 8 ounces of water in just 20 seconds. Each filter lasts for 200 gallons, and this combo includes 4 filters.
Waterdrop ED01W Electric Water Filter Pitcher, $100/ Sale $86 at Amazon

For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, toast can work at any time. This 4-slice toaster has 9 shade settings and presets for defrost, bagel, and cancel. There are dual controls to operate each side of the toaster separately, as well as separate crumb trays. The wide slots can accommodate artisan bread, English muffins, bagels, waffles, and other bread types. Color choices are white, red, and silver.
Kenmore Toaster 4-Slice, $105/Sale $89 at Amazon

A complete knife set always comes in handy. This one includes the following: an 8-inch Chef knife, 8-inch santoku knife, 8-inch bread knife, 8-inch carving knife, 5.5-inch utility knife, 4-inch paring knife, kitchen shears, honing rod, and 6 serrated steak knives (5-inch). The stainless steel knives have solid pakkawood handles. The knife set fits securely in the included natural walnut wood block.
Cutluxe 15-Piece Knife Set, $150 at Amazon

Don’t waste time trying to find matching bedding pieces. This 7-piece bedding set includes a comforter, flat sheet, fitted sheet, two pillowcases, and two shams. Color choices are emerald green, beige, bright white, black, brown, ivory, bright orange, blush pink, dusty blue, grayish teal, dark oatmeal, and several other colors.
Litanika 7-Piece Bed in a Bag Comforter Set, $48/Sale $36 at Amazon

If your new apartment has hard floors, a large rug can add softness and texture. This rug, made of plush fibers with a 1.4-inch soft top, has a non-slip backing to keep it from sliding around. Size options range from 3 feet by 5 feet to 9 feet by 12 feet. Color choices are plentiful and include geometric light grey/white, geometric camel/white, tie-dyed dark grey, tie-dyed peacock blue, tie-dyed pink, solid dark blue, solid emerald green, and more.
Litanika 8 x 10 Geometric Shag Area Rug, $89/Sale $85 at Amazon

If you sleep under the covers in every season, this cool-to-the-touch comforter has a breathable fabric that’s designed for hot sleepers. The moisture-wicking comforter is not only temperature-regulating, but also odor-resistant. It’s also hypoallergenic and machine-washable.
Miracle Made Cool-to-the-Touch Comforter, $130 at Amazon

This 8-piece comforter set adds an elegant look to your bedroom. The luxurious textured jacquard material with a damask medallion design isn’t just pretty. It’s colorfast, wrinkle-resistant, durable, and can also be laundered in the washing machine. The 8-piece set includes a comforter, bedskirt, two standard shams, two euro shams, and two decorative pillows. Color choices are silver/gray, tan/ivory, aqua/gray, and navy/gray.
Madison Park Odette Comforter Set Jacquard Damask, $136 at Amazon

Absorbent, quick-drying towels are another essential for a first apartment. Made from 100% American-grown Supima cotton, this towel set is designed to be 45% stronger than the average cotton towel. The waffle weave is airy and breathable, so the towels dry quickly and stay fresh longer, compared to traditional terry towels. The set includes a bath sheet, face towel, and hand towel. Color choices are oatmeal, cinder grey, and denim blue.
ONSEN Supima 3-Piece Waffle Bath Sheet Set, $110 at Amazon

Another option is this 800 GSM (grams per square meter) thick and absorbent towel set that provides a spa-like feel. The 100% long-staple cotton towels have double-ply loops and double-stitched side hems. Available in a variety of colors, the set includes two bath towels, two hand towels, and four washcloths.
Madison Park 800GSM 8-Piece Towel Set, $53 at Amazon

A cordless stick vacuum can make cleaning so much easier. This one has a 40-minute runtime and can be used on both carpet and hard floors. It has powerful suction and a bristle brushroll to easily remove pet hair and other debris. The XL dust cup reduces the times you’ll need to stop and empty the vacuum cleaner, and the LED headlights on the front reveal debris on the floor that you might otherwise miss. The vacuum also transforms into a handheld model, and the crevice tool and pet multi tool attachments can vacuum upholstery, car seats, and more.
Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum, $127 at Amazon

This 3-speed turntable supports 45, 78, and 33 1/3 vinyl records. It streams wirelessly and has dual built-in speakers, and can also connect to Bluetooth speakers. Connectivity options include RCA output, AUX-in, and headphone jacks. The record player also has built-in volume control and an MDF case and a clear dust cover.
RadioShack Retro Turntable 4001797, $130 at Amazon

This 80W leather and metal speaker looks vintage, but is thoroughly modern. The rechargeable speaker is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 for streaming. The plug-and-play speaker also lets you play MP3 files from a USB, and the AUX-in can provide a wired connection when desired. The microphone input is fun for karaoke, and there’s a remote control.
RadioShack Retro Bluetooth Speaker with Microphone Input, $144 at Amazon

Another speaker option is this stylish touch control speaker, which provides 360-degree sound. It has four full-range drivers, eight passive bass radiators, and a high-powered bass driver for rich, full sound. The speaker can connect via Bluetooth, instantly pair via NFC, or you can use the AUX input for a wired connection. The speaker has a 22-hour battery life. There are three EQ modes, and touch controls on the top make selections and adjustments easy.
TREBLAB HD-360 Pro Speaker, $128 at Amazon

Moving into a new apartment, you don’t know the noise level in your surroundings, and a pair of headphones can greatly reduce any unexpected sounds you might encounter. These lightweight headphones have memory foam cushions for all-day comfort and a 64-hour battery life. The built-in microphone also lets you speak and hear clearly on phone calls and during virtual meetings.
TREBLAB U5 Noise Cancelling Headphones, $90/Sale $67 at Amazon

For working or gaming, this wireless Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo is an inexpensive option for upgrading your desk space. The multi-device combo can switch between three different devices (laptop, tablet, PC), making it a good choice for students and WFH employees. Both the keyboard and mouse are ergonomic and quiet.
seenda Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Mouse Combo, $34/ Sale $30 at Amazon

Keep your apartment safe and secure with this set of two wireless cameras. Each one has an ultra-wide 145-degree lens and provides sharp, 2K video – even at night. The 8X digital zoom lets you focus on details, and the 210-day battery means you rarely need to worry about recharging.
Baseus Security Camera N1 2-Cam Kit, $60 at Amazon

If you need more bathroom storage space, this bamboo storage cabinet has four open tiers, and the 5th tier has a door for hidden storage. The tall and slim cabinet doesn’t take up much space. Use it in other rooms to hold books and decorative items, or as a plant rack.
SONGMICS Bamboo Bathroom Storage Cabinet, $66 at Amazon

For cutting open all of those moving boxes – as well as opening ongoing deliveries – the electric cardboard cutter makes it easy to open boxes, and also break down and flatten them for compact storage or recycling. The industrial-grade cardboard cutter has a 40W electric motor and comes with a battery and charger. It can cut boxes up to 1/4 inch thick and is designed to reduce the risk of accidental cuts.
BoxBlayde Electric Cardboard Cutter, $100 at Amazon

When it gets hot, a tower fan can help to cool you off. This fan oscillates 90 degrees and reaches 27 feet, so it can reach you from across the room. There are 6 speeds, and 4 modes: normal, auto, natural, and sleep – and the sleep mode produces literally no noise. Maintenance is quick and easy: there’s a removable rear grill that snaps off and can be rinsed in the sink. The fan has touch controls, and also a remote control – along with a convenient, onboard remote-control holder.
Antarctic Star T36 Tower Fan, $70/Sale $60 at Amazon

Instead of a cumbersome iron and ironing board, this 3-in-1 handheld garment steamer lets you tend to yourself anywhere. It has three modes: steam, flat iron, and dry press, so it can handle all of your needs. The titanium-infused ceramic soleplates resist scratches and glide smoothly over clothes to remove wrinkles in cotton, linen, denim, and more. The plates press on both sides of clothes simultaneously to remove wrinkles faster, and the handle is ergonomic.
CHI SteamPress 3-in-1 Handheld Garment Steamer, $88 at Walmart

If you have problems sleeping, these sleeping buds are so comfortable that you can even sleep on your side. The active noise cancellation blocks noise, even from a snoring partner. There are four types of ear fins and tips to help you find the right fit for your ears. Also, the sleep sound library provides access to sounds to help you sleep (like brown noise, gray noise, aquarium, crickets, and more), as well as music and guided meditation.
SomniPods 3 Hybrid ANC Sleep Earbuds, $190/Sale $175 at Fitnexa

After moving all of those furniture items and boxes – as well as future pavement pounding in the city that never sleeps – your feet will thank you for this foot massager with heat. It soothes foot and calf muscles, helps you relax and sleep better, and also promotes circulation. The smart panel includes three massage intensities, a timer (5 to 30 minutes), an on/off button, three auto modes and one manual mode, two heat levels (104 to 125 degrees F), and two switchable directions.
TISSCARE Shiatsu Foot Massager with Heat, $200/Sale $110 at Amazon

Clean your air with this smart air purifier, which can be controlled and adjusted via onboard controls, the app, or voice assistants. It can purify rooms up to 1050 sq ft in just 30 minutes, and 434 sq ft rooms in 12.5 minutes. The 5-stage filtration system includes a washable pre-filter, antibacterial filter, H13 True HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, and antimicrobial UVC-light. The air purifier has 4 fan speeds, a sleep mode, and it can capture up to 99.97% of dust and allergens.
Pure Enrichment PureZone Turbo Smart Air Purifier, $170 at Amazon