After all the stress that can go along with finding your first rental home, it's time to enjoy the fun part of personalizing and decorating to make it "your" home.

Below is a handy essentials checklist you’ll need (or at least want), organized by room, with extra blanks for you to fill in. This compiled first home list gives suggested top priorities from around the web. Be sure to keep in mind that many of these items can be bought affordably second-hand or even free. Let us help make moving in easy:

Entrance

• Welcome mat (for outside the door)
• Small floor mat/decorative rug (for inside the door)
• Wall hooks for jackets, keys, etc.
• Small storage unit for shoes
• Lamp, if there’s no other light source by the door
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

Living Room

• Couch, chairs, or other forms of seating
• Coffee table/side tables
• Storage shelves
• TV and stand to go with it, if necessary
• Throw pillows that showcase your personal style for couch/chairs
• Artwork/photos of family, friends, pets, etc.
• Lamp(s)
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

Kitchen

• Food
• Silverware
• Silverware organizer (drawer insert)
• Dishes (plates, glasses, mugs, bowls, serving platters, etc.)
• Trash and recycling cans
• Pots and pans
• Oven mitts
• Spatulas, ladles, whisks, etc.
• Container for countertop storage of spatulas, ladles, whisks, etc.
• Dish towels
• Dish drying rack
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Bottle opener and corkscrew
• Plastic containers for food storage
• Rolls of aluminum foil, wax paper, plastic wrap, and parchment paper
• Shelving paper to line the inside of cabinets
• Zip-top plastic bags of various sizes
• Cutting boards
• Toaster or toaster oven
• Microwave
• Coffee maker
• Kettle or hotpot
• Ice cube trays
• Blender
• Hand mixer
• Can opener
• Quality, sharp knives (at least one large chef’s knife and a small paring knife)
• Serving spoon
• Colander
• Additional free-standing shelves or storage, as needed
• Dish soap and sponges/scrubbers
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

Dining area

• Table and chairs
• Tablecloth or placemats
• Napkins
• Candles/tealights and candle holders
• Trivets
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

 Bathroom

• Shower curtain (and rings to hold it up)
• Shower caddy
• Toothbrush
• Toiletries (bath soap, hand soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)
• Toilet paper
• Toilet brush
• Toilet plunger
• Bath mat(s)
• Air freshener
• Tissues
• Trash can
• Over-the-door towel hook
• Towels (bath and hand) and washcloths (be sure to have extras for any guests who spend the night)
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

Bedroom

• Bed frame
  
• Pillows
• Mattress and box spring
• Mattress pad
• Sheets and comforter
• Night stand(s)
• Lamp(s)
• Dresser
• Hangers (more than you think you need)
• Hamper
• Trash can
• Blinds/Curtains (be sure to measure window sizes so they match up)
• Alarm clock
• __________________________________
• __________________________________
• __________________________________

Miscellaneous

• Cleaning supplies (rags, paper towels, sprays)
• Laundry soap, fabric softener, stain remover, and a jar of quarters for laundry if it's not stationed in your living quarters
• Trash bags
• Vacuum cleaner
• Small broom and dustpan
• Extension cords
• Surge strips
• Basic tools, including screwdrivers (flat and Phillips-heads), hammer (and some small/large nails), duct tape, box-cutter or X-acto knife, duct tape, pliers, wrench, and masking tape
• Large plastic bins or other storage
• Pens
• Paper (for grocery lists, notes, projects, etc.)
• Flashlight(s)
• Batteries of various types, including backups for your flashlight
• Candle
• Bic fire lighter
• Tweezers
• Emergency kit
• Window air conditioner
• Internet router and associated cords
• Light bulbs
• First aid kit
• Carbon monoxide alarm
• Fire alarm
• Pet supplies (if allowed at your rental)
• _________________________________
• _________________________________
• _________________________________