34 Inexpensive Things From Walmart That You Definitely Need In Your First Apartment
No, I can't get you a doorman or a washing machine, but these things are still SUPER helpful.
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1. An ombré fleece throw, because this'll make your Ikea couch look put-together and adult-approved, even though we really just want it as a cuddle buddy while watching AHS alone.
2. A clear glass drinkware set that'll save you from yourself if you usually only use mugs. Your proud alumni mug will still be there when it's time for coffee, I promise.
This eight-piece set includes four tall glasses and four double old-fashioned glasses.
Price: $25 (for a set of eight)
3. A motion-activated LED night light so you don't wake your new roomie up by turning on hall lights every time you need to pee in the middle of the night — or go to the kitchen for some 4 a.m. brownies. That will remain a secret.
Promising review: "The older I get, the lazier I get. Sometimes when entering a space that is dark or maybe I have been outside and come inside and just don't have as much light as I need, I have been known to just go on in and 'feel' my way. If you also do this, these motion lights are just what you need. I bought three and installed them in a receptacles in the dark areas of my house, and they are great so far. Now before I actually get in the room, a nice bright LED nightlight lights my path." —wb8hmebill
Price: $7.40+ (available in four colors)
4. A Tasty non-stick bakeware set for having all the important tools you need when learning the art of cooking your own meals. One pan + frozen French fries = a very proud new adult.
This is part of BuzzFeed Tasty's Walmart collection!
Promising review: "This is a wonderful quality pan set. They are surprisingly heavy and sturdy — sturdier than the old pans I had. It's a nice bonus that they are such a great deal for so many. It's great for someone moving into a new home. The timer is also too cute!" —Hannah
Price: $29.99 for a set of six (originally $42.88)
5. An over-the-door shoe rack, because I'm going to take a wild guess and say you DON'T have a walk-in closet. But we do like to buy shoes and they can't go all over the floor. Plus! You can use it as extra storage if things start to pile up right away (they will).
Promising review: "I bought this item to use as bathroom storage. I have almost no shelving or storage in my new apartment's bathroom so I hang this on my bathroom door and store my beard trimmer, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, bandages, talcum powder, etc. It works great!" — Kinninigan
Price: $10.26
6. A bed-in-a-bag set that'll make your room look immediately polished while you're still very much on a college student budget. It comes with everything you'll need: a comforter, sheets, pillow cases, and a decorate pillow! Behold: grownup bedding.
You'll get a comforter, fitted sheet, flat sheet, two pillow cases, and a decorative pillow. AND! It's all machine-washable.
Promising review: "This bed set is so pretty and every piece is so soft. You would think you paid way more for this, because the quality is amazing." —Jlgcwrs
Price: $44.82+ (list price: $55; available in sizes twin/twin XL–king)
If this bedding isn't quite your style, check out other bed-in-a-bag sets for more cheap and easy options!
7. A protective toothbrush holder so you can actually maintain an organized, SANITARY lifestyle even if your roommate is messy, messy, messy. Their habits will *not* invade your precious mouth.
8. A cotton storage basket for neatly keeping anything from laundry to towels to just unsightly clutter from interfering with your decorating goals. This is the time we get rid of The Chair.
Price: $9.55+ (available in sizes S–L)
9. A storage shower curtain, because this'll be your saving grace for organization if you're now the proud new owner of a tiny standing shower. It has ~nine~ mesh pockets to keep everything from your loofah to shampoo off the floor.
Promising review: "Good quality; it has several pockets with two different sizes. It's perfect for organizing and storing bathroom/cleaning/toiletries items. I put my decorative shower curtain in front of it so you don't see anything. It allows me to then have more room under my sink." —Mommyorganizer
Price: $11.84 (originally $19)
10. And! A marble-print shower curtain with chic tassels to both add a touch of stylish decor to your bathroom and keep you from feeling too *exposed* if you don't love the idea of showering behind nothing but a clear design.
Price: $25
11. A set of stylish kitchen utensils that'll encourage you to cook your own meals now that you have all the right ~helpers~. Turns out you *can* eat eggs that aren't from the drive-thru.
Plus they're stylish enough to keep on display! This 10-piece wood and silicone set includes a spatula, solid spoon, slotted spoon, spaghetti server, whisk, tongs, bottle opener, and three measuring cups.
Promising review: "This set had a nice heft to it, they look great, and we especially like the measurement callouts on the measuring cups. So far they've been super easy to clean, as well." —mebe
Price: $29.99 (for a set of 10)
12. A wooden square end table so you have a designated area for your remote, books, snacks, whatever, even if your living room is a bit cramped. This'll 100% beat balancing everything on your lap.
Promising review: "These tables are pretty basic, but well worth the price. They have a nice wood finish, can be assembled in about two minutes, and definitely seem sturdy. I was looking for nightstands for my bedroom and everything was too expensive, so I got these small tables for just $20 each and they more than serve the purpose. Nothing fancy, but the appearance, price, quality, and quick service make them a winner in my book." —Emmett123
Price: $20 (available in seven colors)
13. A quilted mattress pad for easily upgrading your bedding to how you like it at home without having to pay the *price*. This'll make your new bed so comfy, you may have trouble showing up to work...
It's 200–thread count, hypoallergenic, and machine-washable! Plus thanks to its fitted sheet design, it'll stay in place all night (no matter how much you toss and turn). It fits mattresses up to 18 inches deep.
Promising review: "I decided it was time to replace my old mattress pad and I'm SO glad I got this one! It has much better elastic than my old one. I had to keep putting those mattress/sheet clips on it to keep it on my bed. I don't have to do that with this one. It's very roomy and will accommodate the deepest mattresses. The elastic is much better and hugs the mattress. I highly recommend this one!" —altonlady1103
Price: $14.99+ (available in sizes twin–king)
14. A pair of hanging closet organizers, because the only way to make the most out of limited storage options (hello, one small closet) is to create space that previously didn't exist. Now your bras won't mysteriously disappear.
Price: $16.39 for a set of two (originally $18.39)
15. A set of non-stick cookware that'll convince you to just make some pasta and leave the takeout menu ALONE. You're on a budget now! Reward yourself with a pound of parmesan on top.
Their handles stay cool while cooking *and* everything is dishwasher-safe! This set includes a sauté pan, deep sauté pan with a lid, two sauce pans with lids, and a Dutch oven with a lid.
Promising review: "We have had this set for nearly four years now and bought them due to being on a budget. They are fantastic for the price. For as long as they have lasted, I will definitely buy them again." —Fantastic
Price: $24.95 for a set of nine (originally $39.99; available in two colors)
16. A floating shelf so you can prevent your thoughtful Pinterest-inspired decor from just looking like clutter. Free counter space = naturally clean-looking apartment.
17. A geometric shag area rug for greeting your tired feet with much-needed fluffy relief at the end of a long day. PLUS! It'll make your living room look a little more *upscale* and stifle your steps from getting too loud if you have hardwood floors. Believe me, the people downstairs will thank you.
Pro tip: Place your furniture so that it's either in the middle of the rug, or so the front legs of each piece are on the rug. It'll make even small living rooms look more ~spacious~.
Promising review: "This is my second purchase of this rug. This one was ordered to put right in front of the bathtub so I could step out of the shower onto something plush and warm. It goes all the way to the sink, so my feet stay cozy and actually dry off. The rug is a deep navy blue and the white/creme shapes make for a beautiful addition to the bathroom. It's super easy to clean. I highly recommend!" —silv3r1
Price: $23.89+ (available in ten sizes and nine colors)
18. A set of super soft cotton towels, because these'll bring hotel-level luxury right to your own tiny bathroom. Not to mention you'll stall a trip to the laundromat, thanks to buying these in bulk.
You can get these as a bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, or washcloth.
Promising review: "These are the softest, most absorbent, and largest towels around. This is the second set I've ordered, because we love them so much." —Tootsie
Price: $8.84+ (originally $9.84+; available in four styles and nine colors)
See what won best bath towels on BuzzFeed Reviews.
19. A two-piece Tasty strainer set that'll help you avoid making messes every single time you attempt your mom's lasagna recipe. The more efficient the process, the more likely you'll be to actually make your own food. Maybe this time you won't even need to call your mom.
This is part of BuzzFeed Tasty's Walmart collection!
Promising review: "I like the color. The build seems to be a good, heavy-weight plastic. The colander has feet so it can be used alone in the sink. The no-slip feet on the bowl are stable and well-designed. This is a large bowl that should be great for your straining needs." —lyufyflyfyrdt
Price: $6.97 (originally $12.44; available in two colors)
20. A set of LED string lights with *handy* clips so you can easily decorate your room before you have time to give up and leave your walls bare. The best part? This won't leave a bunch of holes, like frames and paintings do.
Promising review: "My daughter loves this to hang her pictures on the wall. There's less damage on the wall and she can change her pictures any time she wants." —Walmart Customer
Price: $13.99 for a set of 20
21. A self-adhesive wall hook for never forgetting the most important thing of the day — your keys. Note: calling the locksmith is EXPENSIVE.
Just stick it by the door so you never forget! It won't leave a hole in the wall so you can get that security deposit back. You can also use this to hang up bath towels!
Price: $9.50 (originally $13.57; available in three colors)
22. A velvet floor pillow, because offering extra seating is hard when on a budget and in a tiny living room. These'll let your guests comfortably pop a squat anywhere — and what room can't use an upgrade from some luxe velvet?
Promising review: "This floor pillow is absolutely adorable! It's the perfect size to throw in the corner and use as an extra seat when guests come over. The velvet is super soft and the blush pink color looks great with the rest of my decor. It's actually a little bigger than it seems in the picture — thick enough to provide lots of cushion for someone sitting on it. Overall, great value!" —decordiva
Price: $34
23. A powerful mini steamer that'll come to the rescue when you inevitably don't have an ironing board. You can't ship all your dry cleaning to your mom, so meet your new best friend.
This bb has six steaming channels, 900 watts of steaming power, and can heat in just two to three minutes.
Promising review: "I LOVE THIS! It's a great size and can be easily stored in a drawer. It holds just enough water to steam one pair of pants and a top or a dress. I would definitely buy this steamer again." —Tia
Price: $12.99+ (available in five colors)
24. A stainless steel flatware set so you don't spend the next year eating with plastic forks. Think of the TURTLES (and the constant expense).
This includes four salad forks, four dinner forks, four dinner knives, four teaspoons, and four dinner spoons — all dishwasher-safe!
Promising review: "I bought this set along with several other kitchen items for my 22-year-old nephew who is setting up his first apartment. This silverware really is much better than the price would make you think. It's a solid and sturdy set. The test is always to see the strength of the prongs on the forks and these forks passed with flying colors. Great set!" —Esteban522
Price: $9.96 for a set of 20 (originally $10.88)
25. A dark wood polish for undoing any surface scratches the minute they happen, aka you'll avoid dreaded charges from your good old landlord.
Promising review: "My little maltese dog was about seven months old when I got him. One of the first things he did was chew a corner of my expensive solid wood desk! I purchased this for my dark desk. I've only applied one coating, rubbing it in very well. If I didn't know he had chewed it, I would not notice it. This works very well and in some instances, miracles." —$4.82 (also available for mrblueu
Price: $4.82 (also available for light wood)
26. A chic metal floor lamp, because you're probably going to need a lot more light than what's naturally at your place — and this'll do just that *plus* offer much-need extra shelving.
27. A hanging rack organizer that'll offer a home for your hair dryer, brushes, skincare, WHATEVER when you realize you can't just shove everything under the sink. Your roommate beat you to it.
Promising review: "This product was inexpensive, yet it wasn't cheaply made. It's exactly how it looks in the picture and it looks great on the wall of my bathroom. It doesn't take up much space, yet it holds everything that I need to relieve space from my bathroom countertop. Plus, it was easy to install. I highly recommend." —Lisa
Price: $14.37 (originally $25.15)
28. A spackle kit so you can fill in any holes you've made in the walls (aka when you inevitably hang up pictures) quickly and easily, and most importantly get that security deposit back.
29. A sleek toilet brush and holder for not only maintaining a clean toilet (a must), but keeping it disguised so your bathroom can stay as pretty as you'd like.
30. A three-tier shelf organizer, because this'll let you stack your dishes safely without the risk of breaking them. Plus, you only have so many cabinets — you need to make the most of them!
Promising review: "Having to stack and unstack dishes day after day gets tedious! With my plate rack, I can get the size dish I want without having to move ANYTHING! They are so much more accessible now! I plan to purchase another one soon." —TravelinDudette
Price: $19.88
31. A set of Lysol wipes that'll ensure you always have something ~on hand~ to quickly take care of messes. Basically, these are the golden ticket to keeping a clean home with absolute minimal effort.
32. A step-on trash can so you can keep trash hidden and odors contained (thanks to its locked lid), which is pretty darn important when living in tight quarters. Repeat after me: I will not just use plastic bags.
Plus this has a whopping seven-gallon capacity so if you're bad about taking the trash out, it won't get dire right away.
Promising review: "This is the perfect trash can. First, it looks very nice, fits nicely in a small space, and is large enough to easily hold garbage without needed to be constantly emptied. But the best feature is the lock. The lock keeps the lid tight so our dog can't lift the lid and get in and odors can't get out." — meclbk
Price: $16.99
33. A duo of geometric plant hangers for *freshening* up your home without really trying at all. AND caring for plants has been said to be therapeutic, which will be useful after .05 seconds of living in a city.
34. A set of non-slip, heavy-duty hangers to easily make your closet look put-together, as well as keep all your clothes off the floor. Let's start on the right foot, shall we?
You after your first time paying rent:
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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