We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A super cute, super punny doormat because a new apartment DEFINITELY calls for a mat that says "new home who dis?" Looking through this adorable little shop, I already see like 30 welcome mats that I need. You can choose from the AMAZING already-made mats or customize/personalize your own!
This incredible small business is based in Utah and specializes in handmade doormats. Made of 100% coir and hand painted, these mats (as suggested by the business) are best outside in a covered area where there isn't direct sunlight or a possibility of being rained on. They have holiday mats, seasonal mats, pet mats, you name it, they got it and if they don't, they'll make it for you. They were also featured on the Today show!
Promising reviews: "This doormat is super cute! The quality is nice and it's very durable. I love it and our friends think it’s so cute!" —cmarias1
"Phenomenal service and product! I am very, very, VERY pleased. Great communication and attention to detail. She definitely understood the assignment! Love my mat!"—Désirée P.
Get it from Just Gotta Look on Etsy for $19.80+ (available in three sizes).
2. A 2-in-1 toaster so you can make some delicious breakfast. But this isn't just your average ordinary toaster. Flip this bad boy on its side, and you've got the PERFECT toaster oven to make pizza rolls, nuggets, and all types of easy yummy foods. AND it's an easy cleanup because there's a crumb tray included. What's better than two kitchen appliances in one?!
Promising review: "I was prepared to hate this, but strangely, I don’t. It’s ridiculously useful and I actually resent it for being everything it says it is and more. If I could be half as useful as this thing I would be a billionaire. It toasts anything any size, produces perfect grilled cheese, and even cooks dino nuggets and makes them taste edible. Hopefully its longevity is as great as its versatility. Highly recommend." —Klj
Get it from Amazon for $119.95.
3. A bamboo cutting board with stackable containers right under it so you can just throw your cut up veggies in and get them out of the way. This thing is a meal-prepper's dream! There are juice grooves to keep liquid in place, anti-slip pads to keep the board in place, and a built-in grater. Make your food prep an absolute breeze with this super convenient kitchen gadget!
Promising review: "This cutting board is super convenient and eradicates a lot of the hassle of prepping and storing fresh foods. Once I received it, I could not wait to use it and it has been a great help. It is more satisfying to do the work when I have the right tool and this is the right tool for meal prep." —kimberly n.
Get it from Amazon for $69.98.
4. Or a veggie chopper for my friends who are like me and can't dice a vegetable without a potential trip to the hospital. Spiral, slice and dice with this super convenient, dishwasher-safe kitchen gadget.
A plus is that this baby can slice through a potato BUT remember how sharp that means it is and BE CAREFUL touching the blades!
Promising review: "Cooking has completely changed with this product. It's a must have in the kitchen for me now. It makes chopping and slicing vegetables/etc, wayyyyy faster and easier. The blades are VERY sharp, so be careful when using, I have cut myself just washing it. But it's great." —Helen B.
Get it now from Amazon for $39.98
5. An electric bottle opener to open the bottle you're gonna pop to celebrate your new home! AND IT'S RECHARGEABLE?! A single charge should open up to 30 bottles and easily removes corks in seconds. I mean, I honestly already have two and they're my absolute fave because I struggle with handheld corkscrews. Now I press a button and my wine opens with ease.
Promising review: "It's 2022...I have never known how to use a wine opener and I don't plan to! This is exactly what I needed, I have had it for about two years now and it still works like a GEM. The battery life is great, it's sleek, modern, and looks nice if you decide to leave it out. I always get comments from my friends about how they love it and how easy and cool it is to use, so it quickly became my top gift idea. Great gift and small kitchen appliance to own (hardly takes up any space) at such a great price!" —Emily M.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
6. A trash can with motion sensors so you never have to touch the icky lid again. This garbage can holds up to 13 gallons, is fingerprint- AND water-resistant, and seals odors in.
This trash can requires three C batteries which are NOT included so make sure you grab some!
Promising review: "After getting rid of my old foot pedal trash can, I opted for something that was a bit more modern after experiencing the wonders of a motion sensor trash can at a friends house. Although this thing does require three C batteries (not included), I'd consider it a worthwhile investment. Overall the setup took less than five minutes and it's a sleek, incredibly convenient addition to my robot-staffed apartment." —Ashley M.
Get it from Amazon for $61.53.
7. A beautiful velvet sofa to cozy up on and watch your shows and movies. This couch has a chaise and comes with two toss pillows AND an ottoman. That chaise is seriously calling my name for a nap.
Promising review: "I love this couch so much! It fits perfectly in my apartment and is definitely quality. It is firm, but I still think it is very comfortable." —Barrett
"LOVE this couch!! The olive green is even prettier in person and the velvet is super soft and easy to get pet hair off of (I have a dog)! Assembly was incredibly easy. If you’re looking for an affordable, comfortable, beautiful velvet couch, this is the one." —Dorothy
Get it on Wayfair for $980+ (available in nine colors).
8. A Dash air fryer that'll make you some crispy food without all the oil! This thing may be small but it is mighty and reaches up to 400 degrees with a timer that goes up to one hour. Load your food in, set the temperature and the timer, and *voila* you've got yourself a crispy, yummy dinner. Oh, and it has an auto shutoff function to prevent overcooking! And that blue color is to die for, right?
I'm sorry, but can we take a minute to talk about how YUMMY those reviewer photos look?! I.... I'm speechless.... and I need one, right now. I'm convinced, and drooling.
Promising review: "I got my fryer very recently, and I'm already in love! The size is perfect for my tiny NYC apartment and as a person who loves snacking, the portions are ideal. It's very easy to use, doesn't smell much, and cleaning is very straightforward. It's a great alternative to ovens (too long/too big) and microwaves (not a huge fan of the idea of nuking my food), and offers a lot of fun food ideas to try. I look forward to using it...probably all the time." —hannah
Get it from Amazon for $62.99+ (available in five colors).
9. A security bar for your door to make you feel extra safe and secure in your new place. Especially if you're living alone, for peace of mind, this heavy-[duty door bar helps prevent forced entry. It's also portable if you'd like a second one to travel with. No tools are required and it's adjustable!
Promising review: "I have to hype this up! Guys, this product looks like it wouldn’t work, but believe me, it does. Someone tried to break into my apartment last night while I was sleeping and I didn’t even notice until I left in the morning and saw that the barricade was not right under the doorknob but lower on my door (still up though!). My doorknob was missing a screw and the paint around it was messed up as well. I even checked the video I took when I did my walkthrough to see if the paint had been messed up back then and it wasn’t! I would recommend securing your deadbolt with this barricade as an added measure since I imagine the combination of the two is really what kept the intruder out, in my case at least. Someone had tried very hard to break in my door and was unsuccessful because of this barricade. They nearly took my doorknob off but the barricade was still standing by morning!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in two styles).
10. A breakfast sandwich maker because now that you don't live with mom, you have to ask yourself "do I have McDonalds money?" since she isn't there to ask you. Save some money and make some tasty breakfast sandwiches in only five minutes. And, there's no need to stress over cleaning it because every removable part of this appliance is dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "I stayed at a friend's who made me a breakfast sandwich with this maker —it was so quick, easy, and good that I immediately ordered myself one. When it arrived, I used it right away. It is awesome. My kid can use it (12 yo) and it can fit quite a few items (English muffin, lunch meat, avocado, tomato and cheese). Be sure to follow the instructions and don’t put more than one egg in because it puffs up quite a bit. Honestly it was probably used 10 times in the first 2 weeks!!!! I think everyone who likes breakfast sandwiches should have one." —Shannon
Get it from Amazon for $46.99.
11. A faux fur throw blanket to cozy up on your new sofa with. This machine-washable, dryer-safe cover is perfect for all year around with enough weight to keep you warm in colder weather yet light enough to just cuddle up with during warmer weather. And honestly, can you ever have ~too many~ blankets?
Wash before using to avoid shedding!
Promising review: "This became my new favorite blanket straight out of the package it arrived in. Soft, gorgeous, warm enough to sleep with overnight for us hot sleepers who don't like to be under big blankets but also light enough to use as a couch blanket. Dog and kids also approve, at this point everyone wants one." —DeeAnna O.
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in eight colors).
12. A set of four throw pillows for your new couch that are JUST the pillow! Which is perfect because then you don't have to keep buying expensive decorative pillows for every season — just swap out the pillowcase to suit your mood.
Reviewers are also saying to size down for pillow covers, so if you get 20x20 pillows, grab 18x18 covers. They come vacuum packaged for shipping purposes so toss them in the dryer (reviewers are saying) to fluff them up!
Promising review: "These pillows are exactly what I was looking for. They did arrive flat, as stated in the product description, but the included instructions were very clear on how to fluff them right up. I tossed them in the dryer for 20 minutes and they came out perfectly plump. My pillow covers fit over them just right. I’m highly satisfied with this purchase." —Mom86
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in seven sizes).
13. And some totally gorg velvet throw pillow covers obvi, because we don't want naked pillows, now do we? Remember, these are just covers but they'll definitely help accentuate any accent color you wanna tie into your home.
BTW they come in packs of two!
Promising review: "These are very pretty and give a fresh look to pillows you want to change out. They look and feel like soft velvet! Sometimes 'velvet' items feel like faux suede or velour and it can be disappointing, but these feel and look like quality velvet and are such an easy way to update pillows instead of buying new ones." —Emi N.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 12 sizes and 38 colors).
14. A foldable wagon to bring in your groceries so you'll only need to take one trip bringing in bags after going to the store. This wagon can hold up to 150 pounds, perfect for all of your food and drinks.
Promising review: "When we moved to a city apartment, I did not think about the difficulties related to grocery shopping. I soon discovered that having to transport groceries from a parking garage across the street to an apartment building via multiple elevators is no small task. The MacSports cart was the perfect answer! While I’m shopping, it’s folded up and on the backseat or down on the floor of my car. Once I arrive home, it unfolds with one easy shake and a push of the center into a sturdy, large, easily maneuverable cart. It holds over 200 pounds, and while I have never shopped for that much (yet?), I have certainly had shopping runs that included multiple packs of water bottles, soda cans, and canned goods that made me thankful I had an easy way of transporting all of those heavy items in one trip, not 10 trips. This is a sturdy, reasonably priced piece of gear. Highly recommend!" —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $83.69 (available in seven colors).
15. A first aid kit because ya never know when you'll need a bandage, an ice pack, gauze and so much more. I personally have used this while working with children and I didn't go anywhere without it. It's perfect and includes so many handy things — 298 pieces to be exact!
This kit includes: adhesive fabric, plastic bandages, antibiotic ointments, BZK antiseptic towelettes, burn cream packets, aspirin, ibuprofen, gauze roll and pads, wound closures, cold packs, and other multi-use aid for any *potential* emergency. Oh, and while we're on the topic of safety, might as well get a fire extinguisher, ya know, just in case. Come onnnn, it's your first time really cooking on your own, we'd rather be safe than sorry, right?
Promising review: "I haven't dug through it but it fits all of our emergency needs. I got it to keep in our apartment. Cheaper then buying individual items from a store. It's compact, easy to open, has double zippers and it contains a little bit of everything. Good for the house, the car, or a hiking backpack" —Miss Xalím
Get it from Amazon for $18.50.
16. An adorable handmade smiley face mirror to give your home a groovy vibe. I don't think you could get me outta this mirror honestly, like, how cuteeee?! BTW, it comes with Command strips so you don't have to buy them! *jaw drops with excitement*
This trendy little shop is based in the United Kingdom, and yes they do ship to the US (with about a $20 fee for international shipping). This small business specializes in the CUTEST little quirky mirrors, rugs, wall art, and soooo much more so you gotta check them out! They even have mirrors that have cute little positive messages on them. I mean, you for sure need your mirror to tell you how hot you look every time you walk past it.
Promising review: "I have fallen in love with this mirror. I got the orange one because I’m trying to add some color to my room and it came packaged amazingly, bubble wrapped with a card from the seller. I am definitely going to buy a couple more :) amazing." —Georgi Peach
Get it from PrintedWeird on Etsy for $35.71 (available in 18 colors).
17. A no-touch forehead thermometer in case you're ever feeling under the weather. Especially in these, I hate to say it, ~unprecedented times~ ya never know when this little guy will come in handy. Definitely a must-have for any new apartment.
I've also personally used this in classrooms with children during the height of the pandemic. We had to take kids temperatures every morning upon entry in 2021 and these were the easiest, most convenient, and quickest thermometers. Super reliable and batteries are included!
Promising review: "I love this thing. One click gives you an instant, easy to read temperature. No loud beeps or sounds, just a little vibration to tell you it’s done. So easy, fast, and quiet, I wish I had found this two years ago!" —PickyCustomer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
18. A 10-in-1 steamer so you can get those floors squeaky clean. This bad boy, emphasis on BAAAAD boy, comes with a detachable handheld steamer so you can even use it to steam your clothes 😱. It's also safe to use on SOOO many surfaces like carpets, hardwood floors, marble...OH, and it has a scrubber. Knock out so much cleaning with just one little mop.
Promising review: "I love a product that lives up to its reviews! This little machine is awesome! It really does all that it says it will! It’s easy to operate, and it sanitizes everything! Super lightweight and the fill tank holds a good amount of water so it lasts through the tasks of cleaning bathrooms, ceramic tile floors, deodorizing carpets, couches, dog bed etc. The more I clean the more I love it. We have a small apartment and this is easy to store. Goodbye Swiffer!" —Todd D.
Get it from Amazon for $69.97.
19. A cloud-shaped magnetic key holder to make it easier to find your keys every day. Just grab them from this adorable little cloud and be on your way!
Promising review: "Saw this on TikTok and I LOVE IT! It holds so well! I got it for my new apartment and honestly it makes finding my keys so easy. I just walk in and hang them right up!" —Brianna M.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four colors).
20. A fancy shmancy charcuterie board for the house warming you gotta throw yourself. Charcoocoo, as I call it, is ALWAYS a solid snack choice when it comes to hosting and this one has a little drawer underneath of it for all of the serving utensils and cheese knives you need. It also INCLUDES four cheese knives and can be ordered with or without bowls!
Promising review: "Seriously the nicest charcuterie board I’ve EVER seen!!! I can’t believe the quality! This would make an excellent gift for anyone. I bought one for myself and I'm going to get more for gifts soon. I love the drawer with the four included cheese knives, one for every type of cheese; crumbled, soft, hard, etc! HIGHLY recommend this!" —Caroline M.
Get it from Amazon for $34.97+.
21. A party game that'll be super inappropriate yet absolutely hilarious. Who doesn't love a good game of Cards Against Humanity? Easy to pull out if you're ever hosting friends, and it'll keep you guys laughing all night.
Cards Against Humanity, ah, what a delightful party game. Think Apples to Apples but wildly inappropriate. So everyone starts with seven white cards in their hand and every round you'll have a judge and they'll pick a black card. The black cards are phrases/questions and white cards are the answers soooo players choose which card from their hand is the best answer, anonymously of course (face down). The judge picks the winner of the round and that player keeps the black card and is the next judge. Everyone draws another white card, keeping seven cards in their hand at all times, and whoever gets seven black cards first (or has the most black cards by the time you're done playing) is the winner.
Promising review: "This is such a fun game! Even the instruction book was fun to read. We bought it for game night, and it was a huge success. If you don't own this game, you should. It is, after all, the card game to have, haha." —YouMatter
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
22. The absolute cutest handmade bathmat with a nonslip backing. It's water absorbent, machine-washable, and what a quirky little message, right?
This small business is based in California and specializes in super cute decor like moon shelves and crystal holders to create your comfy home.
Promising review: "I am completely obsessed! It's soooo soft and looks great in my bathroom. My friends loved seeing it and we all had a laugh." —Sarah
Get it from Labend Home on Etsy for $22.90+ (available in three colors).
23. A 14-piece knife set so you can chop up all your fresh produce and meats. These stainless steel tools have a durable safety bolster for stability and they include kitchen shears!
Promising review: "I really love this set of knives. It's my first ever set and I haven't had any issues. I sharpen them every now and then but they came in VERY sharp lol. I wasn't used to it and cut myself a few times 😆, but despite my own carelessness I absolutely love how durable these are. I cook from scratch a lot and cut lots of veggies and meats and have absolutely no problem using these. Worth the money!" —noemi p.
Get it from Amazon for $44.23+ (available in five sets and in two colors).
24. A set of two adhesive shower shelves to hold all of your shower needs super neatly. Lots of shelf space and hooks for your razors and loofahs! This baby can hold up to 40 pounds and requires no drilling, making it an easy install.
Promising review: "I've had these up for a few weeks now and their hold is phenomenal. You can place them however far apart you want to work with the size bottles you have. I waited the suggested 24 hours after applying the adhesive holder before I hung the baskets. They are wide enough to fit any size product even large jumbo size bottles. The sides are the perfect height to keep things from tumbling over but it's still easy to grab products. It has lots of hooks to hang things, too. 10/10 would recommend." —Danielle O.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
25. A functional coffee table with a lifting tabletop and a hidden storage compartment. So now if you're working from the comfort of your couch, you can lift your tabletop to bring your laptop up higher and closer to you. And the storage area provides an easy way to always remember where your remote controls are, because they can be conveniently stored in your coffee table.
Promising review: "Beautiful, stylish, retro, rich color, sturdy, functional, and affordable!! I can't praise it enough. It hides all our board games! I have assembled dozens of pieces of furniture and this one was not difficult. Take the time, read the instructions, and it will look amazing. Maybe took a little over an hour. I would wholeheartedly recommend this product. It instantly elevated our living room. Get yourself one of these, you will not regret it." —Mila
Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in four colors).
26. A toilet plunger and brush anddddd I think we all know why. Could you imagine having a clogged toilet and no plunger?! Yikes. This plunger also comes with a cleaning brush and its own stand and is compatible with most drains. There's also a hidden drip catcher in the base to keep floors tidy and keep icky water off your floors.
Promising review: "Idk what my son and husband's colons are made of, but when I tell you they CLOG the toilets they REALLY CLOG the toilets. Really, it's impressive. My point is, this plunger has proved its worth on multiple occasions. The brush works well too and I love the stand. We bought two, WOULD HIGHLY recommend!" —Daniels Family
Get it from Amazon for $21.98 (available in three colors).
27. A critter catcher to catch and get rid of critters without killing them. I am petrified of bugs. I mean, seriously you could probably rob me with a cicada and being a single woman living alone with no one to kill bugs for me, this thing is *chefs kiss*. The best thing about it is that you're 26" away from the bug.
Promising review: "We read the reviews on this little gem and decided to give it a try. We moved to Kentucky and knew there would be more critters here than in Idaho and this WORKS GREAT! It came with a practice spider so you can get used to the idea. I had a wasp follow me into the house...and luckily it was on the glass door trying to get out. I easily nabbed a flying wasp with ease and released him, no harm, he was a little stunned. Works on spiders — even little ones. I would HIGHLY recommend! No plugs or batteries and far away from the insect so you don't get the willies. JUST GET IT! High quality and suspect I will have it for years." —Gail M.
Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in three colors).
28. A flashlight that comes with batteries in case the power ever goes out. Save your phone battery and don't use it as a flashlight — pull out this baby and be all set! Batteries are included!
Promising review: "I’ve had a number of mini mag flashlights from childhood through adulthood. Time and again they’ve proven to shine bright, be really durable, and worth their price. For a compact flashlight, you can’t go wrong. The candle mode makes them super convenient for tool bags too, should you be in a dark space like an attic or something." —Saul G.
Get it from Amazon for $16.79+ (available in four styles and eight colors).
29. A set of two side tables with storage space to put your throw blankies and pillows in. Beautiful and functional — we love to see it.
Promising review: "These were the perfect addition to my daughter's first apartment. She loves the fact that the lids can come off and she can put blankets or whatever inside of them. She keeps her plants on one of them and the other she uses as a side table next to her couch for her drinks and remotes. I would definitely recommend using coasters if putting anything wet down as with any type of wood it does leave a ring." —Melessa R.
Get it from Amazon for $90+ (available in four colors).
30. A set of four geode coasters that are absolutely STUNNING. Look, you have to spend money on new furniture and these coasters will help keep your brand new furniture in tiptop shape. Avoid water stains with these beauties!
This Ohio-based small business specializes in absolutely gorgeous handmade resin home decor.
Promising reviews: "My wife loved these. Seller also sends pics of her work to make sure you're satisfied before they ship it. Next level customer service. Keep up the great work!" —Matthew
"Oh my goodness, best Etsy experience yet. Literally these coasters are so gorgeous I want to cry, I was beyond pleased when I got them. I Facetimed everyone I know to show them off. I keep them on my bedside table and they make me so so so happy every time I look at them. The light catches the rhinestones and it's stunning. The way the white mixes with the clear is like an otherworldly experience. Any time I walk by them I get distracted and literally just stare at them for like five minutes admiring how freakin' perfect they are. I’m gonna start buying a new set every month until I have enough for every room in my house." —Lindsey B.
Get it from EECraftJunkies on Etsy for $30 (available in two colors and six finishes).
31. A robot vacuum so that your new home can stay clean without, ya know, having to clean it. This thing is self-charging, works on carpets and hardwood floors, and has sensors to navigate through your apartment.
Promising review: "This little vacuum has changed my life. I turn it on every other day before I leave for work and when I get home, my floors are clean. I live in an 850-square-foot apartment in New York City and when I used to vacuum with my Miele canister vacuum, the apartment would look great for about two days until a light layer of dust would appear. Now, with the Roomba, I turn it in every other morning, and no more layer of dust. The place feels clean ALL the time. Love it!" —sharpsteven
Get it from Amazon for $249.99+ (available in five styles).
32. A step stool, because I'm not sure if anyone else is the size of a fifth grader but I sure am, so a step stool is at the top of my shopping list. This sturdy little stool can hold up to 500 pounds with a metal safe buckle that locks once you stand on it and has a handle making it easy to climb. Grab one if you climb counters to get whatever's in your top cabinet.
Promising review: "I needed to reach the top cabinets in the new house and my step stools don't reach too far. This three-step ladder is exactly what I needed. It's very sturdy, the steps are wide enough to fit my full feet, and the top rail is great to balance with. It's also light enough that I can carry it around the house. It's perfect!" —Hedy C.
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in five styles and three colors).
33. And lastly, an instantly downloadable editable PDF and Word doc essentials checklist file that you can print at home juuuust in case we forgot something. I live for a checklist and this one has so many essentials on it, like a toilet plunger! Which, I totally would forget to buy until I desperately needed one but that's why I made sure to put one in here bestie, cuz I got you!
Efficient Tools is a San Jose, California-based small business that specializes in simple, efficient tools to help manage life. Their Google Sheets include everything from roommate agreement files to photo release forms, they have a template for literally EVERYTHING. So whether you're renting an apartment or buying a home, this little shop will have what you need.
Promising review: "Super organized list with everything you need. Appreciate the multiple formats available for the list as well." —Karla V.
Get it from Efficient Tools on Etsy for $2.99.
Your friends when they walk in and see your new place:
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