Living alone for the first time
“Living alone for the first time. What do I need?”
26 answers from 24 people · Updated Sep 25, 2026
24 recs
We made this collection because we understand firsthand how annoying it is to only see home recs for people who live in houses. Sometimes you need a really small table! Or something that can fold up and hide behind your couch!
3 recs
3 recs
things i've bought for my west village studio and/or items i'm eyeing.....
COMFEE' Portable Dishwasher with Built-in Water Tank
One of the only reasons I've been able to stay in my dishwasher-less apartment for 5+ years. You can drain it directly into your sink, or if you're low on space like me directly into Big Bucket on Counter. Has enough room for one person's weekly dishes and runs for 45 minutes or two hours. Easy to clean, easy to troubleshoot when needed, only major tip is to use liquid detergent over dishwasher pods!
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Klancy Miller’s book is amazing for one- or two-person meals that don’t leave you drowning in leftovers! I especially love the risotto recipe, which explains how to pan fry leftovers into arancini-esque bites the next day. A true joy to read and to cook from.
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This is so ridiculously affordable ($13!) and an American-made brand. It’s also quite lightweight, relatively speaking, while still being really versatile; it’s actually big enough to use for pancakes, stir-fry or (non-tomato-based) pasta sauce for 1-2 people, etc. I have had the 8” skillet for years and, while I originally got this one to take car camping, find I’ll reach for the 5” much more frequently than the 8” ever since.
3
Honestly, a comfy chair, really any good chair, whatever feels comfortable to you. Having a place to sit and relax that isn’t your bed will make all the difference, and you can buy a comfy chair for a lot less than investing in a good couch would be!
3
NORDEN Gateleg table, birch, 10 1/4/35/59 7/8x31 1/2 "
My favorite small space hack.
Ikea IVAR shelving unit with a table
beautiful pine wood, perfect for small space
Damage Free Picture Hanging Hooks
Damage free picture hanging is the name of the game when you're renting. These perfectly mimic nails so get to decorating stress free!
2
It hurt to spend so much money on a dish rack but it is perfect. I don’t think anyone needs a bigger dish rack, tbh. I didn’t have a dishwasher and I don’t believe in hand drying dishes, you could really load this lil rack up. My home had the best view from the kitchen sink, I would watch pelicans diving while washing my dishes.
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When I *truly reflect on our most used items, our pink foldable step stool (originally from the dollar store, maybe $5, years ago!) is one of our most reached for household objects. A requirement for any queer household! We even got a fancier step ladder and honestly we use the cheap plastic one way more.
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This is our new favorite lightweight step ladder these day! It's really slim and easy to store, but absolutely essential if you're storing things high up.
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Warm light, instant atmosphere, and let’s be real… none of us like the big light anyway. It makes early mornings cozier, dinner prep nicer, and the whole kitchen feel a little more lived in. Such a small thing, but it completely changes the mood. Tiny upgrade. Big return.
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Living alone rocks 🥲 be slow and intentional about building everything you need! Thrift kitchen dishes and check FB marketplace for furniture! My actual rec tho is having a “go” station near your door- I have a pegboard with keys and sunglasses, and a stand below with mints, lip gloss, pepper spray, hand sanitizer, bike lights, bus pass, rings, etc… everything you might consider grabbing before leaving the house. Fun to thrift cute catch-alls to put them in 🙂
2
Small systems/stations around the house
I keep multiple “stations” around the house so that I don’t move things around. Each station has its purpose but also duplicates like chapstick and hair-ties Entry way station: The most important. Several baskets/small bins without tops organized by use - key bowl for all keys immediately next to door to put keys down before I’m all the way inside Basket with “grab and go” items like hand lotion with a pump so I can use some on my way out the door without putting things down, many chapsticks, hair ties, sunglasses, sunscreen, headlamp, bike lights, dog leash, etc. Water bottles and running vest Cold weather hats, mittens, and scarves in medium basket Shoes in large basket Biking gear all in largish basket Misc. gear in medium basket with items like extra grocery bags, purses, frisbees, my coin collection Bed side station: One large basket or visible on bedside shelving, Chapstick Body lotion Top layer skincare like Vaseline Ear plugs Reading light Sex stuff Advil Office Station: more chapstick Hand and body lotion Hair ties Spare earrings for ad-hoc video calls Fidget item du jour - jade roller, pens with a good click, and clay are my current favorites Gum Pens, scissors, packing tape Calculator Note cards and sticky notes A charging cable for every type I have. These NEVER get unplugged. Living room station: On mantel on a cute tray chapstick Hand lotion Chargers for phone and computer Bathroom: has all medical and self-care items Pre packed travel toiletries and phone charger in large travel bag so all I add is my book and medication. This contains a travel size versions of my everyday toiletries or things I don’t love but would still use, so I use when traveling
1
i hate to be so pragmatic, but kirkland toilet paper
it’s just a really good deal for so many rolls, and good quality ply. and then you never run out, it takes forever until you have to restock
131
Oversized Heavy-Duty Storage Totes
Also used for moving sooo good
VALLKRASSING throw, off-white, 59x79"
I’ve had this durable but lightweight throw blanket for 2 years now and it has held up perfectly through many washes. it is perfect for summer sleeping in Seattle’s brick oven apartments and a cozy couch blanket for cooler months.
3
Being totally selfish about how you keep your living space
As someone in a long term relationship, one of the things I miss about being single is having total control over how my home looked and functioned. It’s lovely to be able to compromise and cultivate a shared space, but it’s awesome to have it exactly the way you like. If you haven’t moved, make a change to your space that’s totally for you (bonus if your partner wouldn’t have liked it).
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Doing whatever YOU want with your free time!
Eat wherever you want. Clean whenever you want. Watch whatever you want (no terrible action movies or sports docs). And also no picking up someone else’s laundry or cleaning their dishes! (Can you tell I have no desire to live with a man again?)
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Every box labeled with a number. Every number in a list with the inventory of what the box holds, where it goes. Cannot emphasize enough how much of a LIFESAVER this was — helping us to put the right boxes in the right rooms, unpacking and knowing where things are, and so so helpful if you put anything in storage too so you remember what is in there and if you need to get anything out can do so with surgical precision.
1
Storing your clean bed sheets in one of the pillowcases
a little bundle that’s ready to use whenever you need your clean sheets. Also recommend having 2+ sheet sets for your bed.
Create cleaning zones for your space
I used to dread the designated day for cleaning my apartment - hauling laundry to the laundromat, vacuuming and mopping the floor, the works! On top of it all it usually happens on a weekend, and I resented that my entire day is just dedicated to cleaning. So I started zoning my apartment by room, and assigning them to a specific day. On Mondays I only need to make sure that the living room is tidy and clean. On Tuesdays I clean the bathroom - etc, etc. Even though it would be so easy to also vacuum the bedroom when I'm vacuuming the living room, I do not do that. For me - focus on completing the cleaning task for the designated zone is the equivalent of breaking a big problem into bite sized pieces. the image is not mine, but I like an organized closet lol.
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