Living alone for the first time
“Living alone for the first time. What do I need?”
24 answers from 22 people · Updated Nov 2, 2026
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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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!
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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!
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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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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
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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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The Stanley Complete Step-by-Step REVISED Book of Home Repair
If I’ve learned anything about living in a space, it’s that things inevitably break… and the right things are worth fixing. The deadly specter of home repair strikes us all at some point. My aim in making this recommendation is not to turn everyone into a self-professed handyman (although, it’s possible you could do that). I instead share this to provide you with an inexpensive, comprehensive guide to repairing almost ANYTHING related to your home that’s been invented up until the turn of the 21st century — so that you can complete the small jobs yourself, and know what to look for when recruiting others to help you sort out the big ones. Extra bonus: It is an easy, hand-holding delight to read.
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blinds that come down from the top
as the resident naked neighbor, these are perfect for filling up on vitamin d and keeping the houseplants happy without giving the pedestrians of my street a ~view~ (me)
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Stick-on light switch that controls all your lamps
Like a lot of NYC apartments, ours has no overhead light in the living room or bedroom, and just one electrical outlet is connected to the light switch. In our last apartment, we had to turn on five different lamps to properly light the room. When we moved into our current place, I got one of these remote control set ups that you plug each lamp into and now we can turn on all the lamps at once. It's makes a satisfying little click when you switch the lights on and the novelty still hasn't worn off
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This guy may be one of the most reliable appliances in your life. The rice is always perfect. Use him to steam some mandu in there, or maybe make a fake donburi. He’ll serenade you when he’s done.
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you really only need one thing in your kitchen, and it's just a really big, sharp chef's knife. sharpen it regularly and it will last for YEARS
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Seconded - this adorable thing has been a real space-saving MVP in my criminally closet-less apartment!
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Cambro CamSquares 2 Qt. Food Storage Container (3/Pack)
I’ve worked in food service for a billion years so while you won’t find a real Tupperware in my kitchen you will find 10,000 Cambro and deli containers. They are endlessly useful even if you aren’t making a 4qt of caramelized onions. Your local restaurant supply store will have these.
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9/10 times I am using this.
If you have a metal bed frame, put the feet on a set of bed risers. It will give you those few extra inches you need to create more meaningful storage space. And I pair it with an extra long bed skirt so you can’t tell the difference!
You'll be so thankful to have a box of heavy duty, extra large trash bags on hand when you're moving.
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This thin, flexible spatula is my go-to for cookies, fried eggs, and cooking all kinds of meat (and yes, fish!)
Start fresh at your new place with matching hangers
If you're going to be putting everything away at your new home, you might as well make sure your hangers are in good working order and uniform. It's amazing how big of a difference this can make! These are our new favs from Amazon.
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Romanticize the fuck out of the few sweet hours a day you get to be all by yourself. Curate the *exact* environment you want to vibe the hell out in. I, for example, turn off all the lights, light my moody, melty candles and watch something spooky. We should be enjoying our lives and this is such a simple, cheap way to do it.
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don't move that awkward furniture by yourself
because when you ask a friend you're less likely to hurt your back or your ego or both
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a little thing, but a huge bummer/anxiety trigger for me when moving is the anonymity of a new space, so i try to prioritize unpacking the things that make me feel the most at home. i hang art, even if it’s in a temporary spot (or not yet framed), and i pull out my books, even if at first I have to stack them on the floor. i feel less lonely/stressed/whatever with those things around!
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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.
Ideally before you move in / unpack. Painting is the best way to make a space feel more cozy and cute, and it’s also pretty affordable. Even a little accent wall goes a long way in making a generic space feel like home. A nice colored wall also makes your cat look like a super model
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