Moving out of the residence halls and going to the Villas apartments was a relatively smooth transition for me. Having a kitchen was definitely a plus. There were a few things that I learned along the way that I didn’t really expect from apartment life.
One of the things that saved me a lot of time and hassle was the fact that Villas was fully furnished when I moved in. The Villas living room comes with a sofa, a large chair, a coffee table, media table, end table, and a large screen TV. Every resident receives a bed frame & mattress, desk & desk chair, and dresser in their bedroom. The kitchen comes with a gas stove, microwave, a full sized refrigerator, as well as a dining room table with 4 chairs.
If you’re going to be moving in to an apartment or shared living situation, or if you’re living in one now, I have a few suggestions on how to make the most of your first time out on your own:
- Cheaper by the Dozen Buying in bulk can help save you money if you’re your roommates work together and decide what to buy. Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, eggs, milk, etc., are great things that roommates can pitch in to purchase in bulk since you’ll all likely need them. Cooking meals together, or scheduling nights where roommates work together to make food for everyone else will not only help you save money, it’ll also bring you closer together.
- This is College, not Downton Abbey Chandeliers and crystal stemware might have to wait until after you graduate. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t live in complete comfort and style while going to school! Decorate your space with throw pillows, some artwork, and a lamp or two. Head to your local department store with your roomies and go in on a nice durable set of coffee mugs and dishes to share. Forks and spoons always disappearing? Load up at the thrift store, or buy a bunch from Bed, Bath & Beyond or Kmart! The goal to keep in mind when decorating or buying things for your apartment is that the castle you’re creating is short term. You don’t want to be terribly attached to a coffee mug, because likely that’ll be the one your roommate breaks by accident. Just think how you’d feel if it was a crystal wine glass from 1912! Probably like Lady Mary when Edith sends the letter to the Turkish ambassador (hint: she wasn’t very happy).
- Share the Remote There are some living situations where one person plays video games 24/7, but their roommate really wants to watch the news and some Saturday morning cartoons. A good strategy is to talk with your roommates about their TV usage and decide as a group whether or not each of you needs to bring a TV, or just one to share. Same goes for other items like mini-fridges, DVD players, or other communal items. Who knows? One of your roommates may invite you to watch Netfilx with them and you can bond over a movie. Seen the movie Spork? Watch it with your roommate; it’s awesome!
Here’s a handy list of things to bring:
Bedding
- Sheets (extra-long twin)
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Pillowcases
- Bedspread
Bathroom
- Towels
- Washcloths
- Beach Towel
- Toilet Paper
- Personal Toiletries
Kitchen
- Pots & Pans
- Dishes
- Cups
- Utensils
- Sponges
- Dish Soap
Suggested
- Alarm Clock
- Computer
- Bicycle
- Bike lock
- Iron
- Non-halogen Study Lamp
- Living Room Lamp
- TV (for your Bedroom/TV in the living room is already included)
- Laundry Hamper
- Laundry Soap
Check out the Villas Pinterest page for more suggestions on what to bring and apartment decorating ideas.
