Checklist for Your First Apartment

Congratulations! You’ve flown the coop and left your parents’ house. Now they can finally find a tenant who’s willing to actually pay for room and board. And that’s all the better, but now that you’re on your own, you’ll need to buy a few things.

Your first apartment is an extremely important facet of your new life. It’ll determine what level of maturity you wish to convey, and that will determine how much time you spend alone in your new digs.

All you need to do is shop around at furniture stores in San Diego for these basic things:

• Dinette furniture: This is probably more important than a couch. A dinette is not only a place to eat, but you’re more than likely to make it your desk, entertainment hub (laptop + table), and the perfect setup for a romantic candlelit liaison.

• Bed: You can’t overlook the bed. After all, the average person spends one-third of their life in bed. If you’re the kind of person who needs that huge, soft, fluffy, cloud-like mattress, San Diego is the place to get it. Or maybe you prefer a harder mattress with complete back and shoulder support. It’s your choice. Remember that it’s coming out of your paycheck now, not your allowance.

• Shower caddy: This is something that people never get until they’re standing in the shower without a place to hang their poufs. Do yourself a favor and pick one up while you’re out buying linens and a bedspread to go with that monster canopy bed you’re sure to have for the rest of your life.

• Curtains: Unless you like the idea of people standing outside, watching your silhouette walk from the bathroom to the kitchen, you’ll want to cover up your windows. Curtains can be a great way to accent white walls if you’re renting a generic apartment. Make sure to match them to your bedspread. You’re an adult now, so no more color clashing.

• Futon: This is one piece of furniture that most college kids are well acquainted with. But a futon is much more than a plastic frat fixture. Look for something with a bamboo or wooden frame, something that has a bit more class. It’s still going to provide a spot for your guys or girls to crash on when they visit, but it doesn’t have to look like something you pulled from the side of the street.

Enjoy your new apartment. Make it a place you aren’t embarrassed to show off to your mom.