Moving to New York City can be an extremely exciting and sometimes stressful situation. Something that’s important when moving to a new city is to turn your apartment into a home as soon as possible. This way, you can look forward to the comforts of home at the end of the day, no matter what the city throws at you. Another consideration is the high cost of living. You might not be able to get the exact living space you envisioned, but with a little creativity and patience you can turn any space into a comfortable home.
There are a lot of things you’ll need for your NYC apartment, but starting with these will get the ball rolling and get you on your way to turning that apartment or house into a home.
Mattress
If your apartment doesn’t come furnished, you should absolutely consider purchasing a high quality mattress. New Yorkers walk an average of 2-5 miles everyday, not to mention being crammed in everywhere we go, such as in subway cars, restaurants, and bars. Giving yourself the luxury of a comfortable, supportive, roomy bed can recharge your batteries properly and ease the discomfort of the crammed-in lifestyle of the city .
Window treatments
Most apartments have window treatments when you rent them. Some do not. People are stacked on top of one another in New York City, so you’re going to want some privacy. Not to mention some windows have a view of a brick wall, so putting up curtains and blinds is a great way to spruce up the apartment and manage your privacy, daylight, and views.
Desk & Chair
If you’re moving and shaking here in the city, odds are that you’ll have some work to do at home at some point, not to mention the growing trend towards remote working. Having a desk and comfortable chair allows you to have a defined workspace in your apartment that isn’t your dining table. It can really spruce up a room to have an elegant desk and chair set-up. Don’t strain your neck working at the table or on the couch, create a dedicated workspace for yourself.
Lighting
New York City is a concrete jungle with deep canyons that can have limited sunlight throughout the day. Also, many windows will not give access to this sunlight. Don’t just rely on a depressing, overhead fluorescent, spruce the place up with some tasteful lamps to vary the lighting and make the space feel more homey. Throw a blacklight in and you’ve got yourself a New York City party pad.
A Humidifier
If you have a sensitive skin or if you have a skin for that matter, a humidifier a must have thing to buy for your NYC apartment. Winter in New York City can be extremely rough, especially for people who aren’t used to the cold, windy winters of the Northeast. Don’t put up with dry skin all winter, get a humidifier and you’ll notice smoother, more moisturized skin in no time.
Storage
New York City apartments have very limited storage space. Itms like portable closets, clothing racks, storage bins, and furniture with built-in storage should be on the list of anybody making the move to NYC. Utilizing your space wisely is crucial to outfitting a New York City apartment.
Extension cords
Since many New York City buildings pre-date cell phones and other common household electronics, expect that you won’t have the ideal amount of outlets in your apartment, and that they won’t be in the best places. You don’t want to have to spend your first week tethered to a random wall in the corner of your apartment to use your phone. Be prepared and bring a few extension cords.
Flatware and Kitchen Essentials
Although the food in New York City is impeccable, most people need to cook for themselves most evenings to be able to afford the high cost of living here. Even if you could afford it, eating take-out with plastic silverware gets old very quickly. Fill your kitchen with plates, bowls, pots, pans, silverware, glasses, and all the items necessary to make eating in feel like an enjoyable, elegant experience. This is your new home, so throw in a little extra effort to make it comfortable.
Towels & Rugs
Don’t dry your dishes with a facecloth, and don’t dry yourself after a shower with a beach towel. Buy yourself a set of dish towels for the kitchen, and a full bath towel set for the bathroom. Also be sure the bathroom has a shower mat or rug to keep your floor dry. While you’re at it, be sure to buy an ergonomic rug for the kitchen sink area. This way, you can get a little back support when doing dishes or preparing food. It also adds a nice homey touch to your space.
Oven Mitts
At some point, you’re going to want to prepare a frozen pizza or other frozen dinner in your New York City apartment. Make sure you don’t burn your hands in the process. This item is very easily forgotten when moving and setting up new living spaces, but it is extremely essential to keeping your hands burn-free.
Taking up residence in New York City is an exciting and unique experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. Due to the uniquely high prices of rent in the city, you’re likely going to have to lower your living standards slightly, making it imperative that you invest in a few essentials to spruce up the apartment and make it livable and enjoyable. You’ll also need a team of professional, capable, experienced movers to get you and your belongings up to the apartment. When you’re ready to start the process of moving to your new home, fill out our quote request form. Be sure to check out our blog for more moving-related tips and tricks.
