Maybe you're moving into your very first apartment, or perhaps you just downsized and are starting over from scratch in a new flat. Either way, there's a lot to think about in terms of gathering all the essentials. Must-have kitchen basics are important, but don’t forget that any ultimate first apartment checklist should also include bathroom essentials. It's one of the most important areas of your home you want to get right.
In this article
- Essential Checklist Items for Your First Apartment Bathroom
- How Many Towels for Your New Apartment?
- Tidy Towel Calculator
- Get a Good Shower Curtain and Bath Mat
- Storage Solutions for Toiletries
- Bathroom Essential: Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Co.
- Small Waste Basket: A Must-Have for Any Bathroom
- Towel Rack for an Organised Space
- What's on Your List of Bathroom Essentials for a First Apartment?
Essential Checklist Items for Your First Apartment Bathroom
Stocking your bathroom usually takes a bit more than just a bath mat and a set of towels, so it's a good idea to make a note of what you think you'll need for your first apartment.
Towel Calculator
Scroll down for the tidy towel calculator to quickly calculate how many towels one person should have! 🛀
If you're doing all of your shopping online, you could also set up a separate private wishlist on the likes of Amazon and use that as your essentials checklist to work through. Even if you purchase your items elsewhere, you can tick them off your Amazon list by deleting them.
Having everything from a toothbrush holder to cleaning supplies and laundry essentials when you move in will just make you feel more comfortable and put together - even when your place isn't finished yet.
It's not uncommon for it to take a few days (or even weeks) to unpack everything and get truly settled, and I always found it helpful doing my kitchen and bathroom first thing after moving in somewhere new. After a long day of running around, it was a relief to have everything in its place in those two key areas. Kind of made it feel like home a lot quicker.
How Many Towels for Your New Apartment?
First things first, when you step out of the shower, you're going to need to dry yourself off with something. Cue fluffy towels.
When choosing towels, consider the material, size, and quantity. Cotton towels are highly absorbent and soft, with Egyptian or Turkish cotton towels being top choices for their luxurious feel and durability.
You'll probably want a mixed set of bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths to cover all your needs. How many should you get of each? That depends.
I live alone and rarely have sleepovers. When I moved in, I bought four big bath towels, eight hand towels and four washcloths. That turned out to be all wrong! What I've found is that two big towels, four hand towels and seven washcloths would have been perfect. I just don't need so many towels yet I'm always short on washcloths.
PRO TIP (FROM SOMEONE WHO'S LEARNT THIS THE HARD WAY)
White towels may seem like the epitome of luxury and minimalism, but bear in mind that they can stain easily. Also, if you live in a region with hard water, they might take on that infamous grey-ish colour after awhile. If that bothers you, you might want to opt for a light beige or grey from the get-go.
American Soft Linen 100% Cotton Luxury Turkish Towels, 6 Piece Towel Set
✅ Turkish Luxury 6 Piece Towel Set Includes 2 Bath Towels of 27 x 54 inches, 2 Hand Towels of 16 x 28 inches and 2 Washcloths of 13 x 13 inches.
Superior Egyptian Cotton 6-Piece Towel Set, Bathroom Essentials, Towels For Bathroom, Apartment, Airbnb, Guest Bath, Face, Hand, Bath Towels, Washcloths, Absorbent, Fast Drying, Sage
OPULENT COMFORT: Egyptian Cotton terry loop construction is highly-absorbent to get you dry quickly; Single-ply construction for added comfort and durability; OEKO-TEX Certified, meaning this product is free from harmful chemicals
Chakir Turkish Linens 100% Cotton 4-Pack Bath Towels 27x54, Gray
SET OF 4 BATH TOWELS, 27 x 54 INCHES: Four matching bath towels, enough for a couple or a family bathroom without constant laundry.
Bascially, think about how often you do laundry, whether or not you use each towel only once or multiple times before tossing it in the hamper, and if you tend to have a lot of visitors. All of these factors play a role in deciding how many towels to buy.
Or just use my handy-dandy towel calculator! ⤵️
Tidy Towel Calculator
How many towels for one person? How many towels for the whole family? Calculate your towel number here!
Average: 5 showers per person per week
Get a Good Shower Curtain and Bath Mat
A shower curtain is decorative and it serves a functional purpose by keeping water inside the shower area. Win-win!
How do you find the perfect one? Look for waterproof and mildew-resistant materials for durability and ease of maintenance. Choose a design that complements your bathroom decor or, even better, stick with a light, neutral colour to make your bathroom look bigger.
Boho Mid Century Shower Curtain, Modern Abstract with Hooks 72x72
Premium Polyester Material: Crafted from high-quality polyester for excellent wrinkle resistance and durability; the smooth texture ensures easy cleaning while remaining completely odorless to maintain a comfortable bathroom environment
Boho Shower Curtains for Bathroom Linen Fabric Look Bohemian Mid Century Boho Minimalist Arch Greige 72" L X 72" W
Linen Fabric Look,Due to differences in lighting during photography and screen display settings, the actual product color may vary slightly from the images—please refer to the real item
Linen Shower Curtain Beige Boho Farmhouse Shower Curtains for Bathroom Fabric Cream Cloth Liner 72 x 72 Inch
Fabric: Woven with 85% polyester and 15% linen, it is different from the traditional 100% linen fabric which is too stiff and not skin-friendly. Through special weaving process, the shower curtain is soft, skin-friendly, easy to wash and not easy to wrinkle.
Bath mats are practical (nobody likes cold tiles under their feet when they're all wet) and they're also important for your safety.
Trust me when I say that it's seriously no fun slipping on a natural stone tiled floor and knocking out all of your front teeth. Just get a bath mat! One with a non-slip backing to prevent accidents, and one that's absorbent enough to keep your bathroom floor dry.
OLANLY Bathroom Rugs 30x20, Extra Soft Absorbent Chenille Bath Rugs
Soft Chenille Comfort — Step onto thousands of soft chenille fibers in our high-pile design the moment you leave the shower, crafted for genuine everyday comfort. OLANLY's OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified chenille delivers a cushioned, cozy feel underfoot — gentle on tired feet, certified safe for little ones, and friendly for furry companions. Minimal shedding means less lint, less maintenance — just shake to refresh the high-pile plush or toss it in the machine as needed. From the first step to the last, every single day — premium comfort at an everyday price.
Memory Foam Bath Mat 24 x 16, Ultra Soft Absorbent Bathroom Rugs
SOFT & COMFORTABLE: Bath mats are filled with polyurethane memory foam and the microfiber velvet outer material, soft and cozy, skin-friendly, relieve pressure and fatigue on your feet
OLANLY Bathroom Rugs Mat 30x20, Extra Soft Absorbent Microfiber Bath Rugs
Top: 100% Microber
Should it match the shower curtain or the towels? Everybody's taste is different, but I like it best when the colour of the bath mat matches that of the towels.
Storage Solutions for Toiletries
Next up on our list of bathroom essentials for a first apartment: storage. There's usually never enough in a small bathroom, and apartment living is often tight!
If your new space has a medicine cabinet or under-sink storage space, lucky you. You really only need to look into getting a couple of little bins to organise all the little stuff.
Delamu 2-Tier Multi-Purpose Bathroom Under Sink Organizers and Storage, Stackable Kitchen Pantry Organization, Pull Out Medicine Cabinet Organizer with Movable Dividers, White, 2 Pack
Under Sink Organizers
madesmart Two Tier Organizer with Dividers, Frost
2-TIER MULTIPURPOSE ORGANIZER: Offers a practical storage solution for kitchen cabinets or pantries, under bathroom sinks, on desks, or other areas to keep your home or office space clean and organized
Amazon product
On the flip side, if you have a bathroom like mine with absolutely no storage whatsoever, you're probably going to be scratching your head as to where you should put all those essential toiletries and personal care items like toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, extra toilet paper and skincare products that are fundamental to your daily routine.
I hear you, and that's why I previously wrote an entire article devoted to the trials and tribulations of organising a tiny bathroom that lacks all storage space. Check that out if you missed it, because it has a ton of tips and ideas.
Slim Storage Cart 4 Tier,Bathroom Organizer Rolling Utility,Mobile Shelving Unit Slide Out for Office, Kitchen, Laundry Room & Narrow Places,Black
1.Gap Storage Expert: 4-Tier Intelligent Height Differential Design：(4.9"W x 38.7"H x 15.3"D）Engineered for modern compact living! With its slim 4.9-inch profile, this organizer fits perfectly into narrow gaps between furniture and appliances. Its core advantage lies in the innovative four-tier height differential design: the lower two tiers provide generous 12.5" , while the upper two tiers feature an optimal 9.2" height . One unit accommodates all sizes, maximizing vertical space utilization.
3-Tier Narrow Bathroom Shelves with Drawer, Bathroom Organizers and Storage, Open Floor Ladder Shelf, Freestanding Tower Slim Standing Unit for Small Spaces - 2 Pack
【Narrow Unique Design】Our 3 tier narrow ladder shelf measures only 9.85 inches in length and 11.65 inches in depth. Ideal for placing in corners or any narrow location to make the most of limited space, it's a perfect standing shelf option that maximizes vertical space.
SOLEJAZZ Slim Rolling Storage Cart Skinny Bathroom Organizer, 4 Tier, White
Slim Design – Fits 4.76" Gaps : With only 4.76 inches in depth, this 4 tier slim rolling storage cart with wheels slides effortlessly into tight spaces like gaps in between your washer and dryer, bathroom laundry room corners, under kitchen counters, next to fridge, or narrow hallways. Maximize every inch of your home while keeping it neat and organized
In a nutshell, when you have no cabinetry or built in linen closet, you're going to have to keep your items organised and accessible in storage solutions like baskets, bins, small shelving units, drawer units and the like.
What you ultimately pick is going to come down to how much space you have in the bath, so grab a tape measure, make your notes and then start browsing Pinterest and Amazon for inspo because there is no one-size-fits-all solution here, unfortunately.
Bathroom Essential: Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Co.
Keeping your bathroom clean makes it pleasant to spend time in there. When putting together your list of bathroom essentials for a first apartment, be sure to include basic cleaning supplies.
You'll want some glass cleaner for mirrors and glass surfaces, toilet bowl cleaner to keep your toilet fresh and germ-free, and general cleaning supplies like all-purpose cleaner, sponges, and a toilet bowl scrub brush.
CLEANING TIPS
If you've already gotten settled in and just haven't figured out yet when you're supposed to keep everything clean in between school or work, check out my cleaning schedule for solo households to get some helpful tips!
If you have hard water like I do, you'll want to add an anti-limescale solution to the mix. Or you can experiment by making your own DIY shower cleaner. You might be surprised how effective a few simple ingredients are, and the fewer cleaning solutions you have to buy, the less storage space you need, too!
Small Waste Basket: A Must-Have for Any Bathroom
Don't forget to pick up a small waste bin or basket for trash. Again, you'll want to measure how much room you have for one. If you literally have no space, you might want to consider a compact cosmetic bin that sits above your sink or on the perimeter of the tub if you have one. They're very tiny, yet large enough to toss your used cotton swabs and other small trash bits into.
StorageWorks Wicker Waste Basket, Small Bathroom Trash Can
The compact size of this wastebasket is perfect for small spaces, for example desktop, bedsides, bathroom sinks etc.
Rubbermaid Spa Works Vanity Wastebasket, Home/Bathroom/Office Use, Small 2.25 Gallon, Plastic, Gunmetal Blue, Home/Kitchen/Garage/Apartment/Office
AESTHETIC DESIGN: Elegant metallic blue style that matches any home décor.
I keep mine lined with teeny-tiny bin liners to keep it clean.
Towel Rack for an Organised Space
Once you have the absolute essentials in your cart, think about where you can store those nice towels you just ordered.
Towel Racks for Bathroom Wall, Black Small Towel Holder with Hooks
Towel racks for bathroom provide you plenty of room to organize towels and other bath items, Perfect towel storage for small bathroom
Pickpiff Black Blanket Ladder - Durable Metal Towel Racks, Scratch-Resistant and Easy Assembly Decorative Ladders for Home Decor, Living Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Holder for Throw Blanket, Quilt
Leaning Ladder Design & Stylish Storage: This leaning blanket ladder is both a beautiful decoration and a super practical storage shelf. Features 4 metal bars, which is great for hanging towels, throws, blankets, newspapers, and magazines.
39-Inch Tall Towel Rack for Bathroom, 2-Tier Freestanding Towel Stand with Storage Shelf for Oversized Bath Towels, Poolside, Black, ALHAKIN
Tall Enough For Overside Towels: Unlike other short standing towel rack, ALHAKIN UPGRADE this towel rack stand’s height up to 39 inch to make sure the large bath towels do not touch the water on the floor. Sufficient space is reserved a good air circulation between each towel bar to ensure that the towel can dry quickly
Again, if your apartment comes with a small linen closet, you're good to go here. But if you don't have a closet, towel racks are a practical solution, especially wall-mounted racks that save space and keep towels within easy reach.
Hooks are also great for hanging bathrobes or extra towels. They're functional and they're super affordable. You could also opt for an over-the-door storage solution or row of hooks.
What's on Your List of Bathroom Essentials for a First Apartment?
Moving into your first apartment is an exciting adventure, and stocking your first bathroom can be fun. Your apartment doesn't have to be perfect on day one, either. A living space is generally always evolving. You can start with this bathroom essentials checklist, work towards making it a functional space and then add other things you need as you go along.
Over time you might even discover there are some things you'll prefer to get rid of entirely when you welcome in other new items.
How about you, what's on your list of bathroom essentials for a first apartment? Drop a comment below.
