There comes a time in almost every person’s life when you’re ready to live on your own. If you happen to live in a city like New York or L.A. where having a roommate is like a rite of passage, getting to the stage of living alone is a major milestone. After years of spending her 20s living with a collection of people, my friend recently signed the lease for a quaint one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. Of course, my natural instinct was to immediately send a laundry list of design inspo and home décor ideas.
It can be freeing to now be solely responsible for everything that goes into your space, yet at the same time, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. And with space at a premium pretty much everywhere, you’ll want to keep storage and functionality top of mind. While it’s tempting to splurge on everything new from top to bottom, it’s way more beneficial to prioritize a few quality pieces and go from there. By no means is the list below an exhaustive one, but rather, it’s a helpful place to start on the journey of solo living. I’ve also broken each of my recommendations down by room, so it’s easier to go through the entire list without missing a thing. Keep scrolling to check out the full list.
Utensils never looked so good.
It’s the little things that can make a simple glass of OJ feel like a luxury.
These are more delicate than everyday drinking glasses but bring that wow factor for a night of dinner hosting.
I can personally vouch for how good this set is. One, the pieces don’t chip, and two, every meal looks supremely elevated.
Elegant silverware is always a must.
Capable of preparing everything from soups and stews to meats and casseroles, this will get plenty of use.
Even cutting boards can be aesthetically pleasing.
As much as I love a white couch, it requires constant attention to keep clean. A deeper shade of velvet is equally elegant and isn’t so high-maintenance.
So cozy.
Strategizing your storage in a new apartment is critical—this shelf is gorgeous and big enough to fit trinkets, books, and more.
A floor lamp like this will set the tone for your entire space.
Rugs are underrated in terms of how useful they are for adding dimension to a room. I personally love ones with unique designs or textures.
Even if you have sufficient overheard lighting, a cool bedside lamp is worth a splurge.
Get ready for the inevitable urge to take a bunch of selfies.
With new apartments comes new bedding, and this bundle has everything from a duvet to sheets and pillows included.
Not only is this side table beautiful, but it can also stand vertically or horizontally.
Plants make every room feel brighter and more spacious.
Even for a tiny apartment, a dining table is key in creating the illusion of separate spaces. This one is big enough to function as a work-from-home area or as the center point for all of your friends and family to convene.
It may feel like a lot to splurge on stylish dining chairs for a solo apartment, but trust me—you won’t regret it.
Lighting makes a huge difference, and when it comes to any dining area, a beautiful light fixture should be at the top of the list.
Not a requirement, but these are so good.
Throw in some beautiful flowers and your space will look like it was designed by a professional.
That feeling of a soft, cozy bath mat after a nice hot shower.
This is one of my favorite candles, so of course, I recommended it to everyone I know.
The quickest way to make your bathroom look put-together? Hang a bright shower curtain.
Soap will never look the same.
To give your bathroom a spa vibe, I always suggest adding a fancy bottle of soap.
A necessity.
If you’re tight on space, I can’t recommend these cute and minimal wall shelves enough.
