April 2, 2025

Our Expert Tips for Moving Into (and Organizing) Your First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment is a major milestone. It’s exciting, liberating, and yes—a little overwhelming. Whether you’re leaving the family home, upgrading from a dorm room, or relocating to a new city, that first set of keys represents independence and possibility. But as anyone who’s been through it knows, apartment moving comes with unique challenges, especially when you’re working with limited square footage.

We’ve compiled essential tips to help make your first apartment move smooth and stress-free, as well as smart organization strategies to transform even the tiniest space into a functional, comfortable home.

Start with a Realistic Timeline

It may seem like overkill, but you’ll ideally want to begin planning your move at least 6-8 weeks before the date. Many first-time apartment renters underestimate how long the moving process takes, especially if you’re balancing it with work or school. Create a week-by-week checklist, working backward from your move-in date to ensure you don’t skip any steps.

Understand Your Building’s Rules

Apartment buildings differ from homes in that they often have specific moving regulations that can surprise first-timers. Depending on your apartment, you may have specialty instructions on timing, parking, or loading areas.

Before your move, check with building management about:

Designated moving days/hours
Elevator reservations
Loading dock access
Parking permits for moving trucks
Insurance requirements
Certificate of insurance from your moving company

Measure Everything—Twice!

One of the most common first-apartment mishaps is discovering that furniture won’t fit through doorways, stairwells, or elevators. To avoid this happening, make sure to measure:

Doorway widths and heights
Hallway widths and any tight corners
Elevator dimensions (if applicable)
The actual dimensions of your new rooms

Next, you’ll want to measure your furniture and compare the sizes. If you’re purchasing new furniture, make sure to do so before buying. Many first-time apartment dwellers discover too late that their dream sectional won’t make it up three flights of stairs.

Consider Professional Help

While DIY moving might seem like a budget-friendly option, apartment moves have unique complexities that professionals are equipped to handle. Professional movers are typically the safer and more efficient choice because they:

Have experience navigating tight spaces and stairs
Bring appropriate equipment for apartment moves
Protect common areas from damage
Save you time and potential injury
Often have city-sized trucks designed for urban environments

Protect Your New Space

First impressions matter—both with your new home and with your new neighbors. Proper protection prevents damage that could affect your security deposit.

Professional movers typically provide this service. At BMS Moving & Storage, we take care of all flooring, elevators, and indoor stair railings, as well as wrapping all of your not-boxed items in specialty quilted moving blankets.

Plan Your Loading Strategy

When moving into an apartment, the order you load your moving truck becomes crucial because it determines the unloading sequence.

You’ll always want to load in reverse order of priority:

Items going into storage
Seasonal items
Decorative items
Books and non-essential items
Bedroom furniture
Living room furniture
Kitchen essentials
Bathroom necessities
First night box (see below)

Keep in mind: If you’re working with BMS Moving & Storage, you won’t have to worry about remembering this step! We’ll do all the work for you.

Pack a First Night Box

Your first night in your new apartment should be celebratory, not stressful! In order to make this happen, pack a separate box or suitcase with as many of the following as you’ll need to be comfortable:

Toilet paper
Shower curtain
Towels
Bedding
Basic toiletries
Phone charger
Pajamas
Change of clothes
Essential medications
Basic cleaning supplies
Snacks and water
A celebratory beverage!

Small-Space Organization Strategies

Now that you’ve successfully moved in, the real challenge begins: organizing your belongings in your limited space. Here are expert strategies to maximize every square inch.

The 90-Day Rule

First apartments are notorious for quickly becoming overcrowded. Implement the 90-day rule: if you haven’t used an item in three months (excluding seasonal items), it’s time to reconsider its place in your home.

Create three categories:

Keep and display
Keep and store
Donate/sell

Be ruthless—small spaces require intentional curation.

Think Vertically

When floor space is limited, look up. Vertical storage solutions dramatically increase your usable space:

Floor-to-ceiling bookcases
Over-door organizers
Wall-mounted shelving
Hanging pot racks
Pegboards for accessories
High hooks for bicycles or sports equipment

Installing floating shelves above doorways, windows, and in other traditionally unused spaces can create storage that doesn’t encroach on your living area.

Embrace Multifunctional Furniture

In small apartments, every piece should earn its keep, ideally serving multiple purposes:

Storage ottomans (seating + storage)
Murphy beds (bed + floor space when not in use)
Nesting tables (expandable when needed)
Extendable dining tables
Sofa beds for guests
Coffee tables with storage compartments
Desks that convert to dining tables

Zone Your Space

Even studio apartments can feel organized when properly zoned. Create distinct areas for different activities using:

Area rugs to define spaces
Bookshelves as room dividers
Curtains for flexible divisions
Different lighting schemes
Varied color palettes

Each zone should have its own storage solutions tailored to its function.

Kitchen Organization for Minimal Spaces

Kitchens in first apartments are typically compact, but with strategic organization, they can be fully functional:

Magnetic strips for knives and metal tools
Tension rods under sinks for hanging cleaning supplies
Stackable containers for food storage
Door-mounted spice racks
Pot lids organized in file organizers
Utensil dividers in drawers
Over-cabinet hanging baskets

If counter space is minimal, invest in a rolling cart that can serve as additional prep space, kitchen storage, or even a makeshift bar for entertaining.

Closet Maximization Techniques

First apartment closets rarely match your storage needs. Multiply your space with:

Double hanging rods
Over-door shoe organizers
Vacuum-sealed bags for off-season clothes
Shelf dividers for folded items
Hooks on the inside of the door
Under-shelf baskets

Consider a seasonal rotation system, where off-season clothes are stored in under-bed containers, freeing up closet space for current needs.

Digital Organization Solutions

Don’t forget that digital solutions can help minimize physical clutter:

Scan important documents rather than storing paper
Use digital subscriptions instead of physical magazines/books
Consolidate entertainment to streaming services rather than DVDs/CDs
Take photos of sentimental items you don’t need to keep physically

When to Consider Storage Solutions

If you’ve implemented these strategies and still feel cramped, it might be time to consider off-site storage. BMS Moving and Storage offers storage solutions that can complement your apartment living.

We can take care of packing as little or as much of your space as you would like,” they note, emphasizing that they can “take care of all disassembly and reassembly of all your furniture and bulky items.”

External storage works particularly well for:

Seasonal items (holiday decorations, winter sports equipment)
Sentimental items you can’t part with but don’t need regular access to
Documents that must be kept but are rarely needed
Collections that have outgrown your space

The Emotional Aspect of Small Space Living

Finally, remember that your first apartment represents independence and personal growth. While the space may be small, it’s yours to shape into a home. Focus on:

Quality over quantity in your possessions
Experiences over accumulating things
Creating a space that supports your daily life
Making memories, not just storing stuff

With these organization strategies, you’ll be settled into a well-organized, functional first apartment that feels like home, no matter its size. Your first apartment might be small, but with these expert tips, it can feel spacious, organized, and perfectly suited to this exciting new chapter of your life.

Get a free quote today!