Graduation season is upon us, which brings excitement and the opportunity for new grads to start planning a move to a new apartment. If you are a recent graduate, congratulations!
Moving into your first apartment is a huge milestone and an opportunity to make space truly your own. Long gone are the days of dorm rooms and pre-furnished college housing. Now is a chance to reflect on your design aesthetic, while still staying within a tight budget many recent college grads are confined to.
Below I have compiled a few of my favorite must-haves for a first apartment, giving you the necessary inspiration you need when cultivating a mature and well-put-together space.
Bring in the Microwave Oven
A microwave oven is the ultimate must-have for any new apartment. Odds are you will be reheating a lot of leftovers those first few months of living in your new apartment, so a trustworthy microwave oven is an absolute essential. We love a microwave oven that we can trust when heating my favorite snacks as well; that’s why I use my Sharp SMC1449FS Smart Countertop Microwave Oven. This model provides the ultimate popcorn experience, perfect if you are a snack lover like us! The Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Oven (SMC1449FS) has over 70 Alexa Voice Commands. This includes things from “Alexa, Reheat Dinner Plate” (because you know mom’s home-cooked meals always find their way back), to “Alexa, defrost meat”. For a full list of the commands, check them out here.
In addition to the 70+ Alexa commands, the Quick and Accurate Defrosting on the Sharp Countertop Smart Microwave. Wondering how it works? Auto Defrost regulates the power to accurately and automatically defrost by time or weight. What is even better is that it works on foods greater than the typical microwavable meals. Take the guesswork out of thawing most foods including meat, poultry, and fish. The Precise Cook Sensor Technology automatically adjusts the cooking time. Makes cooking fast, easy and worry-free. Want to see for yourself? Check out @mamainthekitchen on TikTok to see how they utilized the microwave features to their advantage (and more importantly, the tasty outcome they got!)
@mamainthekitchen #SharpHome #SharpHomeUSA #Ad #SimplyBetterLiving #foodtiktok #easyrecipe @sharphomeusa @alexa99
I know that I am an affluent frozen food connoisseur and I am always looking for new tasty snacks to quickly heat up, make sure to share your favorite microwave oven-friendly recipe with us on Instagram by tagging @SharpHomeUSA and using the hashtag #SharpHome.
Incorporate an Area Rug
A quick and easy way to transform a new apartment into a home is by adding a colorful printed area rug. This is what I told myself when I moved into my new apartment (as I purchased 4 of them in one day). I have noticed bright Aztec-print-inspired area rugs popping up everywhere lately, and it has quickly become one of my favorite design trends. These rugs will brighten up any space and reflect a fun environment and hide any unwanted scratches from moving in your new furniture.
Build Up Your Gallery Wall
One of my all-time favorite design trends is a gallery wall. When placed in a living or bedroom, a gallery wall gives anyone the perfect way to express their design aesthetic. What’s great about a gallery wall is it’s 100% customizable, and as a bonus, you can swap out prints every few months when you want to change up your space! When I was first building out my collection, to say I was overwhelmed is an understatement.
I found that when I printed a few pictures out each week, this type of project became much more manageable. After all, you need to make sure that all of your loved ones get a unique feature on the wall of fame.
