So, you’re moving into your first apartment? Exciting! But let’s be real—it’s also a little (okay, a lot) expensive. Between rent, furniture, and all the little things you didn’t even think about (wait, I need a trash can?!), the costs add up fast!
Now comes the fun (and slightly overwhelming) part—filling it with everything you need. But before you blow your budget on fancy home goods, let me introduce you to your new BFF —Dollar Tree.
If you think you need to spend a fortune to make your apartment feel like home, think again. Dollar Tree is a magical land where you can find everything from kitchen gadgets to home organization—all for just $1.25 each! (seriously you guys, it’s like Christmas morning every time I walk in the place!)
So, grab a cart and let’s dive into this ultimate Dollar Tree first apartment essentials list to help you stock up on first apartment essentials Dollar Tree style!
🏠 Kitchen Must-Haves
Your kitchen might not have a Michelin star, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be stocked with the essentials! Dollar Tree has kitchen gear that works just as well as the pricey stuff.
✔ Plates, Cups & Bowls – Real ceramic ones, people! Not flimsy paper plates. Your guests will never know they came from Dollar Tree.
✔ Silverware & Cooking Utensils – You’re an adult now. It’s time to stop eating ramen with a plastic spork.
✔ Food Storage Containers – Don’t cry over spilled salt – these containers will keep your cupboards crumb and powder free!
✔ Pots & Pans Scrubbers – Because we both know you’re gonna burn something eventually.
✔ Coffee Mugs & Travel Cups – Whether you’re sipping tea like royalty or chugging coffee like a zombie, Dollar Tree has your back.
These pink tinted glasses look so expensive.
💡Pro Tip💡
Keep an eye out for Betty Crocker kitchen tools – yup, the Betty Crocker.
Apparently, she’s ditched the high-end life and is living at Dollar Tree now. I nearly dropped my whisk in shock – Martha Stewart would never!
🛏️ Bedroom Basics
Your bedroom should be cozy, organized, and (most importantly) not a black hole where socks and sanity disappear forever.
Because let’s be real—if you can’t find your keys, your charger, or that one good hoodie, is it even a bedroom or just a well-decorated disaster zone? 🤷♀️
✔ Storage Bins & Baskets – Keep your room from looking like a tornado hit it.
✔ Hangers – Unless you prefer the “pile everything on a chair” method (hey no judgment here).
✔ Over-the-Door Hooks – The perfect hack for small spaces—hang your towels, bags, or clothes without drilling holes in the walls.
Over the door hooks for bedrooms and bathrooms are a life saver!
✔ LED Nightlights – Because stubbing your toe on furniture in the dark is not a vibe.
✔ Under-the-Bed Storage Bags – Hide your off-season clothes, extra blankets, or snack stash.
Plastic storage bins literally anywhere else are SOOO expensive…. not at Dollar Tree!
💡Pro Tip💡
Grab those basic Dollar Tree baskets and give them a glow-up with spray paint! Want a chic, modern vibe? Go for matte black or metallic gold.
Dreaming of farmhouse-style? A quick coat of white chalk paint will do the trick.
It’s the ultimate boujee-on-a-budget hack – for just a few bucks, you’ll have Pinterest-worthy storage that looks straight out of a designer home store (without that designer price tag).
Your friends will think you spent big money, but you’ll know the truth—you’re just a DIY genius with a can of spray paint hun! 😉
🛁 Bathroom Must-Haves
A bathroom without essentials is just a sad, empty room with a toilet. Without the right basics, your bathroom feels more like a gas station restroom than a cozy, functional space.
But don’t worry—Dollar Tree has everything you need to turn that empty room into a fresh, organized, and guest-ready oasis—for just a few bucks!
✔ Shower Curtain & Hooks – Yes, you need one unless you want to flood your entire bathroom.
✔ Bath Towels & Washcloths – Stock up so you’re not using the same towel for a week straight.
✔ Toothbrush Holders & Soap Dispensers – Because leaving your toothbrush on the sink is kind of gross.
✔ Peel-and-Stick Trash Can – My fave! Stick it right behind the door, under your sink. Great for make-up wipes, Q-Tip’s, etc.
✔ Cleaning Supplies – Scrub your tub before it starts growing a personality.
💡Pro Tip💡
Speaking of “Pinterest worthy”, go snag yourself some Dollar Tree glass jars and turn your bathroom into a Pinterest-worthy spa!
These little gems are perfect for storing cotton balls, bath salts, Q-tips, or even hair ties—because let’s be real, those things vanish faster than the sock monster on laundry day.
One minute you have 20 hair ties, the next? Poof! Gone. Probably hanging out with all your missing bobby pins in some mysterious alternate dimension. 🤷♀️
Keep them locked down in a cute Dollar Tree glass jar and finally win the battle against the great hair tie heist!
These bamboo lid jars are perfect for hair ties, makeup pads and more!
Want to level up? Label them with a cute font, tie a ribbon around the lid, or add some twine for that rustic, “I totally have my life together” aesthetic.
OMG, your bathroom will look so fancy, guests will assume you spent a fortune at some overpriced home store—but nope, just good ol’ Dollar Tree magic! ✨
I swear. They’ve got to change their name to “Magic Tree”!
🛋️ Living Room Finds
A living room should be cozy and cute—without costing a fortune.
✔ Throw Pillow Covers – Transform boring pillows without spending $20+ per pillow.
These pillows were a super fun (and quick!) DIY project.
Like my throw pillows? Ha! Would you guess they’re Dollar Tree placemats! Make them yourself, its so easy.
Here’s how:
DIY Dollar Store Placemat Pillows
Want to make stylish pillows on a budget? Use Dollar Store placemats! Here’s how:
What You’ll Need:
✔ Fabric placemats (from the dollar store)
✔ Hot glue gun & glue sticks (or fabric glue)
✔ Pillow stuffing (from a fabric store or an old pillow)
✔ Scissors (optional)
Instructions:
✅ Match up two placemats – Place them on top of each other, making sure the edges line up.
✅ Glue three sides together – Use a hot glue gun (or fabric glue) to seal three edges of the placemats. Leave one side open.
✅ Stuff the pillow – Fill the open side with pillow stuffing until it’s nice and fluffy.
✅ Seal the last side – Glue the open edge shut, pressing firmly to secure it.
Done! You just made a chic, budget-friendly pillow in minutes—no sewing required!
✔ Picture Frames – DIY a gallery wall without maxing out your budget.
✔ Faux Plants & Vases – Add some greenery without the risk of accidental plant murder.
✔ LED Candles – Romantic glow without the fire hazard. (Or the risk of forgetting to blow them out.)
✔ Command Hooks & Strips – Renters, rejoice! Hang stuff without making holes in the walls.
💡Pro Tip💡
Grab some Dollar Tree fairy lights and wrap them around mirrors, shelves, or even your bed frame for instant cozy vibes. ✨
Want your apartment to look like a Pinterest dream without the Pinterest price tag?
……and BOOM! Done like dinner.
These tiny twinkling lights make any space feel magical, like you’re living in a rom-com montage or a super aesthetic TikTok.
Plus, they’re the perfect solution for bad overhead lighting—because let’s be honest, some apartments have the ambiance of a hospital waiting room. 😬
Soft, warm fairy lights? Ahhhhhh, Instant upgrade.
🧺 Cleaning & Organization Hacks
A clean apartment = a happy apartment. Dollar Tree has all the tools you need to keep your space looking fresh.
✔ Drawer Organizers – No more “junk drawer disasters.”
Check out my “drawer organizers” compliments of – you guessed it – Dollar Tree!
✔ Spray Bottles – DIY your own cleaning sprays and save major cash.
✔ Shelf Liners – Keep cabinets clean while adding a pop of color!
✔ Laundry Baskets & Hampers – Because laundry piles are not home decor.
✔ Storage Cubes – Fit perfectly into those trendy cube shelves.
💡Pro Tip💡
Slap somecute labels on yourDollar Tree bins and suddenly, you’ve got asuper organized, Instagram-worthy storage system—fornext to nothing!
No more digging through random piles of stuff like you’re on a treasure hunt (or an episode of Hoarders). With some chalkboard labels, printable stickers, or even a Sharpie, you can turn chaos into “I totally have my life together” vibes.
Bonus: Your friends will think you hired a professional organizer, but nah—justDollar Tree and a little DIY magic.
Now go forth and label everything in sight! 😆
Everything in the picture above is from Dollar Tree (except the Tide!)! What a gorgeous Dollar Tree laundry room organization idea.
Budget-Friendly Dollar Tree First Apartment Essentials for Just $1.25!
You could spend hundreds of dollars at big-box stores… or you could hit up Dollar Tree and get everything you need for a fraction of the price. 💸
So, stock up on kitchen tools, storage bins, cleaning supplies, and even home décor for just $1.25 each! Because realistically we don’t need high-end stores when Dollar Tree has Betty Crocker utensils, cute glass jars, and organization hacks that, well, actually work!
Feel like an adult without spending like one. Fill your cart, spend less, and make your apartment look amazing—for the price of one fancy coffee. ☕
✔ Budget-friendly – First apartment = tight budget. Every dollar saved counts.
✔ Surprising quality – Don’t sleep on Dollar Tree’s hidden gems. Some finds are just as good as name brands.
✔ Aesthetic on a budget – You’d be shocked at how many Dollar Tree finds look high-end with a little DIY magic.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your shopping list, hit up Dollar Tree, and turn your apartment into a cozy, stylish, and organized space—without spending a fortune!
My Favorite Dollar Tree Home Décor Idea
I couldn’t sign off without sharing my favorite Dollar Tree finds that made this masterpiece happen! Everything in this look came from Dollar Tree—yes, really! (Well… except the shoes. Even Dollar Tree has its limits! 😆)
6 cube shelf, storage bins, the fake plant, even the wall hanging! All for under $20.
👉 So tell me! Which first apartment essentials Dollar Tree finds are your must-haves?
⬇️ Drop a comment below! ⬇️
