What Do I Need for My First Apartment: 13 Things, 3 to Skip
My cousin M moves into her first Astoria studio next week. What you actually need for your first apartment, and the three things every list tells you to buy but you should skip.
Renter-friendly DIY projects that won't cost your security deposit. Removable, reversible, and landlord-approved.
70 articles
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3 Promises Every Renter Needs
No wall damage · Landlord-approved · 100% reversible.
No-drill mounting, no nails, no holes. Walk out with your deposit.
What Do I Need for My First Apartment: 13 Things, 3 to Skip →Peel, patch, restore. Move out without leaving traces.
How to Furnish a Small Apartment Without Buying Things Twice →Improvements your landlord would actually thank you for.
How to Organize Office Furniture in a Rental Without Losing Your Deposit →Tools Across This Channel
Aggregated from 12 published articles. Buy the top 3 first — the rest you can borrow or skip.
- Hook 3× Essential
- Paint 3× Essential
- Adhesive 2× Essential
- Command strip 1× Recommended
- Cloth 1× Recommended
- Hammer 1× Optional
How to Furnish a Small Apartment Without Buying Things Twice
I furnished my 480 sq ft Brooklyn studio across six weekends. Here is how to furnish a small apartment so nothing fights the door or eats the deposit.
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How to Organize Office Furniture in a Rental Without Losing Your Deposit
I turned half my living room into a work corner in a Long Island City one-bedroom. Here is how to organize office furniture so it survives a roommate and move-out.
Patio Chair Replacement Parts: 4 Decisions Before You Buy
Three broken chair parts on my kitchen table. I had to decide between the $39 part and the $110 chair. Here is the decision and the $40 mistake renters make.
Vinyl Strapping for Patio Chairs: The 4 I Tested
Three of four patio chairs broke within three weeks. I tested 4 kinds of vinyl strapping on one chair in one November afternoon. Here is what survived July and which to buy.
Outdoor Furniture Parts: The 4 That Break First
The strap on my patio chair broke during dinner. My father-in-law caught the wine bottle and said the strap was the strap. He was wrong. Here are the 4 parts that break first.
How to Get Your Landlord to Make Repairs?
How to get your landlord to make repairs: a 7-step path from email to code enforcement, with the documents and the deadlines that work in most states.
What to Do If Your Landlord Does Not Return Your Security Deposit
What to do if your landlord does not return your security deposit? A renter got $1,900 back in 9 days with a certified letter. Here are the 5 steps and 5 illegal deductions.
Command Utility Hooks for Heavy Items: 4 Sizes Tested, 1 That Holds 15 Pounds
I tested 4 Command utility hook sizes from 3 lb up to 15 lb rated. Here is the 1 size that holds 15 pounds, the 2 that fail, and the wall prep that makes the difference.
Velcro Tabs vs Command Strips Heavy: 4 Tests, 1 Winner, 1 Failure Mode
I hung the same 5-pound jacket on Velcro tabs and Command strips heavy for 6 months. Here is the 4-test comparison, the 1 winner, and the 1 failure mode both products share.
How to Clean Suction Cups: 4 Methods, 1 Routine, and the 1 Cleaner That Destroys Them
I replaced my shower shelf 3 times before a plumber told me the cups were dirty. 4 cleaning methods, the 30-second routine, and 1 cleaner that destroys suction cups.
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How to Hang a Canvas Painting: 4 Methods Ranked, 1 Trick, and the 1 Mistake
My grandmother's oil painting tilted 20 degrees after a single nail. 4 hanging methods ranked, the two-nail trick, and the 1 mistake that pulls a stretcher bar loose.