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Top 5 must have items for apartment dwellers

A lack of space is usually one of the constraints of apartment living. Before buying a new item, you first have to consider its size since you lack real estate for storage. Living in a smaller space could also mean that you must have long-lasting and multi-purpose items. Another factor to consider is the convenience of technology or design. Even if it serves its purpose, will it be convenient to operate or use? To help you a bit, I prepared a list of must-have items to consider if you do happen to live in an apartment. 

Some of the items here work better in smaller spaces and are very helpful in low-rise to high-rise apartment complexes. This list is in random order so it is up to you to figure out which one will be most helpful. Now, on to our list.


1. An Air fryer

I cannot stress this enough. I live in an apartment and my air fryer is my lifeline! It is so convenient and cooks deliciously! Cooking in an air fryer also cuts back on calories and fats according to multiple sources (no oil used) which makes it a healthier choice than pan-frying. With the right air fryer setting, I rarely burn my food accidentally. 


The one I have consistently ranked in the top 10 among the best air fryers in existence. With just a bit of preparation and a press of a button (or screen using the app), you'll have a perfectly home-cooked meal in a few minutes. I just let it do its magic and come back when it's done. You can even bake on this one! It fits on any kitchen countertop, matches the color of most appliances, and saves money on electricity (per food weight against an oven).



I use this almost every day to save myself a few calories and most of all, TIME.

Note: Having an air fryer is a bonus but you don't want to completely remove some healthy oils like avocado oil and olive oil from your diet. 


2. A Portable Folding Wagon

If you live in an apartment, you MUST have one of these. Go buy one right now if you don't have one yet. This will save you a ton of time and energy. If you buy your groceries in bulk and you live on the top floor, this one is your best friend. I mean even your best friend won't carry your groceries for you, right?



Please don't use this to carry your child home. It is not safe for children.


I use it to carry my groceries, tools, and pretty much anything my hands can't carry back to my apartment. It is rated to carry loads of up to 150 lbs and has a powder-coated metal frame to protect it from rust. What I like the most about this is that it is compact enough to fit in the trunk of my compact car. Personally, its durability, compactness, and overall usefulness made this the best choice for apartment dwellers.


3. A Foldable Laptop Table

Some of us don't have a kitchen table and only have a kitchen aisle. For bigger families, having a kitchen table is very important but for couples or singles living in an apartment, a kitchen table would only take up valuable space. Here comes a laptop table to the rescue! Since most of us do have a coffee table that tends to be low, an adjustable laptop table can be used as a table replacement when eating, reading, or even working when placed on top of a sturdy coffee table. But always make sure you have proper back and lumbar support if you plan on using it for hours. Or use it to elevate your laptop and work standing.



I use this for reading, gaming, and even working. 

Even as a breakfast table, this won't disappoint.


I highly recommend this because of its surface size and height adjustment. To be sure, measure the height of your coffee table or any lower table you plan on putting this on. Then add approximately 24 cm which is the minimum height range of this laptop table to ensure the total height is good for you when sitting. 


Also, this table is made of lightweight materials (such as aluminum and plastic) for mobility around your apartment. I have been using mine for almost a year now and still looks brand new. I believe this laptop table is perfect for anyone.


4. A Smart-Home Hub 

Living in an apartment must mean that you advocate a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. I mean, not worrying about cutting grass or shoveling snow is such a blessing already. Adding in the convenience of having plenty of amenities just around the block is a huge plus as well.


Then most of us already have these smart-home hubs like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. They come in all shapes and sizes now. From smart clocks to speakers, to mirrors. Amazon and Google sell these like pancakes. Using your voice (or an app), you can command them to turn on a light, a tv, and even a door lock. Of course, you still have to buy these devices that connect to the hub. The ones I have are from Amazon (a speaker and a clock). 



Alexa, are you friends with Siri?


They can even tell jokes and read your favorite books(e-books). Alexa has more skills (forecasting the weather, reading the news, and much more) than Google Assistant but healthy competition won't hurt. It will only improve these digital assistants for the better. Smart hubs are smart enough to even recognize your voice and track your habits. If you want full voice (or an app) control of your apartment, having a smart hub is a must.


Of course, we can't forget about Apple's Siri and other almost-AI hubs that talk back (in a good way). 


5. A Robot Vacuum


In connection to the smart-home hub set-up, these robots are a must nowadays. If you have a pet, then this could be beneficial for cleaning pet hair. Just make sure you have a potty-trained pet or else it might get really messy (yes, you're imagining it right). If you don't have a pet then it's much better, you'll have one that cleans your house and doesn't make too much noise at night (it charges while asleep). Also, these robots aren't too pricey anymore and even the cheapest one can still do a pretty good job cleaning a decent-sized apartment. In order to maximize these robots, you want to have flat floors (most apartments do) so the robot is free to roam around unobstructed by so-called cliffs or elevated terrain like stairs. They don't have legs yet so they can't jump/skip up or down. 



My iRobot Roomba 675 is still in top condition


I have an iRobot Roomba 675 which I bought on sale and I must say, it's been really great having the little buddy around. I don't have things on the floor (most of the time) and most of my furniture has legs so the robot can clean underneath. I also have the bedrooms open all the time so it can clean the whole place for about an hour and a half before sleeping to charge up. I have a cleaning schedule for it so it cleans my place when I am at work. It is so durable that it already sucked (for real) a bunch of my stuff left lying on the floor like my USB cables, shoelaces, and even clothes. I was able to retrieve them intact with no damage to the culprit or even to the victims! Now, that is a testament to its build quality and sucking power (I can't think of a better word)! 


Having these items at home definitely makes living in an apartment more enjoyable and convenient. Do more research about these if you are not convinced yet but these items are worth your time to look into. Those who know me, they would agree that I am one of those who push the boundary of convenience and comfort. Plus, I own all of them so I believe this increases my qualification to recommend these products. Cheers!


Featured Image Sources: mohamed Hassan via Pixabay, Canva Template

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