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I’ve lived in my Buffalo apartment for almost a year now! My lease actually started on July 1, 2025, but I didn’t move until August. Regardless, now that I’ve been here for a while, I’ve noticed the smaller purchases I made specifically for this space that have made a big difference.
No matter if you’re moving or looking to make changes in your home, here are the affordable essentials I’ve come to appreciate:
Rechargeable Wall Sconces | $50
In a studio, the overhead lighting simply illuminates the entire space at once. So, if you want lighting in one area, you need lamps or other options. Near my bed, I wanted to do something different, and NOT use my bedside tables to hold lamps (I’ve done that in the past and just find they take up the entire table).
So, I purchased a set of rechargeable wall sconces! These look like they came with the apartment, as there are no cords hanging down.
They come with a remote for each lamp, so I can easily turn them on or off while I’m in bed or across the room; they also have a timer if you just want to fall asleep with them on.
The bulb inside is what you charge, so I just remove that to charge it when I need to.
These come in all sorts of finishes, styles, and sizes. I got the gold finish with ivory shades, in the 24-inch size, for a more dramatic look!
Rechargeable Motion-Sensor Lighting | $22
My kitchen has overhead lighting, but I hate using that! I bought two packs (each pack had two lights) of rechargeable lights that come with the hardware to attach them anywhere. I put three of them under my kitchen cabinets and one of them inside my pantry.
These are dimmable (I keep mine on the brightest setting), but I love how they light up the moment I walk into the kitchen. They would be great in a bathroom or hallway for those moments when you need a little light but don’t want to turn on a huge light. I recharge them about once every 10 days, and it only takes a few hours to fully charge them.
Collapsible Wagon with Wheels | $70
I bought this wagon primarily to use during my actual move; I needed something I could put Kitty Blanche’s carrier in, along with all of her overnight items for the hotels each night.
However, I use this thing at least twice per week! I live in a building in the middle of downtown, and since I rely on public transportation, I get many things delivered.
So, I use my wagon to pick up my groceries, pet supplies, water, and anything else that’s left in the package room for me.
I’ve used it to load and unload luggage for my guests, and I often use it to take my garbage and recycling to the bins if the bags are too big for the chute.
It does collapse and fit easily into my closet, but I admittedly keep it out most of the time since I use it so often. It comes in several sizes and colors, but I got the black, XL (38.97″D x 22.83″W x 42.52″H).
Acrylic Cabinet Shelves | $37
My kitchen, thankfully, has a good amount of cabinet space. However, the cabinets are very tall! So, to maximize how much stuff they could hold, I bought some clear shelves. These made it possible to put items I use daily within reach, including plates, bowls, and coffee mugs. There are several in-cabinet shelving options out there, and while the clear ones are a little pricier ($37 for a 4-pack), I like how they look in the cabinet, which is worth it since I see it multiple times a day!
Slim Rolling Cart | $40
More storage! I have in-unit laundry (thankfully!), and it’s a washer and dryer stacked on top of each other in a closet that’s just for that.
Well, I measured the very little space around the unit and found there was enough room for a skinny rolling cart!
There’s a ton of these to choose from, but I let my measurements guide me to one that would fit (width-wise) and be as tall as possible to hold more things. The cart I got has five tiers, and the baskets pull out. I use the cart to hold my laundry detergent, dryer sheets, stain removers, and other household items, including cleaning supplies and tools.
Under Bed Storage | $27
I live in a studio apartment, and storage was my biggest concern. Once I’d unpacked everything, I still had several random things (photo albums, printing supplies, makeup bags, etc.) that needed a home. So, I bought a two-pack of under-the-bed boxes, and it took care of it. I like these because they are collapsible (maybe one day I won’t need them!) and they store a lot. They also zip all the way around, so it’s easy to reach in and get what I need.
Fun Ice Cube Trays | $15
I’m not sure if it’s common for this part of the country or just newer apartments, but this is the first place I’ve lived in that doesn’t have an ice maker!
I assume it’s part of the building’s eco-friendly certification, as ice makers run constantly. Either way, at first, I was a little alarmed by this… but a year in, it’s completely fine. I started with one regular ice cube tray, but quickly purchased some fun ones:
Round Ice Trays With Lid and Bin: This comes as a set of two, and the trays make round ball ice! The ice is a little smaller than a traditional cube, which is nice, and the trays are easy to use. It also comes with a clear bin for ice and a small pair of tongs.
Bear Ice Cube Tray Mold: These ice bears are so cute! There are other shapes available, but the bear shape comes out of the mold pretty nicely, and it creates a good size of ice, so it’s nice (and fun) for cocktails.
Bathroom Towel Hooks | $7
My bathroom had one hook, a hand towel ring, and a towel rod to start. I use the towel rod for decorative towels, so that really just left me with the single hook to hold my robe (big robe girl here), body towel, and hair towel. Not enough! So, I grabbed a two-pack of hooks (the matte black finish goes perfectly with the other black hardware in the apartment). They are a little tricky to install, but they are super sturdy once you get them there.
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