21 helpful products we've bought for our apartments

Whether they’re all your own or you’re mooching off a friend or family member, having access to a handful of streaming services is the norm nowadays. The Fire TV Stick provides an easy-to-navigate “home base” for your Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and other streaming accounts. As a small device, it’s easy to take it on the go, too, so you can continue enjoying shows and movies on big screens wherever you have a TV. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

I've said it before, but these cheap vacuum bags are the best space-saving hack I've figured out yet for a small apartment. I fill the bags with seasonal or sentimental clothes (like big puffy jackets or nostalgic college T-shirts) and use a vacuum to suck out the air to a fraction of their typical size. They can be stacked inside empty suitcases to maximize your storage even more (or even used to travel if you're checking and don't mind more weight). — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

The trash can, for better or worse, is the first thing people see when they enter my apartment, and my rose gold one from Simplehuman makes a great first impression. It's stylish (can I say that about a trash can?), surprisingly compact given the amount of garbage it holds, and it has a convenient liner pocket that dispenses trash bags one by one from inside the can for a faster liner change. This is hands down the most well-designed trash can I've ever seen, and for me it is worth the high price. — Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor

I don't have the eye for interior design. Instead of spending way longer than necessary measuring and sketching out floor plans, I asked Modsy — a digital service where interior designers make a 3D replica of your space and fill it with shoppable items — to do the heavy lifting for me. This way, I already had layouts and design options to mull over before I moved in, and I got to actually see them in my new space using the digital Modsy program — which went a long way for me as someone who would otherwise have trouble conceptualizing it all together. It made moving and making the most of my space as stress-free as it's ever been. I recommend this to everyone. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I just ordered these smart plugs so I can control all the lights and appliances in my home — whether they're smart or not — using just my voice and Amazon's Alexa. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I’d say my kitchen has above-average countertop space and cabinet storage for a New York City apartment, but it's still not enough to store of all my pots and pans. I got this hanging pot rack from Cuisinart to free up some room and make my most used cookware easier to access. It requires power tools to install, but don’t let that deter you — it’s worth the effort. — Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor

I’ve wasted countless matches trying to light them up. After throwing away another pile of bad matches, I discovered the magic of rechargeable candle lighters, which are flame-less and use electricity to light your candle. It’s efficient and less wasteful, and the long neck, which can be rotated 360 degrees, is perfect for reaching into candles and fireplaces without hurting yourself. Now, you’d be hard-pressed not to find a lit candle when you visit my apartment. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

I put off buying an Echo for a long time, so I'm sure I could live without it — but now that I have one, I definitely wouldn't want to. It's one of the few tech accessories I use every day, for one reason or another. It's the most convenient way for me to get news updates and check the weather before I leave for work in the morning. It has even allowed me to use devices like my robot vacuum and air purifier at their full potential. The same way I need to have my phone when I leave home, I need to have an Echo Dot when I'm at home. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

Counterspace is always premium real estate in city kitchens, so when I found out I could add more by using Linon’s kitchen island, I was sold. The granite-topped island has four layers: A flat bottom layer for pots or pans, a four-bottle wine rack, a fruit and vegetable basket, and the countertop, which has a drawer. — Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor

After explaining that the Dyson heater I got to thaw my apartment this winter kept shorting out my electricity, a colleague recommended that I spend $20 on the Belkin surge protector. Now I can enjoy heat and all my living room gadgets without wincing every time I turn on a switch. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

This is my favorite piece of furniture in my apartment. It kills three birds with one stone: It looks great and fits the space well, it has hidden storage for random books, games, and blankets, and the pop-up top doubles as a makeshift workspace and my dinner table! — Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor

The quality of Amazon’s private-label furniture is surprisingly comparable to my higher-end pieces from West Elm and CB2. This floor lamp is beautiful in person with its matte black and brass contrast, and it’s very functional. It has two multi-directional shades — each with its own on/off switch — that let me adjust the amount of light and point it in multiple directions. And it only takes five minutes to assemble. — Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor

I have a lot of shoes — all in boxes — and they take up a substantial amount of space in my bedroom. Before buying two AmazonBasics four tier racks, I had stacks of shoes along the walls in my bedroom and it was a huge mess. Pulling one box from the middle or bottom of a stack was an almost guaranteed to cause boxes to topple over. With the racks, I can store most of my shoes without having to play Tetris every time I want to take a box down or put one away. As simple as they may be, these racks really helped me transform my room into a more organized and livable space. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

I'll admit — this robot vacuum isn't one I bought. It was sent to me for testing purposes when we were reviewing and comparing affordable robot vacuums. But after having lived with it for a few months, I can safely say I'll be buying it again if it ever dies. It clears all the ledges in my apartment, picks up incredible amounts of cat hair, and gives me back the five hours a week I used to spend vacuuming. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

The key to maximizing your space in an apartment is thinking vertically, which is why I’m such a fan of Household Essentials’ storage unit. It’s just under 18 inches wide, so each of its four levels gives me about a foot and a half of usable space, which is a lifesaver in my small place. — Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor

Having exhausted the tiny space under my sink, I turned to the walls to create extra storage space for all my skincare products. This sturdy stainless steel shelf looks pretty standard as far as shelves go, but what I really loved is that it didn’t require any tools to mount. It attaches securely to your wall with just adhesives and can hold a lot of weight. The shelf helped me instantly declutter the mess in my bathroom. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

My apartment doesn't seem to have any of the insulation that makes most living spaces habitable. Last winter, our electricity bill skyrocketed with the alternatives we were using to compensate. This tiny but effective heater was still a cringe-worthy $449 then, but it saved us hundreds of dollars over time by taking on the bulk of the work in our little two-bedroom. Just be careful to buy from an authorized seller rather than a third-party so your warranty works. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

This took me and a power drill a few hours to put together on my own, but it makes better use of prime real estate in a small apartment than the standard bookshelf (which costs the same if not more elsewhere). Since it has open shelving and thin metal rope partitions, it's also lighter and less obtrusive visually in a tight space.

Plus, it was great to get free shipping for something so massive (Overstock's cutoff is $45 for free shipping). Huge bonus for city-dwellers who don't have access to a car. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

When I first moved into my apartment, I went a few months without putting anything up on my walls. I finally got around to printing out photos of my friends, family, and travels, but didn’t want to go through the trouble and work of individually mounting them, so I got two of these wooden hanging displays instead. It’s light and easy to mount (I believe I just used Command strips on the backs), and can hold a ton of photos. Surrounding my space with my favorite pictures also makes the room feel more like home, and this display was an attractive way to make it happen. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Does anyone need a $300 vacuum? No, of course not. But you'll never look back if you get a Dyson. I bought mine (this corded upright model) five years ago and it’s still going strong. It sucks up every little bit of debris and all the cat hair scattered about my floors with ease. Even after years of frequent use, it's a little horrifying just how much it picks up every time I vacuum. — Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor