Essential Items for Your New Home

When you’ve made the move into your first home or apartment, and you’re ready to get comfortable and nest a little, you’ll probably remember to get the major items like a bed or a sofa. But where do you start with the rest of it? There are so many little things that might not come to mind immediately. This checklist of essential items for your new home will get you started and settled easily.

Keys and Locks

First thing’s first: change or re-key your locks. Family, friends, neighbors, and who knows who else probably had copies of the keys thanks to the previous owners, so change them right away. Deadbolts cost more but are undeniably safer.

Kitchen

The kitchen is typically the nerve center of the house, so don’t neglect it. You’ll need a table and chairs, dishes, cutlery, glasses, and cups. Cookware and other tools including saucepans, a frying pan, a baking dish, potholders, a spatula, a ladle, a colander, serving bowls, a cutting board, a set of knives, a vegetable peeler, and salt and pepper shakers. Assuming the larger appliances are already in place, you may still need a blender, a toaster, and a microwave oven. And don’t forget the garbage can, sponges, dish towels, dish soap, cleaning supplies, and a fire extinguisher. If you need to get your hands on a complete set of housewares fast, you can rent them in sets.

Bedroom

The bedroom is probably the room you’ll want to set up first. There you’ll need a bed and pillows, and linens including sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and a comforter or bedspread. You’ll also want a nightstand, a lamp, and possibly a mirror. For your clothes, you’ll need hangers, a hamper, and a chest of drawers. Remember to keep your bedroom private with blinds or curtains.

Bathrooms

Most of the key elements of your bathroom will already be there, but you’ll still need to bring a shower curtain and rings, a bath mat, a rug for the floor, a waste basket, plenty of towels and a rack for hanging them. Don’t forget to purchase cleaning supplies, and possibly first aid supplies (they need to go somewhere, and the bathroom is the logical choice in most homes).

Living Room

In the main gathering area your first priority is ample seating for everyone, so you’ll need a sofa, chairs, love seats, and coffee and side tables to go with them. You’ll also need lighting, possibly stands for a television or other electronics, and blinds or curtains for the windows. Finish the room with throw rugs, decorative pillows and wall hangings.

Laundry and Utility Room

Hopefully, your home already has a washer and dryer, but if not, your laundry room won’t be functional without them. Other essentials include a hamper, detergent, fabric softener, bleach, an ironing board, and any other laundry supplies you need. This room is also a good place to keep basic tools and supplies including a hammer, nails, hooks and other hardware, flat head and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, a broom and dustpan, extra light bulbs, duct tape, batteries, a flashlight, and candles.

Outdoors

Outside you’ll need at least one garden hose, and possibly sprinklers or sprayer head attachments. Depending on what your yard is like, you may also need a lawnmower, a weed-whacker, a rake, a hoe, a watering can, a trowel, a push broom, a wheelbarrow, and a shovel for working on projects and cleaning up. If you plan on entertaining in your outdoor space, you’ll also want lawn chairs, a barbecue grill (even just a small charcoal grill is a great place to start), and patio furniture with an umbrella.

Keeping it Together

The simple act of moving is itself very stressful. No wonder it’s so easy to forget about so many different details! Fortunately, there are ways to make the process easier. It’s possible to rent a complete home package that’s both stylish and thoroughly planned, down to the last detail. Contact Fashion Furniture for more information about making your transition into your new home easier and less stressful.