New Home Checklist Essentials
Moving into a new house, flat, or apartment comes with a lot of things to think about. One of the biggest things to do is to make sure that you have the right house essentials. You don’t need to get everything right away; you will be surprised to find out that there are some things you don’t need at all. Spend wisely and stick to what you need for your space at the moment. This checklist covers every home essential you may forget to think about in the middle of planning for the big move-in. Grab your pen and paper and dive into this checklist!
1. Kitchenware
- Pots and pans: One medium or large fry pan, one small pot, one large pot
- Oven safe dish: One medium or large size casserole dish
- Baking sheet: One large or medium cookie sheet
- Dishes: Plates and bowls (two of each)
- Flatware: Forks, knives, and spoons (two of each)
- Drinking glasses: Water glasses for four (can double as wine/beer glasses)
- Mug: Just one will suffice to start
- Knives: One serrated, one chef’s knife, one paring knife
- Cooking utensils: Spatula, large spoon
- Cutting board: One silicon, plastic, or wood board
- Oven mitts: One set
- Dish towels: Four to six
- Dish drying rack: (if no dishwasher)
- Garbage can
Things you can buy later: Toaster oven, microwave, food processor, cake pans, serving dishes, crockpot, or Instapot.
2. Cleaning Supplies
You might be surprised by how much you want to keep things in perfect order and spick and span when you’re finally living in your own space. Don’t allow the price of that fancy vacuum cleaner to get in your way. Make sure you’ve got the following:
- Garbage bags (kitchen size and small)
- Broom and dustpan
- Sponges (separate sets for dishes and cleaning)
- Soft rags and microfiber cloths
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Paper towels
- Bucket
- Mop (if you have hard surface floors)
- Handheld vacuum (sufficient until you can get something bigger)
- Bathroom cleaning spray
- Multi-purpose spray
- Wood cleaner (if you have wood surfaces)
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Baking soda and white vinegar
- Rubber gloves
- Hand soap
3. Sleep Essentials
- Sheets: One set to start is sufficient as long as you can trust yourself to wash them regularly. If not, get two.
- Pillows: One or two to start
- Comforter or duvet and duvet cover
- Lamp
- Storage: Dresser, plastic organizers, or under-the-bed containers
- Hangers for the closet
- Laundry hamper
Things you can buy later: Throw pillows, rug, bed frame, bedside table, curtains.
4. Bathroom Essentials
In addition to your basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, etc.), you’ll also need a few things to keep your bathroom organized and functional:
- Bath towels: Two to start
- Hand/face towels: Two to start
- Shower curtain and liner: (if necessary)
- Wall hook: (if not supplied)
- Toothbrush holder or case: (a simple plastic cup can get the job done; just wash it regularly)
- Bathmat
- Toilet brush
- Plunger
- Toilet paper
- Small trash can
Things you can buy later: Fancy soap dispenser, water cup, extra storage, shower speaker.
5. Furniture Essentials
Finally, onto the big things. Furniture is what makes the home attractive and is one of the essentials everyone will notice as soon as they step into your home. You can put off buying some of these items until you have the money for them or find a great deal in-store or online:
- Sofa
- Coffee table
- Small dining room table and chairs
- Additional lighting (if your budget isn’t enough to cover the above, get a cheap floor lamp on day one if the lighting is an issue)