For first-time homeowners, nothing can be more exciting than moving into your new place. This excitement is quickly followed by the challenge of furnishing your new house. By adding your personal items into the house, you can truly transform it into a home. This can be exciting, but overwhelming at the same time. This is why you need a first house checklist to help you get organized.
The last thing you want is to cramp everything into the moving truck only to find out you have missed a couple of extremely important items on your moving day. If you are at this stage of your moving preparation, then you have come to the right place. This entry lists all the things you need for your big move so you don’t forget anything essential.
The kitchen is probably the place in your house where you will need most of the items. The checklist is broken down into categories to make your life easier:
Blender and food processor
Coffee maker
Electric grill
Refrigerator
Rice cooker
Slow cooker
Toaster, oven, and microwave
Chair
Stools
Table
Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or you’re excited to explore the wonderful world of cooking in your new place, there are things you simply cannot do without.
Baking Dish
Baking Sheets
Dutch Oven
Frying Pan
Large Stockpot
Non-Stick Skillet
Roasting Pan
Saucepan
Sauté Pan
Wok
Obviously, you need to prepare your food and ingredients before cooking. Here are your must-have kitchen tools.
Apron
Can opener
Cutting board
Cutting knives – a knife set for different types of cutting, slicing, chopping, etc.
Drip tray or drying rack
Meat thermometer – incredibly versatile, can be used for almost any type of cooking, food, and ingredients
Parchment paper – saves you time from cleaning and scrubbing baking pans
Pizza pan
Scrubber
Some of these are items that you will be using every day, so make sure to have them on your list.
Bottle opener
Colander
Measuring cups
Mixing bowls
Oven mitts
Rolling pins
Salt and pepper shakers
Spatula – a set of spatulas for different types of cooking, wooden and/or silicone
Sealable food containers
Tongs
Whisks
Plates
Cutlery
Bread knife and steak knives
Glasses and mugs
Drawer organizer (to organize your utensils)
Food trays and serving platters
Water pitcher
Lemon squeezer
Paper towels and napkins
Salad spinner
Tea kettle
Tenderizer
Consider taking some time to pick the essential items for your dining room. Most people skimp on this area, but the truth is, you will probably spend more time in your dining room than you expect.
Dining room table and chairs
Table mats, runners, and table cloth
Chair felts
Most bathrooms are usually already kitted out before you move in (shower and/or bath, toilet, sink, etc.). Obviously, these aren’t enough. You will need:
Bathroom mat
Luffa
Shower curtain and linker
Shower rod and hooks
Soap, shampoo, conditioner
Toilet brush, toilet roll and holder
Toilet paper
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Towels (hand towel, face towel, bath towel)
Trash bin
Your bathroom also doubles as storage for basic cleaning items and other essentials, including:
Bathroom spray
Bleach
Bucket
Drain snake
First-aid kit
Glass cleaner
Plunger
Sink plug
Tile cleaner, limescale remover
You don’t really need a bunch of items for your living room before moving, especially larger items, as this can make moving difficult and more expensive. You can keep it to the bare minimum, which includes:
Coffee table
Couch or sofa
Throw pillows and throw blankets
TV
Battery for the remote
TV mount or cabinet
Obviously, you need your bed, pillows, and blankets. But if you want to be more comfortable, then you will need:
Alarm clock
Bedding cover, comforter, and pillowcases
Bedside table and bedside lamp
Chest of drawers
Mirrors
Wardrobe
Window curtains
For your bedroom closet, you will need:
Clothes organizer
Hangers
Jewelry and accessory organizer
Storage bins
This is one of the most overlooked and forgotten spaces, yet it’s actually one of the most important areas in your home that require some essentials.
A place to sit
Coat rack and hangers
Shoe rack
Welcome mat
While there will probably not be many things that need to be cleaned in your new house, you will eventually have to clean it. And of course, you will need to wash the dishes, clothes, clean the kitchen sink, bathroom, etc. Here are basic things you need to have:
Brush and dustpan
Detergent (powder or liquid for your washing machine)
Fabric softener
Feather duster
Floor cleaner
General disinfectant
Iron and ironing board
Kitchen and bathroom spray
Mop and bucket
Sponges and scrubbers (microfiber is best for dust)
Vacuum cleaner
Washing-up liquid
Wiping cloth
Computer set, laptop
Desk and office chair
Desk lamp
Filing Cabinet
Ink Cartridges
Paper clips and stapler
Pencils and pens
Post-its
Printer and printer Paper
Speaker
Tape
Whiteboard and whiteboard marker
Here are a few more things you need to secure your home:
Alarm system
Door brace
Fire blanket
Fire extinguisher
Glass break sensors
Security camera
Smoke detector
Torch
Window sensors
Batteries
Cordless drill
Flashlights
Extension cords
Extra light bulbs
Hammer
Ladder
Pliers
Scissors
Screws and screwdrivers (flat and Phillips’s heads)
Duct tapes
There you have it, the comprehensive first house checklist! As exciting as this day might seem for you when you finally move in, make sure that stress is not part of the experience. Nothing beats preparedness when it comes to getting your new home ready. With this checklist, you have everything you need to make furnishing your home as effortless as possible.
The sooner you can get things ready, the sooner you can get settled into your new place.