Congratulations on your first home! This is undoubtedly a stressful time, full of uncertainties and lists galore. But moving into your house is also nothing short of exciting; once you’re moved in the fun begins and you get to create your own perfect space.
With so much to remember, from changing your address, redirecting your mail and updating personal information, it’s easy to see how the must-haves and must-dos get missed. We’ve compiled a first home essentials checklist to help guide you through your big move and plan what you need to make a house a home.
DECLUTTER WHILST PACKING TO MOVE
There’s no need to pack things you’re likely to throw out once you’re in your new home. Packing gives you a great opportunity to sort through your items (especially the under the bed and back of the cupboards - we’re all guilty) and throw out belongings that no longer spark joy, serve a purpose or is just rubbish waiting to be binned.
Not only will decluttering and cleaning your belongings whilst packing make unpacking a less laborious task, it gives you the opportunity to consider the furnishing, decoration and style you want to have in your new home. This allows you to collate items, both new and old, to create a unique and personal style in your first home.
Miscellaneous items we suggest organising and working through include:
- Paperwork including old bills - keep what’s important such as contracts, recent bills and sentimental notes, but consider throwing away or filing years-old paperwork and out of date letters.
- Decorative items - again, keep what is sentimental, important or what suits your aesthetic, but consider throwing away tired looking items such as old photoframes, posters and lampshades.
- Old clothes and fabrics - clothes with holes and stains? Bobbled childhood or dated bedding? Consider donating good quality clothes and textiles and repurposing or recycling the rest.
Decluttering and cleaning has many mental health benefits and gives you an opportunity to practise mindfulness, slow down and ease the mind. Learn more about the benefits of cleaning for your mental health here and how you can incorporate these benefits into your everyday life.
BEDROOM ESSENTIALS LIST
Assuming you’re taking a bed you already own, you won’t need an awful lot more to make your room a sanctuary of relaxation and rest. If you’re deciding to get a new bed for your new home, we suggest either ordering it to your new home for the day you move in or carving out some time during the day to purchase a new bed frame and mattress.
BEDDING AND PROTECTORS
Whether you’ve got a bed or are purchasing a new one, you’ll also need pillows, a duvet and bedding to craft the ultimate cosy bedroom setting. Bedding is a great item to invest in as it can last you years, impacts the quality of rest and sleep and has an overall impact on your mental and physical health.
It’s worth purchasing a high quality duvet with a tog that is suitable for all-year-round use, as well as a mattress protector and pillow protecters to help them stay clean. These protectors can be taken off and washed regularly, for example when you change your bedding.
For bed linen, you’ll want to invest in pieces that are soft, long lasting and beautiful on the eye. Whether you want a bed set with character, charm and colour or a bed set that is a plain canvas and gives the feel hotel luxury, we have a wide collection of high quality bedding perfect for new home owners.
WARDROBE AND BEDROOM STORAGE
If you’re moving into a home that benefits from built in wardrobe storage then a wardrobe won’t be at the top of your priority list, however if you’re moving into a blank canvas, you’ll need a wardrobe early on.
By purchasing a wardrobe early on, you allow yourself the space to organise your clothes and other fabrics (such as bedding and towels) and unpack quicker, helping you settle in. Like buying a new bed, we suggest ordering large furniture pieces to the new home on the day of arrival, or as close to the date as possible after moving in.
Underbed storage is another must have for those who are moving into a new home. Storing items under the bed is an amazing way to utilise space and keep your belongings out of sight and out of mind - whilst being more accessible than storing them in the loft.
High priority bedroom list:
- A bed frame and mattress
- Matress and pillow protectors
- Bed linen sets
- Wardobe and bedroom storage
BATHROOM ESSENTIALS LIST
Bathroom linens make great move in gifts, so if you’re asking for friends and family to help you collect the essentials for your new home, be sure to add these to your list! How much you’ll need will depend on how many people there are living in the house and how many bathrooms you have, but you’ll need at least 2 of each of the following items.
TOWELS
If you’re living on your own, you’ll need at least 2 bath towels or bath sheets for use after a bath or shower, 2 - 4 hand towels to keep on rotation (good to have one or two in storage whilst one is in use and the other is waiting to be cleaned), and 4 or more face towels to see you through the week. Investing in high quality towels will mean they last longer, stay soft and absorbent use after use and add a beautiful, luxurious touch to your bathroom.
No matter how you want to decorate your bathroom, we have soft cotton towels that you’ll fall head over heels for. The Christy Supreme Hygro towels come in an array of colours, from soft neutrals to pops of colour ranging from warm to cool tones. Our towels come in a range of sizes, from face cloths to bath sheets so you can have a matching set to add to that luxury feel. Some of our towels even come with matching bath mats!
BATH MATS AND RUGS
There’s nothing worse than stepping out of a relaxing bath or refreshing shower and standing on a cold, hard and dry bathroom floor. Bath mats are crucial for keeping your bathroom clean, tidy and free from post shower or bath puddles. We recommend having at least 2 bath mats or rugs available, so whilst you’re using one the other can be in storage.
Not only are bath mats and rugs functional, but they also add softness to an otherwise hard space and work to tie in colours within the bathroom. Whether you like a short pile, textured bath mat or a deep pile plush bath mat, it’s important to add these into your bathroom.
High priority bathroom list:
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS LIST
For many households, the kitchen is considered the heart of the home and the hub of the hussle and bustle of home life. As such a prominent space inside the home, you’ll certainly notice when something is missing!
Here’s our list of must-have essentials for a functional starting point for your first kitchen:
LARGE KITCHEN APPLIANCES
Arguably the most important part of a kitchen, white goods are high priority items when it comes to furnishing a kitchen. White goods are large kitchen appliances, and in rented properties they’re usually included, however when buying a property there’s a chance you’ll need to supply these yourself.
You’ll want to ensure you have these for when you move it, or at least within a few days of moving in. Every kitchen will need a fridge at the very least, and most households will want a freezer, too. A full sized or american fridge-freezer are firm favourites across many UK households as they offer an all-in-one solution for fridge and freezer food storage.
As well as a fridge and/or freezer, you’ll want a washing machine! Some choose to keep their washing machines in a utility room or pantry space, and others have space for a washing machine under their counters in the kitchen. If you’re in the market for a tumble dryer, you can opt for a washing-dryer machine combo to save space.
Another optional but much-loved appliance across households is a dishwasher. Of course you can live without one, but for some, the thought of washing up night after night is something they would rather live without. If you’re short of space but still want to invest in a dishwasher for your kitchen, you can purchase compact dishwashers.
High priority large white goods list:
- Fridge and freezer or a fridge freezer combo
- Dishwasher
- Clothes washer or washer-dryer combo
SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES
It’s easy to go wild when adding cool kitchen technology to your home, but we highly recommend starting with these three key pieces. If you’re someone who can’t go a day without a cup of tea, you will likely already have a kettle packed away and ready to use in your new home! Even if you’re not a tea or coffee lovers, a kettle is a really useful appliance to have in your kitchen and we think everyone should have one.
This one feels like it almost goes hand-in-hand with a kettle; a toaster! Breakfast can almost feel impossible without them both. So many known brand names have beautiful sleek, colourful and stylish kettle and toaster sets these days, it’s a fun and functional way to add a splash of personality and colour to your home.
Depending on your lifestyle and eating habits, a microwave can either be a must-have or something you’re happy to wait to get. Having a microwave is a useful appliance for most households and is used for quick meals, warming up left overs or heating up a forgotten beverage.
High priority small appliances list:
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Microwave
COOKING ESSENTIALS
There’s little cooking you can do without cooking utensils and cookware! Whether you choose to stick with plain basics or fancy splashing out on something more aesthetic, you won’t want to forget to add these to your shopping basket.
When you think about kitchen utensils, the first thing that springs to mind is probably cutlery and crockery, including plates and bowls, glasses and mugs and knives, forks and spoons. We suggest buying these things before moving into your new home; the last thing you’ll want after an exhausting day of moving and unpacking is realising you’ve got nothing to eat off or eat with (unless you go for a mandatory move in takeaway).
As well as kitchenware to eat off, you’ll need cookware to cook with. We’re thinking pots, pans, oven-proof dishes and baking trays. You’ll need at least once of eat to get you going. Some retailers sell affordable multipacks that make creating your cookware collection that much easier.
These items make great moving in gifts, so if you’re creating a gift registry for housewarming gifts, consider adding these.
High priority cooking essentials list:
- Cutlery and crockery
- Glasses and mugs
- Cookware - pots, pans and oven-proof dishes and trays
LOUNGE OR LIVING ROOM ESSENTIALS
The lounge or living room is a space for entertaining, relaxing, socialisng and rejuvenating so you’ll want it perfect for your tastes, comfortable, clean and pleasing to the eye. There are a few key items you’ll need to get comfy in your first few days and thankfully the rest can wait, but this is what we suggest you start with.
SEATING AND SOFT FURNISHING
A sofa feels like the heart of the living space so it’s natural to start there. Some people don’t have their sofa ready for move in and make do until they can get one, but we recommend using the sofa as the starting point that guides the way you decorate the lounge. Once you have a sofa you can sink into, you can then build on your other soft furnishings.
Soft furnishing such as cushions, throws and curtains help make your lounge feel lived in and welcoming. This is where you can really show off your personality and style with a pop of colour or soft neutrals. Curtains are very important for the move in date, especially come nightfall.
Consider getting enough windows for rooms facing public roads, paths and neighbours, or on rooms where you’ll want the most privacy or use the most such as bedrooms and the living room.
ENTERTAINMENT
This isn’t a must-have for everyone, but everyone needs a way to wind down after a busy day. If you’re someone who likes to kick back and relax to their favourite series, then you’ll likely want to set up an entertainment system early on.
If you’re more inclined to use a television, you can either mount them on the wall or get an entertainment console to house all of your wires, gadgets and provide some storage. What you choose will depend on the space you have available and your style choice.
A more discrete entertainment or television option would be a projector. This is a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to make the television a focal point of a room, don’t watch a lot of television or wish to keep their lounge serene, tech-free and minimal.
High priority living room essentials list:
HERE FOR YOUR LIFES ADVENTURES
Moving into your first home is a huge adventure and remembering what you need can be daunting. Christy are here for your bedroom and bathroom linen needs, and we’re proud to supply only the finest quality products that stay softer for longer, wash after wash.
Shop with us today and fill your new home with luxuriously soft towels and bedding.