What Every New Homeowner Needs to Buy

You have found and purchased your new house—congratulations! It’s a big step, and you should be proud. But as a new homeowner, you are now responsible for various things, from bills to maintenance, to furnishings.

And when it comes to outfitting your new house, the process can seem daunting at times. If you can bring items from your old home to the new one, it can alleviate some hassle. But what things do you need for your house to live there comfortably?

Thankfully, these considerations can be put into a manageable list to follow, and you might find it quite enjoyable!

Read on for a comprehensive checklist of what every new homeowner needs to buy for their property.

Room-By-Room Basics

Make sure each room has the essentials to make your living situation comfortable while providing ample storage and aesthetic appeal. A functional home can also be a stylish one!

Follow these room-by-room checklists to get your home goods selected and sorted.

Bathrooms

Hopefully, your bathrooms are already outfitted with hardware like toilets, sinks, bathtubs, or showers. Regardless of whether they need some renovations or not, you will require some personal care essentials when you move into your new home. 

Bathroom Essentials

Don’t forget these items when stocking up for your bathroom! The last thing you want is to step out of the shower and reach for a towel that isn’t there.

• Air Freshener or Candles
• Bathroom Mat
• Facial Tissues
• Hand Soap, either Liquid or Bar
• Shower Curtain Rings
• Shower Curtain Rod
• Shower Curtain
• Shower Mat
• Soap Dish or Liquid Soap Dispenser
• Toilet Brush
• Toilet Paper Holder
• Toilet Paper
• Toilet Plunger
• Toothbrush Holder
• Towels (with enough spares for any guests)
• Washcloths
• Waste Bin and Bags
• Weight Scale

Bathroom Storage

Make room for your items by investing in some great bathroom storage options. Drawer units can double as storage and extra counter space, and makeup mirrors with suction cup backs can be attached to the window. Other storage ideas include:

• Over the Door Storage Rack
• Shower Caddy
• Towel Hooks or Towel Rack

Bedrooms

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the first steps to feeling more at home in your new property. So, it’s important to outfit the bedrooms with items that will make you feel comfortable and secure.

Bedroom Soft Goods

Get comfortable in your new bedroom with a variety of soft furnishings, including the following:

• Comforter or Duvet, plus Cover
• Drapes or Blinds—For a great sleeping experience, try insulated blackout curtains or dual-layer shades to block out all excess ambient or street lighting while you sleep.
• Mattress Topper—Go for a pillow top or memory foam mattress pad to experience the ultimate sleeping luxury!
• Mattress
• Pillows
• Sheet Sets (including spares for laundry day or guests)
• Throw Pillows and Blankets

Bedroom Furnishings

Outfit your bedroom spaces with all the essentials when it comes to furniture and large items:

• Alarm Clock
• Bed Frame
• Dresser
• Fan
• Lamps—Elevate your bedside lighting by opting for a touch control lamp or one with a USB port on it.
• Laundry Hamper
• Mirror—Save floor space by opting for a mirror that hangs from the back of your door.
• Night Stand
• Space Heater
• Under-Bed Storage—If the frame is high enough, you can slide some extra storage space under your bed!
• Waste Bin and Bags

Closets

Storage space is king, and closets are no different. Hopefully, your new house comes with ample closets, but you can extend the storage capacities of the ones you have with some easy additions to the space. Look for some of the following:

• Adjustable Closet Rods
• Clothes Hangers
• Door Hooks
• Door Mirror
• Drawer Organizers
• Hanging Closet Rod
• Hanging Shelves
• Lidded Storage Bins
• Plastic Organizers
• Plastic Storage Totes
• Shelf Organizers
• Shoe Racks
• Space-Saver Bags—Perfect for storing clothing between seasons and any other soft items you don’t commonly use.

Living and Dining 

Between the living and dining rooms, you will spend the majority of the time here with the company of family and friends. So, it’s important to have the essentials for hosting others and lounging on your own.

• Area Rugs
• Bookshelves
• Coasters
• Other Seating—Depending on the available space, you can outfit rooms with armchairs, futons, stools, ottomans, beanbags, and many other options.
• Coffee Table
• Couch
• Dining Room Chairs
• Dining Table Cloth
• Dining Table
• Flatscreen
• Placemats
• Side Tables
• TV Stand or Media Center

Laundry

Keep your clothes clean and tidy by having a well-stocked laundry room, including these items:

• Clothes Pins
• Drying Rack
• Iron and Ironing Board—Save some space by installing a wall-mounted ironing board that can flip down when in use and be stowed against the wall between laundry days!
• Laundry Basket
• Washer and Dryer

Kitchen

The kitchen is indeed the heart of the home, so ensure that you have the right utensils on hand when you want to whip something up in the kitchen or entertain some guests!

Kitchen Cookware

Essential items to inspire your inner chef can include the following:

• Aluminum Foil
• Baking Sheets
• Can Opener
• Carving Set
• Cutting Boards—Either plastic or wooden, but keep in mind that wooden cutting boards will last longer and can be used as a serving piece.
• Dish Drying Rack and Drip Tray—Even if your new kitchen comes with a dishwasher, a drying rack is great for items that you might quickly handwash and leave to air dry.
• Dish Scrubber
• Ice Cube Tray
• Kitchen Knife Set
• Meat Thermometer
• Non-Stick Bakeware Set
• Oven Mitts
• Parchment Paper
• Pizza Cutter or Pizza Scissors
• Pizza Stone or Pizza Pan
• Plastic Wrap
• Pots and Pans—Don’t forget the sauté pan, stockpot, wok, and roasting pan! 
• Re-Sealable Containers
• Salad Spinner—Patting your lettuce dry with towels is always an option, but a salad spinner will give you that crisp, lavish salad feeling.
• Turkey Baster
• Vegetable Peeler

Kitchen Appliances

What is a chef without the requisite appliances to support your culinary adventures? Make sure your kitchen is outfitted with the following:

• Air Fryer
• Blender
• Coffee Maker or Keurig
• Dishwasher
• Griddle
• Hood Extractor Fan
• Instant Pot
• Juicer
• Microwave
• Oven
• Refrigerator
• Rice Cooker
• Tea Kettle—Save yourself some hassle in the morning and opt for a programmable kettle to get the perfect cup of tea every time!
• Toaster
• Waffle Maker

Outdoors

Maintain the garden and make your outside space as welcoming as the indoors with some simple additions, including these items:

• Barbeque
• Firepit
• Folding Chairs
• Garden Compost Bin
• Gardening Gloves
• Laundry Drying Line
• Lawnmower
• Lawn Sports
• Patio Furniture
• Pet Gate
• Potted Plants and Flowers
• Rake
• Shovel
• Solar-Powered Pathway Lights
• Trowel

Other Household Essentials

You will undoubtedly think of many more items that your home requires as you go, but the following are some other considerations you should have for making your new property into a home sweet home.

Cleaning 

Moving into a new home can be a surprisingly messy affair. From forgotten glasses falling out of boxes to wine spills at the end of a long day, you will likely need to clean up your house almost immediately. Jump the gun on that and ensure you have cleaning items ready!

Basic Cleaning Items

Cleaning the house is unavoidable, so you might as well make sure you have all the essentials that will make it go as smoothly as possible, including:

• Broom
• Dustpan
• High-Reach Cleaning Kit—Save your arms some strain and invest in a cleaning extension kit that will help you reach the highest nooks and crannies of your house.
• Lining Paper—Use this paper in drawers all over your house to cut back on messes collecting there.
• Mop and Bucket
• Recycling Bins
• Swiffer
• Trash Bags (for kitchen and garden)
• Trash Cans
• Vacuum

Cleaning Supplies

Keep your new home looking and smelling fresh by always having the right cleaning products on hand for a variety of messy scenarios! Try to keep these supplies stocked in your home:

• All-Purpose Cleaner
• Baking Soda
• Bleach
• Clorox Wipes
• Dish Detergent
• Disinfectant Wipes
• Drain Cleaner
• Grout Cleaner
• Laundry Detergent
• Microfiber Cloths
• Mildly Abrasive Bathroom Cleaner
• Rags
• Rubber Cleaning Gloves
• Scrubbing Brushes
• Sponges
• Stain Removal Sticks
• Toilet Cleaner
• Window Cleaner

First Aid Supplies

Accidents happen, and when they inevitably do, it’s important to have the goods on hand to deal with them!

Here are some first aid supply items that should always be around the house, just in case: 

• Allergy Medication and Antihistamines
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Antiseptic Solution
• Bandages
• Cotton Balls
• Cotton Swabs
• Gauze
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hot/Cold Packs
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Cough and Cold Medications
• Iodine
• Laxatives
• Nausea Medication
• OTC Pain Relief
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Thermometer
• Tweezers

Insurance

Don’t forget to insure yourself and your new property as soon as possible, should the worst occur.

Essential insurance plans to consider include:

• Car Insurance
• Homeowner’s Insurance
• Farm & Ranch Insurance
• Umbrella Insurance

Security

One of the biggest considerations of moving into a new location and house is the area’s security. Does the house come with an alarm system already wired? Or will you be relying on your pet dog to alert you to visitors? It is important to secure your house as soon as possible.

Here are some aspects of home security that you shouldn’t overlook:

• Alarm System
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Doorbell Camera
• Emergency Go-Bag—From weather anomalies, natural disasters, or other unforeseen circumstances, it’s a good plan to have a pre-packed collection of all your essentials and copies of important documents, just in case.
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fireproof Safe
• Flashlight and Extra Batteries
• Home Security Cameras
• New Locks—Because you generally don’t know who has a spare key when moving into a new home, most new tenants decide to change the locks for some extra peace of mind.
• Padlocks or Bicycle Locks
• Smoke Detectors
• Space Blankets
• Weather Radio

Tools and DIY Items

Do yourself a favor and prepare for the inevitable ahead of time. From putting together IKEA furniture to hanging pictures on the wall, you will require your toolkit sooner than later!

This includes:

• Adjustable Wrench
• Allen Key Set
• Box Cutter
• Bubble Level
• Drill and Drill Bits
• Drywall Filler
• Duct Tape
• Hammer
• Matches
• Extra Light Bulbs
• Packing Tape
• Paint
• Paintbrushes and Rollers
• Pliers
• Protractor
• Sandpaper
• Scraper or Putty Knife
• Screwdrivers
• Screws and Nails
• Socket Wrench
• Spanner
• Stud Finder
• Tape Dispenser
• Utility knife
• Variety of Hardware—Bolts, nails, nuts, and screws will all come in handy at some point in your tenure at the new house!
• WD-40

Utilities

Don’t forget to complete your various utility setups before moving in! The last thing you want is to be without Wi-Fi for a few days while it gets sorted out.

• Cable and Internet Setup
• Contract for Water Services
• Electricity Provider
• Ethernet Cables
• Extension Cords
• Gas/Oil Supplier
• Surge Protectors
• Various Batteries

Buying a new home comes with lots of responsibilities, which can be overwhelming to new home buyers. Luckily by preparing what you need in advance, you can transition into your home nicely. From getting the proper insurance coverages to buying the right furnishings, this list should help you get everything ready for move-in.

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