So, some big news here on the homefront – our daughter is planning to move out into a place of her own. With a friend, of course, but still – not our home, but hers. How exciting is that?! To be honest, this mommy is having some mixed feelings about it – so EXCITED for her to start this next chapter of her life, but feeling a little sad at seeing her go. BUT – it’s not about me, it’s about her, and that’s what we’re going to look at today! In looking at everything she’s going to need when she moves out, I thought it might be helpful for others as well to put together our list of the Top 10 Essentials for a First Home.
What is helping us with some planning is to break it down into categories – Kitchen & Dining / Bathroom / Miscellaneous. So really, we are going to focus on those things. And what did we come up with? Well, read on …
Kitchen & Dining
This is a pretty crucial area in any home, first or otherwise. You want to be set up for success, but not overwhelmed by the number of things you might need. Clearly, there are some key essentials.
Pots & Pans
Yup, pretty basic. But for a first home, what do you really need? I encouraged my daughter to consider what she uses on a regular basis in our kitchen, and not go crazy with other things that she probably would never use. This 8-Piece Non-Stick Pots and Pans Set fits the bill perfectly for a starter kitchen. It contains all the pieces she would need to make any meal, without any extra clutter to store.
Utensils and Cutlery
Again, this is something your kitchen can’t really do without. There are so many gadgets these days that we consider “essential” but they really are nothing more than drawer clutter. So if you can get everything you need for cooking and baking in one easy set, go for it! This Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensil Set is the perfect package for a small kitchen, outfitted with everything a starter home needs. When purchasing cutlery, it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive – it just has to feed you! We really like this 20-Piece Silverware Set, and as a bonus, it comes with its own storage tray for the drawer. How great is that!?!
Dishes
This is another area where basic will do the job just fine. We like the simplicity of this 16-Piece Cafe Stripe Kitchen Dinnerware Set. It comes with service for four, with plates, bowls and mugs. Honestly, she could probably do without the mugs, since that is her absolutely favourite thing to collect when we travel, but that’s okay. The mugs will double for drinking glasses until she gets those. Perfect!
There are so many other things that can (and will) get added into her kitchen at a later date, but these basic items will get her well on her way!
Bathroom
The bathroom, of course, doesn’t require near as many items as the kitchen does, and with the amount of personal grooming stuff that accompanies a young woman anywhere, there’s not a lot of room to be had! Regardless, she’ll need to make room for basics. I suggested a simple set of bath linens to get her started. This 6 Piece Towel Set is perfect – two bath towels, two hand towels and two facecloths.
You really can’t set up a bathroom without some form of organization, and basic tools like a toilet brush and garbage can. So why not have a little fun with it and get a pretty matching set? We absolutely love the pattern on this Bathroom Accessories Set. So pretty! Add a little style for little expense with this one!
The last essential for the bathroom is floor mats. Aside from looking nice, they keep the feet warm and prevent that nasty slip when stepping out of the shower. A must for sure! Nothing fancy, this Shaggy Chenille 2 Piece Bath Rug Set is just perfect for a simple bathroom. Bonus – they’re machine washable ?
Miscellaneous
There are so many little things to consider under this heading. But, because we are looking at the Top 10 Essentials for a First Home, we need to keep it pretty basic. Our daughter has all her own bedding and bedroom furniture, and knick-knacks galore, so nothing needed in that area. She’s even got a love seat and coffee table in her bedroom, so she has the beginnings of a furnished living room. But these are the three things that would be missing from her living space.
Lamps
Bedroom lamps will be – you guessed it – in her bedroom. But in the living room? Nothing. These Storage Shelf Floor Lamps are awesome – lamps with built-in shelves. Perfect for small spaces, and they eliminate the need to buy both lamps AND end tables. And that’s a win in my books! As a side note, we have lamps like these in our bedroom – we use them instead of nightstands. They are extremely functional!
TV
When first starting out, TV is one of life’s simplest pleasures. TV in the living room – even better! In the grand scheme of things, cable can work out to pretty cheap entertainment when split between roommates. So why not have a TV to enjoy, and keep you company! We love our TOSHIBA Fire TV Edition Smart TV. It’s got easy-to-use Apps and presets, and if you are an Amazon Prime member, even better! If you aren’t yet a member, click here to Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial
.
Laundry Baskets
It’s unlikely in a first home (particularly rental apartments or basement suites) that you’ll have your own laundry. There will either be a shared laundry room on each floor of the apartment building, or you may even need to visit a laundromat. Either way, keeping everything corralled is key, and some Comfort Carry Laundry Baskets will come in so handy!
Of course, this is certainly not an exhaustive list of what you need for your first home, but it’s a good start.
Want to save this? Post this list of Top 10 Essentials for Your First Home to your favourite Pinterest Boards!
