The complete List for first flats, houses & anything in-between - a guide for adulting

The multiple feelings moving brings vary from happiness, sadness, stress, anxiousness or even a bit of excitement. Having moved a few times as an adult, within the UK to a few cities and then to the Republic of Ireland last year (with a few moves in that time)! I have had my fair share of moves and having to pack and unpack way too many times. During the last major move of countries, we got rid of a lot of items these were generally large items such as our sofa bed, worse for ware items such as kitchen utensils and other home decor. We weren't going to pay for a massive van or cargo to get things across the Irish sea as it was simply not cost-effective in some instances and we also dint have permanent accommodation when we needed to leave our current house in the UK. So we went through things for 3 months, to sell, donate or store.

I love a good home decor, house build or interior design show and during this time I must have watched every single one on live Tv or Netflix ( I exaggerate but it definitely increased!). So I was inspired by a lot of what I saw, as well as a good search on Pinterest along the way. I figured as this will not be our last move and I put in a lot of work to make the move as smooth as possible, I'll write it down for my benefit as well as yours! I only have 3 rules when it comes to shopping for a new place or a refresher.

1. Have a theme in mind - this can be style so farmhouse or industrial, colour or a favourite character for example. This is to avoid too many mismatched styles and ideas in one place, as you'll end up wanting to replace items much earlier than planned.

2. Have a list of essential items required across the rooms you will be furnishing/decorating. This includes kitchen utensils, bathroom accessories, bedding and home decor items with a few shops and/or other sources to buy these items from to minimise the frustration that comes with out-of-stock or overpriced items.

3. Do not buy cheap over quality - you know what happens here but I'll remind you, items break or end up saving you no time. In the end, you end up spending the money twice. This does not mean buying the most expensive thing in a store, knowing your durable brands and reading reviews will be beneficial ( I have a few on my blog to read as well as my amazon list that recommends a few).

If we all had superpowers, we'll get this done in a few hours or a day! But back in the real world, you want to pace yourself so you do not get overwhelmed. Whether you are starting from scratch or just replacing a few things and furnishing a studio flat or a whole house, I hope my tips and tricks will be of some help. I'll cover the main rooms and items required and some places to look (UK, Ireland or online-based). Remember to also look at 2nd hand websites such as eBay or Facebook market as you often get steals here - people who change decor way too often or dint measure and/or return items in time.

Kitchen essentials

The list of kitchen utensils, equipment, and appliances could easily be endless but here are the essentials according to me haha. It's very easy to go into stores to pick up absolutely everything and forget one main thing. So here is my attempt to write an exhaustive list. Don't come for me if I've missed something, but definitely, let's continue this list in the comments below. There are various stores and online shops you can get easily sucked into spending lots of money, so make sure you research and make notes of preferences before deciding, trust me it makes all the difference. For basic items that you either would want to change in a shorter timeframe or replace when you move again, shop at The Range, B&M, Wilko, Argos, Homestore plus+more and Amazon - my fave list here. For Mid-range or affordable durable brands, TX Maxx and Homesense offer a variety of unique items from global brands, as well as Dunelm, Dunnes and Curry's and Ikea for durability. For the top range stores which should be kept to forever or long term items such as Kenwood, Brandalley, and Next.

The ultimate list:

• Dish set - plates, bowls, mugs, glass cups ( a really good place for affordable and stlylish is actually supper market's luxury brands such as Tesco's Fox & Ivy, Sainsbury's Home or Habitat).

• Table utensils

• Knife set, chopping board, pot stand/heat protector

• Pots, pans (different sizes frying, casserole, wok)

• Cooking utensils including serving spoons, ladle, spatula, tongs, potato masher, whisk

• Kettle, toaster, microwave and food cover

• Food storage containers (various sizes for meal prep, freezing, pantry and taking lunch)

• Sink Strainer, soap dispenser, dish rack

• Cupboard organizers, black/whiteboard for writing lists or week's menu

• Fruit bowl, kitchen towel stand, suction holder hooks

• Dish sponges, cleaning products, utility sink bowl, gloves, dish clothes

• Kitchen bin (general, recycling and food waste depending on your local area's waste management).

• Blender, spice blender

• Baking tin, trays, bowls, scale, measuring spoons, liners and brushes

• Spray mop, duster, foot mat

• Optional - air fryer, multicooker, pestle & mortar, stand mixer

A really good place for affordable and stlylish items is actually supermarket's luxury brands such as Tesco's Fox & Ivy, Sainsbury's Home or Habitat.

The Bathroom edit

If you live in a typical UK or Irish bathroom, then chances are there isn't a lot of space. So the items for this room will be essential and can be picked up in all the stores mentioned earlier in the kitchen section. Note your themes can be confined to a room and does not need to be totally coherent from kitchen to bedroom, just make sure you like the individual spaces enough to avoid replacing everything all of a sudden.

.

• Bath mat(s) - you want 2 or 3 for changing when others are in the wash

• Shower curtain

• Toothbrush container

• Suction hooks for sponges, over door hooks, shelves

• Toilet brush

• Bin, organisers for toiletries and or skincare

• Laundry bag or basket

• Cleaning items - gloves, brushes and solutions

• Towels - Bath, hand and face as a bare minimum

Bedroom(s)

This could be 1 room or a number of rooms, but the idea remains the same. You want to have options that work for winter months and the spring to summer months also. To solve this you can buy 2 duvets, go with a light (4.5) and thicker (10.5) tog, top tip - go with a size or 2 larger than your bed size. For example, we have a double bed, our duvet cover is a king and the duvet insert is a super king, this gives a luxurious feel and stops some from pulling all the covers to themselves! Then you want light and fluffy blankets that can be layered in the winter and used on their own in the summer months. This gives variety but also makes your room super cozy.

• Bedding - duvet, a few duvet cover sets, bedsheets fitted and/or flat

• Pillows, mattress and/or toppers

• Humidifier and/or air purifier

• Alarm clock to avoid screen time

• Hangers, clothes organiser

• Blackout and/or thermal curtains (affordable and have done the job)

• Wardrobe and/or chest of drawers

• Mirror

• Side table, Bed frame

• Rug

Then you want light and fluffy blankets that can be layered in the winter and used on their own in the summer months.

Laundry/Utility room/space

Depending on your layout this could be a separate place or part of your kitchen or bathroom, so some items here will be repeated in other lists. Buy as required and suitable to your space.

• Laundry basket

• Organisation baskets for laundry soaps etc.

• Dryer rack for clothes, clothes pegs

• Vacuum cleaner, mop, duster

• Washing machine and/or Dryer

Study/office space

For those who need a corner or room to work from home. Keep it very basic and don't spend the world. Also note that lots of employers provide ergonomic chairs, screens and accessories for hybrid working. So before going to the stores, check what is on offer to you (for free!).

• Office Table and chair

• Printer

• Screen (s)

• Pen and stationery organiser

• Bookshelf

That’s it for the go to list when moving homes, at least for now! As mentioned, I love interior decor and try to change things within a budget, so do not feel you have to get everything here! This list contains all sorts of items I have gotten over the years and thought it is worth highlighting. If you have any suggestions of items I might have missed or go ahead and buy items linked, let me know :) I have no affiliation with the brands mentioned or linked, just my personal blog.

#housemoves #homedecor #newhome #Kitchenmusthaves #Bedroomdecor #Bathroommusthaves #Cookware #Kitchenware #goodquality #homecook #homechef