Essentials You Need for Moving into a New House

Ensuring that you have all the things you need for a new house adds to the mix of excitement, nerves and stress when moving. This is especially true for first-time homeowners or renters, who need to buy a lot of new things on top of all the other moving expenses.

In the rush to organise, sort and pack, essentials such as cleaning materials, tools and cooking utensils are either buried in a miscellaneous box, misplaced, or not bought. This guide explores everything you need for a successful house move. Room by room, we list the essentials for your new home.

Cleaning & safety essentials for the whole house

Although every room requires specific things (such as linen for bedrooms and towels for bathrooms), there are important new-house essentials you’ll need for each area in your new home. Let’s take a closer look at these general necessities.

Moving and unpacking is a dusty (and sometimes grimy) business. Having cleaning agents and equipment on hand lets you clean each room before unpacking and making the space your own. Here’s a list of cleaning must-haves:

• Vacuum cleaner. A cordless one is easier to manoeuvre and reduces tripping risks.

• Cloths, sponges and scourers.

• Bucket.

• Mop.

• Dustpan and brush.

• Washing liquid and other cleaning agents, such as floor cleaners, surface sprays, disinfectants and toilet cleaners.

• Duster.

• Washing powder and fabric softener.

• A clothes-drying rack if you don’t have a tumble dryer.

• Rubber gloves.

It’s important to consider safety when moving into your new home. Assess your environment for any risks, such as open electrical sockets, and cables or boxes that can trip you. Apart from a pair of trusty shoes with a good grip and non-restrictive clothes, you’ll also need other important safety basics:

• Sturdy ladder or steps.

• Work gloves.

• Safety goggles.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Smoke alarms.

• Batteries for smoke alarms.

• A few tools, such as a hammer, nails, screws, and one or two screwdrivers for any basic DIY tasks.

Kitchen essentials

Imagine eventually sitting down for a meal after rushing around all day with your move, but there’s not a plate or pot in sight! Whether you get a takeaway or cook a quick dinner, you’ll need some basics.

Your new kitchen setup is unique. It can be large or small and have ample or little counter space. Consider this when deciding on the things to buy for your new home. The kitchen essentials for a new house include:

• Kitchen table and chairs (if there’s space).

• Microwave.

• Toaster.

• Kettle.

• Drying rack.

• Tin and bottle openers.

• Vegetable peeler.

• Waste bin.

• Cutlery and crockery.

• Pots, pans and a baking tray.

• Cooking utensils such as a spatula, wooden spoon and knives.

• Kitchen scissors.

• Oven gloves.

• Cleaning agents and tools (cloths, scourers, dishwashing liquid, kitchen spray – you can also add these to your cleaning essentials checklist).

• Tea and kitchen towels.

• Some groceries, such as milk, bread, water, and an energy bar or two to fuel you during the day. Don’t forget the always-needed salt and pepper!

Bathroom essentials

Little beats a relaxing shower or bath after a long day of running around. Having all the bathroom necessities available is a big plus (especially on the first night in your new home). Use this checklist to ensure that your bathroom is ready:

• Towels (remember hand towels).

• Bathroom mats – another handy safety item – to prevent slips and falls.

• Shower curtain if necessary.

• Toilet rolls and a toilet roll holder if necessary.

• Toilet brush.

• Toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toothbrush holder.

• Liquid handwash or soap.

• Shower gel. Why not add bubble bath or luxury bath bombs as a reward for all your hard work?

• Bathroom bin.

• Other toiletries such as skincare products, body lotion and deodorant.

• Bathroom cleaner (you can add this to your cleaning essentials checklist).

• Medicine.

• Plasters.

• Surgical disinfectant in case of scrapes and cuts.

• Thermometer.

Bedroom essentials

If there’s one room that needs to be habitable from the get-go in your new home, it’s the bedroom. Unpacked boxes or holdalls are visual reminders of what you still need to do and interfere with a good night’s sleep. 

We suggest that you tackle your bedroom(s) first. Also, your new environment will still feel strange. Familiar bedding and other essentials help make you feel at home. Here are some recommended must-haves:

• Bed and mattress.

• Bedding, including covers (and blankets) for the season, pillows and pillowcases.

• Bedside tables and lamps.

• Wardrobe with coathangers and a chest of drawers (if needed).

• Curtains or blinds.

• Mirror, especially if you have to dress for work the following day.

Living room essentials

A living room often ends up as ground zero for all the unpacked boxes. If possible, try to find alternative storage so that you can sit back and relax after a hard day’s move. Here are a few things that will make your living room liveable and comfortable:

• Sofa (the size depends on the available space) or some comfy chairs.

• Sofa or chair cushions (if you want them).

• Coffee table.

• Side tables.

• Rugs.

• Television and television stand or bracket for wall attachment. Remember your TV cables!

• Wi-Fi for streaming services.

• A lamp or two (again, this depends on the available space).

Essentials for your pets

Moving is stressful for your pets. If possible, you can check your pets into a care centre on the day of your move. This way, they're not underfoot and their anxiety doesn’t escalate with all the hustle and bustle going on. You can also chat with your vet about mild sedatives to manage anxiety if necessary. Having everything they need on hand helps with managing the situation successfully. Ensure that you have the following ready:

• Collars and leads.

• Food and water bowls.

• Food.

• Beds and toys (these familiar items help your pets settle).

• Carriers.

Simplify your move with self-storage for your non-essentials

Moving to a new home is exciting but also stressful. From organising to packing and unpacking, there is a lot to do. Our things to buy for a new house checklist streamlines your move and eliminates unnecessary stress. Another solution to curb the chaos of moving is a self-storage unit.

Lots of loose items and boxes standing around add to the mayhem on your moving day. Storing your non-essentials in a self-storage reduces clutter. This frees up space for all your essentials, makes it easier to move around and get things done, and streamlines your overall move. At Loft Self Storage, we offer flexible rental agreements on our Nottingham self-storage units. There are also different-sized units to meet your specific requirements. Make the right move and contact us today!