What if I am furnishing my new property from scratch?

No matter whether you have bought a five bedroom mansion or a snug studio apartment, there are certain basics that any new home needs. These range from bigger furnishings like carpets, curtains, beds, sofas, and tables, to smaller but equally important items such as knives, forks, plates and glasses.

Kitchen

Imagine you are having your first party. Everyone thinks your new home is fantastic until you go to open a bottle of wine – and discover you don't own a bottle opener!

Don't worry – with this kitchen inventory you will have every thing you need for every occasion in the kitchen.

Basic Furniture

• Kitchen table
• Chairs
• Rubbish bin
• Clock
• Kettle
• Toaster
• Microwave
• Bread bin
• Blender
• Paper towel holder

Cooking in the kitchen

• Can opener
• Baking tray
• Chopping board
• Set of knives
• Ladle
• Measuring jug
• Mixing bowls
• Oven gloves and tea towels
• A selection of pots and pans including a frying pan, a small pot and a colander
• An egg turner or spatula
• Vegetable peeler
• Bottle opener
• Wooden spoon
• Condiment holders such as salt and pepper shakers, olive oil set, or a spice rack

Eating and drinking

• Placemats
• A selection of serving dishes
• A selection of bowls, including a large salad bowl, a fruit bowl and soup bowls
• A selection of forks, knives, dessert spoons, soup spoons and tea spoons
• A selection of glasses, including drinking glasses and wine glasses
• A selection of cups and mugs
• A selection of plates, including a set of dinner plates, side plates and a large serving plate

Keeping the kitchen clean

• Cleaning cloths such as wiping clothes, sponges and scrubbers
• General cleaning materials such as washing up liquid, floor and window cleaning detergent, kitchen and bathroom cleaning sprays and general disinfectant
• Sweeping brush
• Dustpan and brush
• Mop and bucket
• Vacuum cleaner

Living room

• A couch
• A coffee table
• Bookshelves
• Curtains, including curtain rod and curtains OR Blinds, including brackets at top of window
• Lamp, or floor lamp
• TV, including something to put it on such as a TV stand or small table
• CD storage
• DVD / VHS storage
• Optional paintings, photo frames, prints, plants, cushions, candles, ornaments to decorate

Bedroom

While a bed may be the most obvious thing you need in your bedroom, it is the other things you put in the room that will make this room most homely:

• Bed(!)
• Mattress
• Bedside table
• Bedside lamp
• Wardrobe
• Chest of drawers
• Optional blanket box
• Bed sheets – tip – make sure to check what size your mattress is before forking out!
• Duvet
• Duvet cover and pillowcases
• Pillows
• Optional throw or cushions for your bed
• Alarm clock
• Hangers for your clothes
• Mirror – tip – a full length mirror is extra handy!

Bathroom

Regardless of whether you have bought a newly built or second hand property, bathrooms usually come tiled or with an existing floor and are already fitted with a toilet, shower and/or bathtub, and a sink.

The rest on this list, however, will ensure you have everything you need first thing in the morning and last thing at night!

• Shower Curtain, including shower rings to hang it from

Towels, including bath towels, hand towels and face cloth

• Towel rack
• Bathroom mat
• Toilet brush
• Plunger
• Toilet roll holder, and toilet roll
• Soap dish
• Optional weighing scales

Miscellaneous must haves

Every home should have a first aid kit, which we've detailed below, as well as safety, DIY and laundry equipment. Here are the basic miscellaneous essentials for your first property:

First-aid

• Plasters and bandages
• Antibiotic ointment
• Thermometer
• Small scissors and tweezers
• Over-the-counter painkillers

Safety first

• Smoke alarm
• Carbon monoxide alarm – find out more about this here
• Property alarm
• Torch
• Fire extinguisher
• Fire blanket

DIY and hardware

Even if you're not a DIY buff, there are certain things that will make life easier should a simple problem arise in your new property. Here is a list of the most common.

• Step ladder
• Plug Extension lead
• Spare light bulbs
• Batteries
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Drill
• Pliers
• Selection of screwdrivers
• Selection of screws

Laundry

• Washing machine, with optional dryer facility
• Clotheshorse for indoor drying
• Iron
• Ironing board and cover
• Laundry basket