You’ve bought your first home, now you’ve got to face the seemingly impossible task of filling it. No matter how hard you try there will always be that one thing that just faded into the background of your life at mum and dad’s that you forgot to get. We’ve compiled a list of the must haves and must avoids of outfitting your home.
Bedroom
Need – A Good Bed
As this is your first home, you’ll want a good quality bed that can withstand the wear and tear of the years and possibly even serve you well in your next home.
Avoid – Cheap beds and mattresses
You get what you pay for when it comes to your bed. Buying a poor quality mattress and bed can lead to health problems as well as having to spend more money on a better bed further down the line.
Bathroom
Need – Towels
Depending on how many people you plan on living with, you’ll need two sets of towels each. More than that just leads to extra laundry, less leads to a shortage.
Avoid – White Towels
White towels may seem appealing, but they’re often more trouble than they’re worth. Initially they’ll coat everything in white fluff, and toward the end they’ll have swapped their white fluffiness for a dingy grey colour.
Kitchen
Need - Multipurpose tools and appliances
You’ll want to gather a wide selection of tools and appliances that are of an excellent long life standard, multiple purposes and a good energy efficiency rating. This way you can keep an uncluttered kitchen, with all the mod cons and half the first energy bill.
Avoid – Fad tools and appliances
When’s the last time anyone used a melon baller? Or an ice cream machine? These gadgets might seem like a good way to “wow” the family, but the novelty will quickly wear off, leaving you with a kitchen that is overstuffed with rubbish.
Housekeeping
Need – The best basics you can afford
Fortunately the majority of items you need for cleaning are naturally cheap, but when it comes to items like hoovers, you should definitely spend the extra money to get the best one you can afford. Like the rest of the list, high quality electronic items will have a lower energy usage, will last far longer than cheaper versions and they will likely come with a warranty, meaning it can be fixed within a certain time period.
Avoid – Fad/specialist cleaning products
You might be tempted to buy a robust granite cleaner and a wonder mop that’s specially designed for stairs. Don’t. Believe us when we say these items are more trouble than they’re worth. Just stick to the basics.
