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What to Buy When Moving into a New Home

Mar 07, 2025
What to buy when moving into a new home

Moving home is an exciting milestone, and you’ll want to be prepared. It can be difficult to know what to buy when moving into a new home, especially when you’re a first-time buyer. This comprehensive guide will help you prioritise your purchases and ensure you don’t forget any key items.

Key Takeaways

 
Kitchen Essentials:
  • Kettle, toaster, microwave
  • Washing machine, tumble dryer
  • Fridge/freezer or fridge-freezer
  • Dishwasher
  • Pots, pans, dinnerware, utensils
  • Cleaning supplies (washing up liquid, surface spray, dishwasher tablets)
Living Room Essentials:
  • Sofa, footstool, accent chair
  • Rug, curtains or blinds
  • Coffee table, side/console table
  • Pictures, ornaments, plants
  • Bookshelf, lampshade, lighting
  • Cushions, throws
  • TV and other devices, TV stand or bracket
Bedroom Essentials:
  • Bed and mattress
  • Duvet, sheets, pillows
  • Curtains or blinds
  • Bedside tables, lamps
  • Storage, mirror
Bathroom Essentials:
  • Soap, towels, bath mat
  • Toilet roll and holder
  • Storage for toiletries
  • Shower curtain, cleaning products
Other Essentials:
  • Home safety items (insurance, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, smoke alarm)
  • Miscellaneous items (stationery, vacuum cleaner, tools, drill)

Kitchen essentials 

Your kitchen is an essential space that should ideally be useable from the day you move in. Prior to moving day, gather the following items to put straight into the room: 
 
• Kettle, toaster and microwave
• Pots, pans, crockery and cutlery
• Cleaning supplies (washing up liquid, surface spray and dishwasher tablets)
 

Living room essentials 

Your living room should be a comfortable space for relaxing and entertaining. Before you move in, decide what style you’d like the room to follow. Whether this is a colour scheme or pattern, ensure it feels like home to you. New build homes are usually designed as a blank canvas, which means you have a lot to work with. After choosing, consider purchasing these items: 
 
• Sofa, footstool, accent chair
• Rug, curtains or blinds
• Coffee table, side/console table
• Pictures, ornaments and plants
• Bookshelf, lighting and lampshades
• Decorative cushions and throws
• TV and other devices, TV stand or bracket
 

Bedroom essentials 

To help your new house feel like home, you’ll want to make your bedroom cosy from the day you move in. Prior to moving, work out what style you’d like and what furnishings will complement each other. It may be useful to create a Pinterest board for inspiration. After deciding on your theme, you can buy the following: 
 
• Bed and mattress
• Duvet, sheets and pillows
• Curtains or blinds
• Bedside tables and lamps
• Storage and mirrors
 

Bathroom essentials 

To ensure that your mornings and evenings run as smoothly as possible, kit out your bathroom with these must-have items: 
 
• Soap, towels and bathmat
• Toilet roll and holder
• Storage for toiletries
• Shower curtain 
• Cleaning products (toilet brush or plunger, bleach and spray) 
 

Garden essentials 

If you’re moving home during the summer, it may be worth buying some outdoor items, such as furniture and gardening supplies. Here are some ideas: 
 
• Lawnmower 
• Garden shears and leaf rake 
• Plants and pots 
• Garden table and chairs
• BBQ
• Shed 
 
Looking for garden inspiration? Explore our simple front garden ideas. 
 

Essentials for moving with children 

Moving with children requires additional considerations. Children can find the moving process disorientating, so to help it run smoothly for them, ensure you have the following:
 
• Safety items (outlet covers, cabinet locks and stair gates) 
• Night lights 
• Bed rails or step stools 
• Toy storage/organisers 
 

Other essentials 

Some items don’t fit neatly into room categories but are crucial for a functional home. If you have a utility room, here are some items that might live there: 
 
• Tool kit 
• First-aid supplies
• Flashlight and batteries
• Paint and paint brushes 
• Extra lightbulbs 
• Washing machine or tumble dryer 
• Hoover 
 
Remember, you don’t need to buy everything at once. Prioritise the most essential items and gradually add others as your budget allows and needs become apparent. Focus on quality items you’ll use frequently, and don’t forget to check what your new home already includes. 
 
Browse our brand-new homes across the UK and explore our unique homebuying offers to help you move. Start your journey today with David Wilson Homes.  
 

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