Moving House with very little stuff - what's essential?

piggy_bank

I'm completing on my first house on Thursday, and my OH and I massively downsized from our rented house so that we could move in with the In-Laws while the purchase went through. As a result we have very little stuff, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about where to start!

Imagine you were starting from scratch to fill and furnish a house - what would you buy? It's a 2.5 bed (the .5 being an office), 1 bath with a conservatory.

We have managed to sort or already own: A sofa, A bed, mattress and bedding, a couple of lamps, minimal cookware that was worth keeping (basically just a le cruset dutch oven and a good wok...) and a full crockery set. That's pretty much it! The move will be very easy, but actually making the house lovely will take a while.

We have a few £1000 leftover from savings but don't want to blow it all immediately. Where would you start?

pollypenny

A wardrobe and chest of drawers for your clothes. Probably a coffee table too.

RelievedSheff

Ok so you have somewhere to sleep and somewhere to sit.

Has the property got inbuilt kitchen appliances? Can you cook and wash your clothes?

What about somewhere to sit and eat? Will you need a dining/breakfast table and chairs?

Do you watch TV?

You will need wardrobes of some sort unless the property has inbuilt ones.

The list can be seemingly endless and I do have some sympathy with you. We moved into a larger home in April and we still have not bought everything that we want for it. Although we have all of the essential elements it is the little bits that make a house a home.

[Deleted User]

Enjoy the space. Be very intentional with what you think you need.
The less stuff you have the easier life is. More money, less maintenance. Easier to keep clean... use this opportunity to your advantage and question everything you intend to bring in.
There are lots of furniture charity shops now which are very good.

MovingForwards

Raid charity shops, that's what I did when moving to my unfurnished flat!

rach_k

I'd buy the absolute minimum for now - wardrobes, chest of drawers, bedside tables, a TV and stand, dining table and chairs if you know what style you want (otherwise it can wait a while). Probably a desk if you use a desktop or like to sit at a table to work.

Then I'd just wait and see what you miss. It's very easy to go mad thinking about all of your lovely new space... and end up not being able to swing a cat for furniture!

keith969

I presume you will have a fridge, cooker, toaster, the usual white goods.

Furniture can be picked up really cheaply at junk shops as long as you're not fussy - brown wood (old) stuff can be painted to make it look good.

You'll find out what you are missing though after you move in though.

newbutold

What I would consider essential for me are;

Kitchen:
Washing machine
Tumble dryer
Cooker/Oven & hob
Fridge
Freezer (less essential for me)
Decent set of pans
Kettle
Toaster
Plates & bowls
Cutlery
Mugs & glasses
Cooking utensils
Tea towels
Washing up liquid, cloths and cleaning products.

Lounge:
Sofa
Side/sofa table

Bedroom:
Bed & mattress
Bedding
Wardrobe
Set of drawers

Bathroom
Towels
Toiletries
Loo roll

Plus I would want curtains for every window.

I’d prefer a dining table and chairs to sit at for my meals but I wouldn’t class it as essential. Personally a TV I can take or leave, as I don’t really watch it.

Guessing if you have an office you’ll need a desk and chair at the very least for it, but only you know how essential the need to furniture it straight away is. I.e. you work from home etc.

I tumble dry everything so that’s why I class that as an essential item but you may not, plus the wardrobe and chest of drawers would be to stop me feeling like I’m living out of cases/boxes.

Everything else you can take your time with and look for furniture and accessories that you really like to make the place a home

onomatopoeia99

White goods. You'll already know which ones you use and which you can do without (dishwasher and tumble being optional if on a budget)

You haven't mentioned clothes storage, you'll probably need some because ferreting through bin bags and suitcases for stuff will get boring after about one day.

Beyond that, once you're in and settled, it will become apparent what you need and how urgently you need it in the first month. Stuff like spare bed for guests can come much later, they can stay in a b&b until you're sorted for example.

EssexExile

I'd just move in, it will soon become obvious what you need!

[Deleted User]

For me it was a matter of making decisions and picking the most important stuff, the rest I've just got temporary stuff. Otherwise you end up picking without thinking or viewing different options in different shops.

Before you move in order stuff that takes the longest to arrive:

• Blinds / curtains
• Sofas
• Bedframe

Day 1:

Bedroom:

• Bedframe + mattress + quilt + pillows + bedding

Living room:

• Nothing

Kitchen:

• Fridge / freezer
• Oven
• Kettle / toaster
• Washing machine
• Microwave (you won't want to cook much)
• Pizza tray to keep your new oven clean!

House in general:

• Hoover

Temporary:

Bedroom

• £10 rail from Argos, this can do for a few weeks / months whilst you pick out the wardrobe / inbuilt drawers / separate drawers you want
• Temporary blackout blind whilst waiting for blinds / curtains

Living Room:

• Camping chairs
• A cardboard moving in box can be a table
• A plastic storage box can be a foot stool
• Laptop can be a TV

Kitchen:

• Plastic plates
• Plastic cutlery