115 Household Items Everyone Needs (+ a Download)
I first made a list of household items needed for a new home when my husband and I purchased a short term rental property back in 2017. The house not only needed renovations, but we needed to furnish and stock it from scratch. I also had a two-year-old at the time and was pregnant with my second child, so to help me stay organized, I literally wrote down every singly thing that was in our primary residence at the time so I could make sure I wouldn’t forget anything for our rental property.
I made the list in Excel, with columns for quantity of the items, cost of the items, whether I already had something, and a link to where I’d bought it, or planned to buy it. This list of household items has proven to come in very handy a few more times in my life, when we’ve moved into new homes and when we bought our Vermont Airbnb. (It’s a good list, and I’ve included it for download below!)
Having a list of household items is amazing for a few reasons. First, because if you’re moving to a new place, you can use it to help you take inventory of your current home and get rid of whatever you don’t need, and pack what you do. Or, if you’re purchasing a larger home, or your first home, it helps you keep track of what you have and what you need to purchase.
If you’re trying to figure out what you need for a new house, you can download my list below, like I mentioned. But, I’ve also pasted all of the must haves if you’d rather just take a glance, along with a few of my favorite options for must-have household items, below.
List of Household items Needed for a New Home or Short Term Rental (110+ Items)
All the kitchen items in our Vermont cabin
Kitchen items
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- Dinner Plates x 8-12
- Salad plates x 8-12
- Cups x 8-12
- Cereal Bowls x 8-12
- Coffee Mugs 4-8
- Serving Platter
- Serving Bowl
- Tupperware
- Wine Glasses
- Outdoor cups
- Outdoor wine glasses
- Forks x 8-12
- Knives x 8-12
- Spoons x 8-12
- Steak Knives
- Butcher knife
- Paring knife
- Cutting Board
- Spatula
- Rubber spatula
- Can Opener
- Peeler
- Cheese grater
- Wooden Spoons
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Tongs
- Frying pans, small and large
- Sauce pans, small and large
- Baking Sheet
- Pyrex Baking Dishes
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Kettle
- Paper Towel Holder
- Toaster
- Microwave
- Slow Cooker
- Pot Holders
- Dish Towels
- Dish Drying Rack
- Garbage Can
- High Chair Attachment
- Kids Forks, Spoons
- Kids Bowls
- Kids Plates
- Kids Cups
Bathroom
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- Garbage Can
- Plunger
- Toilet Bowl Brush
- Shower Curtain
- Shower Curtain Rings
- Bath Mat
- Bath Towels
- Hand Towels
- Washcloths
- Makeup Towels
- Towel Hooks
- Toilet Paper Holder
- Soap Dispenser
Bedrooms
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- Pillows
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Quilt/duvet
- Mattress
- Bed Frame
- Headboard
- Sconces / Lamps
- Window Treatments
- Area Rugs
- Nightstands
- Dresser
- Wall Art
- Noise Machine
Living / Dining Areas
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- Sofa(s)
- Side Chair(s)
- Coffee Table
- End Table
- Lamps
- Area Rug
- Wall Art
- Throw Pillows
- Kitchen / Dining Table
- Kitchen / Dining Chairs
- Bar cart
- Sideboard
- Bookshelf
Entertainment /Electronics
- TV
- Books
- Radio
- Speakers
- Board Games
Outdoor
- Grill
- Chairs
- Table
- Umbrella
- Lawn Mower
- Shovel
- Door Mat
Cleaning
- Washer
- Dryer
- Ironing Board
- Iron
- Steamer
- Broom
- Dust Pan
- Mop
- Bucket
- Rags / Cloths
- Sponges
- Vacuum
- Clothes Hangers
- Humidifier
Safety
- Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Fire extinguisher
Where to shop for home essentials?
There are so many home stores to shop at for home essentials, and the stores you choose to shop at will largely depend on your budget. A few of my favorites are:
Budget home stores
- Target
- Amazon
- Walmart
- H&M Home
- Homegoods
- World Market
Mid-range home stores
- Serena & Lily
- Nordstrom’s home department
- Bloomingdales’ home department
- ABC Carpet & Home
- Restoration Hardware
- Williams Sonoma Home
- Jayson Home
What are the essentials to have at home?
Purchasing everything on a list of household items all at once can be daunting (not to mention expensive). You can always get what you need a little at a time.
The most important essentials to have at home, however, are:
- Bedding
- Towels
- Dishware and utensils
- A toaster or microwave
- A pot and a pan
- Basic cleaning supplies like a broom, dustpan, and dish towels
- Somewhere to sit to eat or relax
- Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, if your home doesn’t have them (many do!)
From there, decor items, accent furniture, and the rest of your kitchenware and cleaning supplies can be added in accordingly.
