What do you need for your home?

[Yaaamiii]

This question is mostly intended for couples who are living together, but the thread is free game to anyone who wants to respond, since I'm sure it can apply to many in different ways!

It's kind of a long explanation, so I'll give you the Sparknote version!

My SO and I are trying to figure out what we need for our apartment after we get married. We're gonna put the regular things on our wedding registry, you know, blenders, toasters, etc

So my question is, what things, besides the typical wedding registry items, do you recommend us having for our home? Like, do you absolutely recommend us having a memory foam mattress? The reason I ask this question now instead of later is part of what makes it a long story, so I'll just leave it at that since I'm too lazy to type everything out...

Keep in mind we'll be moving in to an apartment :P.

[lucybelle]

Curtain rings
Curtains, shower curtains
Bathroom rugs
Toilet paper (you'll go through twice as much now!!)
A fan
Night stand-2
At least one potted plant
A wind chime
Hangers
At least one good knife
Wine glasses
Cloth napkins
Measuring spoons/cups
A whisk
A spatula


Also I hear memory foam mattresses are really hot, that's why I never bought one. In the USA we had a nice pillow-top, those would be my first choice.

Good luck and have fun!!!

[LadyDaemon]

Trash cans for the Kitchen and Bathroom
Vaccum cleaner
Cleaning products
Broom
Mop
Dust pan
Towels (bath and hand for the kitchen)
Pair of oven mitts
Pots & pans
Cutlery
Dishes
Trash bags
Laundry detergent
Dish detergent (if you have a dishwasher)
Cleaning sponges (if you wash dishes by hand)
Dish soap
Window curtains
Surge protector strips (I suggest these for any major electronics you may use so that in case a storm happens or something your electronics don't get surged)
Furniture (couch,tables,desks (if you use them),chairs etc.)
Paper towels
Oven pans

I hope that list helps. Sorry if any of that is already on your registry,but I figure I'd throw it out there anyway in case it could be of help. As for the memory foam mattress,like LB said,those can get pretty hot. I would also suggest a pillow top. I know I'll definitely be investing in a pillow top cover soon myself.

[TwoThree]

We don't live together yet, but I already know what his apartment needs.

A shelf for all our CD's (his CD's make the bulk of our collection, though)
An additional shelf in the bathroom
A dinner table and chairs
More room, as in his landlord really needs to move some of his things out. It'd be nice to have a whole closet instead of half.

[Alsfia]

A cookbook with many different kinds of recipes, if possible one that's written a bit like a household manual (I've got one that apart from recipes also have budget examples, cleaning tips, diagrams of which part of the pork is called what and so on...)

[Ejoriah]

- Spare lightbulbs so that if the light goes out in the middle of the night, you can still survive.
- Bottle opener
- Can opener
- coasters

[Yaaamiii]

Toilet paper (you'll go through twice as much now!!)

Also I hear memory foam mattresses are really hot, that's why I never bought one. In the USA we had a nice pillow-top, those would be my first choice.

The thing about the memory foam mattress actually made me sad! I really wanted one, but my SO is a freakin' furnace when he sleeps jaja!!! I just figured that not only are they more comfortable, but spring mattresses lose their shape after a while?

And also, lol on the TP true story.

A cookbook with many different kinds of recipes, if possible one that's written a bit like a household manual (I've got one that apart from recipes also have budget examples, cleaning tips, diagrams of which part of the pork is called what and so on...)

Oh my gosh, I totally want like a recipe selection thing or something (book or index cards, whichever!)

- Spare lightbulbs so that if the light goes out in the middle of the night, you can still survive.
- coasters

The spare light bulbs are a must.
Also, I totally made coasters from an idea I found on pinterest!! So I guess I can check that one off the list!



Thanks for the ideas guys . I'm literally going to compile a list. (again, the reason I'm not just doing this 2-3 months before we actually move in together is a long explanation...

[lucybelle]

If you get a decent mattress, they should hold their shape for a long time. Our mattress right now is a piece of shit and is basically the shape of a W from the holes in each side, caused by my SO but are now in all parts of the mattress due to flipping. I never had this issue in the USA since I had a decent mattress.

I would suggest to get at least Queen size! Double is just not big enough!

[LadyDaemon]

I would suggest to get at least Queen size! Double is just not big enough!

Definitely concur on this. Especially if either of you moves a lot or tosses and turns a lot in your sleep. Me and my fiance HAVE to have at least a queen size bed because I move a lot and he does this weird middle-of-the-night body twitching thing O.o. So we need the room lol.

[lyonsgirl]

- Flash lights, just in case the power goes out. Or "camping lanterns" (battery operated) for the same purpose. (We need to go get another one, which is why I'm suggesting it)
- I think we go through more than just twice the TP I went through on my own, ha!
- A second set of NICE sheets for your new bed
- new pillows.
- lamps for those new bedside tables LB suggested
- a good, solid wood cutting board.


And, a suggestion for your registry: an air-popcorn popper. I am in love with this thing. And a small food processor. I keep finding recipes that require some food processing because I like using the darn thing so much.

[LadyDaemon]

To add on to the above about the cooking thing. Also a crockpot. If you don't know how to use one then get one and learn how lol. You can make meals that don't take long and you can leave them all day until you're ready to eat. Pretty economical in my opinion as far as food is concerned.

[Zephii]

I would suggest to get at least Queen size! Double is just not big enough!

I beg to differ, double is almost too big. Any bigger than that, and how are you supposed to find each other to snuggle? Besides, space is at a premium lol

I'm a bit of a minimalist, I think there are very few things you actually need. You need somewhere to sleep, somewhere to sit, basics to make dinner with (quality pots, pans and knives are worth the money, I highly recommend waterless/oil-less cookware), a good vacuum, towels - preferably thick!, a dunny brush and a computer. Ok, the last isn't a need, but I'm a geek.

Really though, look at both of your lifestyles to determine what you will use. For example, we don't own a kitchen table, we eat sitting on the floor, because tables in our house tend to just become a dumping ground and I don't like formal sit-down dinners. We also don't have a tv - something most people would have on their need list that we'd never use. Think about how you want to live and what is important to you personally.

[lucybelle]

Yes to the food processer! We don't have one and let me tell you, a blender does not do the trick. My favorite kitchen appliances-

toaster oven (we don't have a microwave)
blender
rice cooker
crockpot (I think ours was $20 at walmart and we use it mostly to cook beans. Put in beans on HIGH and 3 hours later they're done! Much easier than in a pot)
hand-held beater (or Kitchenaid if you're fancy!)

[lyonsgirl]

Oh I love my KitchenAid. I actually just got a 2nd bowl (glass) and a new attachment (a beater with a soft scraper side) from my grandparents-in-law for Christmas.

Yes to the crockpot. I had a rice cooker, but never really used it. Though I imagine living in CR you use yours all the time, LB! We also have a toaster and, my newest favorite: coffee grinder. And, to add to your list, a waffle iron if you're feeling fancy/have the room for one.

[Dziubka]

I beg to differ, double is almost too big. Any bigger than that, and how are you supposed to find each other to snuggle? Besides, space is at a premium lol

This! We have a king size (because we got it for cheap from the tennants before us) and I'd gladly exchange it for a double.

I agree that you need to look at your lifestyles. There are a lot of things other people need that I have no use for and things I need/use daily that probably no one else needs.

kitchen-wise:
- garlic crusher
- a good (!) potato peeler!
- a scale (I don't know if it's a European thing, but they're more common/popular than measuring cups here)

Posters, Pictures, Art - Things to make your place a home.