121 Household Items Everyone Needs (+ Downloadable List)

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 and create a realistic budget, 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 household products list 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 household items list 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. It can also help your figure out what to place in storage if need be. 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 things, below.

List of Household items Needed for a New Home or Short Term Rental (110+ Items)

Kitchen items

1. Dinner Plates x 8-12
2. Salad plates x 8-12
3. Cups x 8-12
4. Cereal Bowls x 8-12
5. Coffee Mugs 4-8
6. Serving Platter
7. Serving Bowl
8. Tupperware
9. Wine Glasses
10. Outdoor cups
11. Outdoor wine glasses
12. Forks x 8-12
13. Knives x 8-12
14. Spoons x 8-12
15. Steak Knives
16. Butcher knife
17. Paring knife
18. Cutting Board
19. Spatula
20. Rubber spatula
21. Can Opener
22. Peeler
23. Cheese grater
24. Wooden Spoons
25. Measuring cups
26. Measuring spoons
27. Tongs
28. Frying pans, small and large
29. Sauce pans, small and large
30. Baking Sheet
31. Pyrex Baking Dishes
32. Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
33. Coffee Maker
34. Tea Kettle
35. Paper Towel Holder
36. Toaster
37. Microwave
38. Slow Cooker
39. Pot Holders
40. Dish Towels
41. Dish Drying Rack
42. Garbage Can
43. High Chair Attachment
44. Kids Forks, Spoons
45. Kids Bowls
46. Kids Plates
47. Kids Cups
48. Vase(s)

Bathroom

1. Garbage Can
2. Plunger
3. Toilet Bowl Brush
4. Shower Curtain
5. Shower Curtain Rings
6. Bath Mat
7. Bath Towels
8. Hand Towels
9. Washcloths
10. Makeup Towels
11. Towel Hooks
12. Toilet Paper Holder
13. Hand Soap Dispenser

Bedrooms

1. Pillows
2. Blankets
3. Sheets
4. Quilt/duvet
5. Mattress
6. Bed Frame
7. Headboard
8. Sconces / Lamps
9. Window Treatments 
10. Area Rugs
11. Nightstands
12. Dresser
13. Wall Art 
14. White Noise Machine

Living / Dining Areas

1. Sofa(s)
2. Side Chair(s)
3. Coffee Table
4. End Table
5. Lamps
6. Area Rug
7. Wall Art
8. Throw Pillows
9. Kitchen / Dining Table
10. Kitchen / Dining Chairs
11. Bar cart
12. Sideboard
13. Bookshelf

Entertainment /Electronics

1. TV
2. Books
3. Radio
4. Speakers
5. Board Games

Outdoor

1. Chairs
2. Table
3. Grill
4. Umbrella
5. Shovel
6. Door Mat
7. Lawn Mower
8. Leaf Blower
9. Weed Wacker

Cleaning & Tools

1. Washer
2. Dryer
3. Ironing Board
4. Iron
5. Steamer
6. Broom
7. Dust Pan
8. Mop
9. Bucket
10. Rags / Cloths
11. Sponges
12. Vacuum
13. Clothes Hangers
14. Humidifier
15. Screwdrivers (philips and flat-head)
16. Drill
17. Hammer
18. Measuring Tape
19. Picture-Hanging Kit
20. Extension Cord

Safety

1. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
2. 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
• Kohl’s
• H&M Home
• Homegoods
• World Market
• Home Depot

Mid-range home stores

• West Elm
• Pottery Barn
• Crate & Barrel
• Macy’s

High-end 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 everyday objects 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

From there, decor items, accent furniture, and the rest of your kitchenware and cleaning supplies can be added in accordingly.