Business & Money | Monday 5 September, 2016 11:12 am |

Moving into a new apartment or villa involves numerous and tiresome tasks that revolve around sorting, shopping, planning and packing. When you set up your first home as an adult, or as a newlywed couple, it can become particularly daunting as you decide between items that have to be bought immediately versus those that can be borrowed temporarily, or purchased later. 

 

Juggling your time is an important aspect of setting up home. Even as you scour websites and visit stores, you may find that you have forgotten several things that are essential, or wind up with expensive purchases that serve no purpose.      

 

Allocating a budget and keeping within its confines is yet another painstaking part of the process. Vital decisions have to be made about different rooms, and how much to allocate to each. It takes skill to accommodate all expenses, and is particularly hard if you have just bought your new home instead of renting one.

 

What is the starting point, how can you plan, and how can you arrive at the perfect balance? Here is how. 

 

IKEA Saudi Arabia has a compiled a master checklist which explains what you will need for your new home, with handy lists for each room. The items marked essential are deemed necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of a household - buy these before you move in or as soon as you do. Others that are marked optional can be purchased after you have settled in, or there may even be no need for some of them. 

 

You can allocate funds to each item or section, print or save the list, and tick things off as you mark progress. It goes without saying that you can also alter or modify it to match your personal requirements and signature style. Consider it the perfect tool to help you move house, and make it into a home. 

   

 

Foyer  

Welcome mat (outside the door)

Key hooks  

Lamp or area light 

Small shoe storage

Hooks or rack for outwear and head dress   

Table or console with matched mirror  

Bowl or vase

 

Living room

Sofa, chairs, futon and/or other seating 

Curtains or blinds  

Television, and bracket or stand 

Coffee table

Set of coasters

Bookshelves

End tables or nesting tables 

Media storage unit

Rugs or carpet

Throws and cushions  

Lamp (s)

Picture frames 

Art

 

Kitchen 

Cookware – saucepan, pots and pans

Serving ware – plates, glasses, bowls, mugs, platters, ice cream scoop 

Cooking utensils – spoons, ladles, whisk, spatula    

Cutting boards – poultry and meat, seafood, vegetables 

Knives – chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated knife 

Colander

Dish drying rack

Dish towels

Oven mitts 

Spice jars 

Countertop storage 

Cabinet storage  

Food storage containers 

Ice cube trays

Silverware

 

Dining area

 

Table and chairs

Tablecloth or placemats

Set of coasters

Chafing dishes 

Trivets, various sizes  

Table linen – runner, place mats, napkins and doilies   

Area lighting 

Vase 

Art 

 

Bedroom

Bed

Mattress 

Pillows

Bed linen (minimum of two sets)

Quilt 

Bedside tables or night stand

Large shoe storage  

Wardrobe

Hangers 

Dustbin 

Curtains or blinds 

Dresser or vanity with matched mirror  

Armchair or chaise longue 

Blanket storage chest 

Rug or carpet 

Additional storage – wall, floor or under bed  

 

Bathroom

Bathroom set – soap holder, soap dispenser, mug 

Bath and hand towels (minimum of two sets per person) 

Bath mats (more than one if needed) 

Shower curtain, and rings 

Magnifying mirror 

Step stool 

Additional storage - wall, floor or over the door 

Matched boxes or baskets 

Laundry cabinet

 

Home office 

Desk, table or work platform 

Chair 

Task light or lamp

Storage 

File cabinet 

Book shelves 

Stackable tray 

Magazine files 

Wrapping paper 

Art 

 

Laundry area  

Drying rack 

Ironing board 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

Essential 

Vases – various sizes

Candles or tea lights – various sizes  

Spare LED bulbs 

Large plastic bins or boxes for storage