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  Minimum House Contents - Version 1 

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Having created the massively long list of stuff on the other page I decided it was time to have the minimum list for people moving into their first flat/student accomodation/whatever.

The list below is designed to show what you need immediately, what you should get soon and what can wait for later. The priorites are the ones that I think are generally important, I'd buy other things as urgent and skip some of the things on the list, and so will you, but that's part of the fun of setting up on your own.

And as I said on the other page, there are things I've left off this list deliberately (at present) including food/drink, books/CDs etc.,  what kind of lighting is required in each room, decoration for each room, clothing etc.

I'm assuming a quite minimal accomodation, but I'm separating bedroom from living/dining room for convenience.
So I'm assuming you'll have the following "areas":

• Bedroom
• Kitchen
• Living/Dining/Sitting Room (which will also double as office/study)
• Bathroom

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Room by Room Breakdown 

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Kitchen 

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Appliances (electrical)

• Stove/Cooker/Microwave/Hot Plate
• Refrigerator / freezer
• Toaster (if your cooker has a grill then this is a "nice to have")
• Washer (or you can go to the laundrette/laundromat/communal laundry room or use someone else's machine (e.g. your mum's))
• Drier (You can hang clothes from radiators, clothes lines etc.)
• Vacuum Cleaner (some students, particularly male ones may think this is a luxury!)
• Coffee maker/Kettle (you can boil water in a saucepan or microwave if necessary)
• Rice cooker, sandwich toaster, blender, food processor,, deep fat fryer etc. etc.(you may disagree, but this is my list!)

Tableware

• Dinner Plates
• Side Plates (I think they are important for toast etc. you may decide that you can use the dinner plates)
• Soup bowls (obviously you can use the same bowls for cereal, soup and dessert, but wash them in between uses!)
• Teacups and saucers and/or Mugs (for tea/coffee/cupasoup etc.)
• Drinking Glasses (water/wine/beer/cola whatever, can be plastic)
• Trays (I find at least one tray invaluable for eating in front of the TV)
• Table cutlery (a standard set of table cutlery should include knives, forks, big spoons (dessert/table/soup) and small spoons (tea spoons). You may have separate soup spoons, steak knives, butter knives, dessert forks, fish knives, corncob holders etc.but it is possible to survive without them)
• Chop sticks (some people may consider these essential, others might consider them a luxury)
• Butter Dish (or you can just keep the butter/marge in the wrapper or tub in the fridge)
• Caffitiere (some people consider this essential, others a luxury)
• Tea pot (or you can just put the teabag in the mug and add boiling water)
• Coasters (cardboard beermats from local pubs make excellent coasters, and I've found that as long as I asked nicely, they usually said I could have a few)
• Salt and Pepper Shakers (possibly including a black pepper mill)
• Sugar bowl (though many people just go straight from the sugar bag...)
• Tea strainer (if you think loose tea tastes that much better than tea bags!)
• Ashtray (I don't let people smoke in my place, but I still have one so that if they want to go outside and smoke they won't leave cigarette ends in my window box)
• Candle sticks (candles are a cheap way to improve the ambiance of an otherwise bare flat)
• Table cloths/Napkins etc. Napkins can be obtained from the dispensers in McDonalds <grin!> or by using Kitchen paper. An old curtain or sheet (washed, and possibly tie-dyed or use one of the washing machine dyes from Dylon) makes an adequate tablecloth.

Cooking tools

• If you're into baking then you'll need baking sheets/trays, cake pan, bread pan, cupcake tray, cooling rack etc. otherwise these are a luxury
• Kitchen knives (at least one good sharp general purpose knife for cutting/slicing/opening things). I also think a bread knife is essential but I buy unsliced bread, you may think it a luxury... a set of good kitchen knives needn't cost more than twenty pounds and will be invaluable
• Pots & Pans (a big pan for spagetti/pasta/rice/stew, plus a smaller pan for a sauce and a midsize one for vegetables, each with their own lid are a good start. It is possible to get really cheap pans, but I found that the non-stick coating comes off into the food within a couple of months so it is probably better to spend a little more and buy something better)
• Microwave cookware (if you've got a microwave!) Pyrex stuff is brilliant since it can be used in normal ovens, microwaves, used to serve to the table (or even to eat from!) and is dishwasher safe (and can survive in a student dorm!)
• Frying Pan (with cover/lid) see Pots&Pans above for recommendations ... I sometimes use it to stir fry or shallow fry vegetables, then add tomato puree, herbs etc. to make up a napolitana or bolognese sauce by reducing the heat and covering the pan and using it as a large flat saucepan, saves on the washing up!
• Wok (with cover/lid) This could be the same thing as the frying pan above.
• Pyrex (measuring) jug. I've found this unbelievably useful for everything from making up instant custard to holding gravy and sauces, and even for boiling water for tea in the microwave
• Measuring Cups/Spoons (some people will find these essential, I consider them a luxury but then I don't cook anything that requires that sort of measuring)
• Kitchen Scales (again if you're a great cook (or want to be) these are essential, I don't own any and I don't miss them)
• Potholders / oven mitts (though you can use tea towels/dish cloths)
• Can opener
• Bottle opener
• Cork Screw
• Colander/sieve (useful for draining vegetables, pasta, rice etc.)
• Whisk (or rotary beater) for making omlettes, whipping cream etc.
• Cheese Grater (but then I like cheese)
• Rolling pin (again only if you are a cook, I don't own one myself)
• Casserole dish (I've never used one so I consider it a luxury)
• Cutting Board (for everything from vegetables to pizza to bread) Saves cutting grooves into the work surfaces
• Mixing bowls (buy one set of pyrex bowls, preferably with covers, and you'll have microwave cookware, serving bowls, mixing bowls etc. all for one price)
• Serving spoons (including a spagetti fork), potato masher, slotted spoon, wooden spoons etc. Get a good, cheap set from somewhere like Woolworths...
• Kitchen scissors (incredibly useful, you just don't realise until you have them to hand, and then you'll use them all the time)
• Vegetable peeler
• Pizza wheel (you can use a sharp knife instead, but they are cheap and convenient if you eat much home cooked pizza (the stuff from Domino's is usually pretty much cut already)
• Ice Cream scoop (you'll bend your normal spoons on most ice-cream unless you leave it out of the fridge for a while to soften)
• Ice cube trays (but I lived in the US and I'm used to ice in drinks) I actually tend to use the icecube bags that are available from all good supermarkets.
• Apron
• Cookbooks
• Wine rack
• Spice Rack and contents (importance depends on how much cooking you do)
• Storage containers (e.g. sugar, flour, biscuit/cookie jar etc.)
• Paper towel holder (or you can leave the roll to stand by itself, as it does in my kitchen!)
• Water Filter (depends if you need one)
• Kitchen timer (again, invaluable to cooks, useless to the rest of us, except it can be set to remind us when the TV programme is due to start!)
• Plate rack (cutlery drawer tidy, rack for serving spoons, rack for saucepans etc.) all useful, but you can survive without them for the first few months.
• Egg cups (I don't tend to eat soft boiled eggs so these are a luxury to me, you may have differernt ideas)

Disposable/Consumable stuff

• Tin foil
• Plastic wrap (there are three main kinds, standard, microwave safe and stuff suitable for fatty foods (e.g. cheese). Get the one(s) you need, skip the rest)
• Greaseproof paper (I never use it, but I have some in my cupboard nonetheless!)
• Paper towels
• Candles (I think they are essential, both for emergency lighting, and because they improve the ambiance of a place immeasurably) and matches
• Light bulbs
• Fuses/fusewire (if you don't have circuit breakers)
• Change for the electricity meter (if coin operated)
• Plus there are things that come under Cleaning products such as Washing up liquid etc.

Other

• Clock (may be built into your cooker or microwave)
• Cabinets and cupboards (somewhere to put stuff)
• Kick stool / step ladder (useful if you can't reach the top shelves)
• Radio (I think this is essential, particularly one that you can play tapes or CDs on)
• Note pad / message board
• Magnets for refrigerator
• Take away/delivery menus
• Taxi/minicab phone numbers
• Fire extinguisher
• First Aid Kit
• Sewing Kit / Scissors etc.
• Tool Kit (here or somewhere. Hammer, screwdriver (flat and cross), wrench etc. plus nails, screws, glue, tape...)
• Flash light (aka torch!)
• Stationery (pens, paper, stamps etc. seem to automatically gravitate to a kitchen drawer unless allocated a space somewhere else!)

Cleaning, polishing and rubbish

• Cleaning Supplies (window cleaner, furniture polish etc.)
• Dusters / J-cloths
• Washing Powder / Liquid / Softener etc.
• Laundry Bag/basket (can use black plastic bags or plastic shopping bags)
• Shoe polish / brush / buffers (if you have shoes that need polishing)
• Dish towels and cloths
• Washing Up Liquid
• Sponge/Dish washing brush
• Sponges
• Dish Drying Rack
• Iron/Ironing Board (again something some male students survive without, may be provided in a communal laundry room)
• Clothesline and pegs or some sort of rack (over the radiator or over the bath etc.unless you plan to do all your drying with a tumble dryer)
• Broom
• Mop and Bucket (probably one of those foam sponge floor mops)
• Dustpan and brush
• Rubber gloves (if you're scrubbing the floor or washing the dishes, some people say they are absolutely necessary others never use them)
• Plastic shopping/carrier bags (very useful for everything from wrapping up potato peelings to storing papers)
• Outside dustbin (some places supply wheelie bins or similar, some places require the rubbish to be in black plastic bags, but even then unless you leave it in the house they
• Inside rubbish bin (swing top bin or similar plus bags for bin etc.)
• Recycling box(es)/bag(s) to recycle whatever you can
• Spare bags for vacuum cleaner (assuming you've got one!)

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Sitting Room/Office 

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• Lamps (at least a ceiling lamp, but some sort of reading lamp will be kinder on the eyes)
• Couch/Chairs/Beanbags (something to sit on, unless you like sitting on the floor)
• Cushions (especially if you're sitting on the floor!)
• Table (coffee table, desk, dining room table or some sort of surface to put plates etc. on)
• Television/VCR (I think that nowadays most people will consider at least a TV an essential, don't forget your TV Licence!)
• HiFi (well, something to play music on)
• Carpet/Rugs (unless you're really into minimalism!)
• Telephone
• Answering machine (many phone companies will provide a voicemail system if you don't want to buy a separate machine, but at five pounds a quarter, you can get a cheap answering machine for the cost of a years service)
• Posters/Prints/Pictures/Paintings (a student will stick it straight to the wall with blue tak or sellotape, a person with a job will use a frame and picture hooks!)
• Curtain Rods + Curtains (standard and/or lace and/or blinds or shutters)
• Wall clock (I use the clock on the VCR but you may want something different)
• Book shelves and places to put knick-knacks
• Drinks cabinet / Bar (I put this under luxuries on my own list since I don't drink and everything I have for guests sits either in the kitchen or in an old computer cabinet)

• General Stationery (if you don't keep it in the kitchen drawer)
• Phone books
• Maps
• Desk
• Desk Chair
• Desk Lamp
• Computer, printer, modem and such
• Drawing board and any other art equipment (e.g. Airbrush)
• Filing cabinet (or at least some sort of filing box to keep important papers etc.)
• Reference books, dictionary etc.
• Anything else (musical instruments, sewing machine, collection of porcelain pigs etc.)

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Bedroom 

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• Bed with mattress, headboard, box springs etc. (this can be combined with the couch in the sitting room if you've got a small place by buying a sofa bed/folding futon.
• Bedding (Sheets, Pillows, Pillow cases, Blankets/duvet, duvet covers, Mattress cover, Mattress pad, Bed spread / dust cover) At a minimum a sleeping bag and pillow, but I'd go for at least something on the mattress, then a sheet on top of that, then you, then a covered duvet on top, plus pillows, and I'd prefer a fitted sheet for the bottom and a flat sheet for the top (easy to make the bed, doesn't come untucked etc.)
• Clothes Rail / Wardrobe (including hangers etc.)
• Chest of Drawers (well, somewhere to store clothing other than in piles on the floor!)
• Any other storage (e.g. underbed, foot locker etc.)
• Clock Radio
• Bedside table for clock radio, lamp, somewhere to put your glasses/contact lenses etc.
• Dressing table (with tri-fold mirror?)
• Full Length Mirror (some consider this a luxury, others a necessity)
• Chair (I think this is essential, you may disagree)
• Wastebasket (a cheap wastebasket can be made from a photocopy paper box, covered with paper or paint and with a plastic shopping bag in it)
• Curtains
• Bedside lamp
• You can add other things to this list based on your personal requirements, e.g. shoe racks, jewelry case, lit makeup mirror, something to hold 127 bottles of nail varnish etc.

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Bathroom 

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• Shower Mat
• Shower curtain with rail, rings etc.
• Soap dish (though you can just use the edge of the tub or basin)
• Towels and a flannel
• Guest towels (though they can always use standard clean towels!)
• Toilet bowl brush
• Toilet paper
• Bathroom cabinet (with mirrored doors)
• Bathroom cleaning items (sponge, disinfectant etc.)
• Stuff to make bathtime more fun e.g. Bath oils, Candles, incense, Soft music (grin!), good books, rubber duck etc.
• General requisites (shampoo, shaver, soap, toothpaste/brush/floss etc.)
• Tumbler / Glass
• Toothbrush holder
• Hairdryer (though it is listed here, you shouldn't have live mains powered equipment in the bathroom where it can fall in the bath and kill someone)
• Trash basket
• Clothes basket / hamper (here or in bedroom)
• Nail brush
• Bathroom scales (again some people must have this, others don't want one)

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Somewhere 

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• Important Documents
• Luggage (Backpack, cases etc.)
• Spare Keys (Door Keys, Garage Door Key, Car key etc)
• Vases
• desk fan (for hot summer days!)
• Coat rack/umbrella stand
• Spare sleeping bag/Roll Away Bed (if you expect people to crash on your floor)
• Exercise/Sporting Equipment
• Extension leads
• A camera
• Junk storage (including boxes that hifi etc. came in)
• Pictures/Posters/Paintings
• Knick-Knacks
• Rugs
• Security Equipment (alarm, window locks, smoke detectors etc.)

• Barbecue (though can always use disposables from the supermarket!)
• Garden furniture
• Lawnmower / strimmer (borrow this if you can, they cost about 40-50 pounds second hand for cheap ones)
• Hose (depends how much gardening you intend to do)
• Ladder
• Wallpaper table (useful as a spare table if you're doing a party, be careful not to overload it!)
• Garden tools (rake, outside broom, trowel, secuters, hedge trimmer etc.)

• Car stuff

What's Next?

If you can spot anything to add to the list (almost no matter how ridiculous! Though I may draw the line at garden gnomes and pink flamingos...) or can offer me anything that I'm missing (e.g. you've got a spare desk lamp, smoke detector, garden hose etc.) then drop me a line at housemove@magician.co.uk

Thanks!

Chris "The Magician" O'Shea