Must-Have Items for a Smooth-Running Household
Tick off these checklists for a well-stocked home ready for everything from gift wrapping and drop-in guests, to mishaps and repairs
A well-stocked home can help you handle the little surprises (drop-in guests, dastardly spills, etc) life throws at you with a bit more grace. If you are setting up home for the first time or just want to refresh your space, these 10 checklists will keep you stocked with items you need for almost any occasion.
Correspondence
If you’ve ever had to scramble at the last minute to find a card for a birthday or another occasion, you will appreciate having a collection of cards at your fingertips. Make a point of picking up beautiful cards when you spot them so you are always prepared.
If you’ve ever had to scramble at the last minute to find a card for a birthday or another occasion, you will appreciate having a collection of cards at your fingertips. Make a point of picking up beautiful cards when you spot them so you are always prepared.
- Thank-you notes
- Personal stationery printed with your name or monogram, or a signature motif
- Stamps
- Good pens
- Birthday cards
- Assorted cards for all occasions (wedding, baby, congratulations, love, graduation)
- Address book (if you store addresses online, keep a paper copy for back up)
Home bar
The beauty of a home bar is that you can decide how extensive, or simple to make it. Want to offer only wine? Choose a house white and red, and buy them by the case. Love offering your guests a full range of cocktails, à la Mad Men? Go for the full set-up described below.
The beauty of a home bar is that you can decide how extensive, or simple to make it. Want to offer only wine? Choose a house white and red, and buy them by the case. Love offering your guests a full range of cocktails, à la Mad Men? Go for the full set-up described below.
- Balloon-shaped red wine glasses
- White wine glasses
- Beer glasses
- Martini glasses
- Champagne flutes or coupes
- Highball glasses
- Old-fashioned glasses
- Shot glasses
- Cocktail shaker
- Strainer and stir stick
- Bottle opener
- Ice bucket and tongs
- An affordable favourite wine (both a red and a white) purchased by the case to save a little cash, to serve as your house wine
- A selection of quality liquors, such as vodka, gin, scotch, whiskey, bourbon, rum and tequila
- Mixers and cocktail additions such as vermouth, bitters, club soda, tonic, grenadine, lemons, limes and olives
Birthdays and gifts
Keeping a gift cupboard stocked with go-to gifts and signature wrapping supplies means you will never find yourself showing up at a gathering empty-handed.
Keeping a gift cupboard stocked with go-to gifts and signature wrapping supplies means you will never find yourself showing up at a gathering empty-handed.
- Birthday calendar with family members’ and friends’ birthdays recorded (keep a printed one as a back up even if you store birthdays online)
- Gift-wrapping paper, both printed and plain
- Ribbon
- Scissors and tape
- Gift bags in several sizes
- Plain shirt boxes
- Tissue paper
- Birthday candles and matches
- Balloons
- Hostess gifts, such as candles, soap and tea towels
- Signature baby gift, such as a favourite book or lovely knitted hat
- Gifts for loved ones purchased as you find them, to avoid last-minute shopping
First-aid supplies
Think of your first-aid supplies in two levels: items for the everyday minor bumps and scrapes and those for the true emergencies. Keep your medicine cabinet (or a basket in the kitchen cupboard) stocked with basic supplies, and have a fully loaded Red Cross first-aid kit ready to grab if needed.
Think of your first-aid supplies in two levels: items for the everyday minor bumps and scrapes and those for the true emergencies. Keep your medicine cabinet (or a basket in the kitchen cupboard) stocked with basic supplies, and have a fully loaded Red Cross first-aid kit ready to grab if needed.
- First-aid instruction booklet
- Assorted bandages
- Antibiotic ointment
- Thermometer
- Aspirin
- Antiseptic wipes
- Hydrocortisone ointment
- Sterile gauze pads
- Roller bandages
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Ice packs
- Non-latex gloves
- All-in-one first-aid kit (such as from the Red Cross) to grab and go
Household tool box
Be prepared for minor repairs and tasks by keeping all your tools in one place.
Be prepared for minor repairs and tasks by keeping all your tools in one place.
- Picture hanging kit
- Hammer
- Level
- Stud finder
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Power screwdriver (if you ever build Ikea furniture, one of these will save you tons of time)
- Tape measure
- Adjustable wrench
- Pliers
- Kitchen shears
- Ladder
Laundry room essentials
Keep your whites white and towels fluffy with the right tools.
Keep your whites white and towels fluffy with the right tools.
- Stain-removal chart
- Laundry detergent
- Mild detergent for hand washables
- Non-chlorine bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Enzyme cleaner for pretreating stains
- Drying rack for hand-washed items, including a flat mesh-covered space for drying knits
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Clothes brush (to remove those small balls of fibre that can accumulate on knits)
Flower arranging materials
Make arranging those pretty farmer’s market blooms a snap with an array of containers and tools at the ready.
Make arranging those pretty farmer’s market blooms a snap with an array of containers and tools at the ready.
- Floral scissors
- Pruning shears, for snipping branches
- Metal florist bucket
- Flower frogs for flower arranging
- Bud vases
- Jam jars
- Mint julep cups
- Clear glass vases in assorted sizes and shapes
- Extra-large cylindrical vase for cut branches
Entertaining arsenal
Host gatherings with style and avoid last-minute store runs by keeping an entertaining cupboard stocked with these essentials.
Host gatherings with style and avoid last-minute store runs by keeping an entertaining cupboard stocked with these essentials.
- Unscented tapers, tea lights and votive candles
- Candleholders
- Classic linen tablecloth for your dining table
- Cloth dinner napkins
- Cocktail napkins
- Water pitcher
- Extra salad tongs and serving spoons
- Trivets
- Party-ready playlists
- Folding card table and chairs
- Dessert plates
- Coffee cups for a crowd
- Place cards
Guest room
Be ready when guests drop in, even at a moment’s notice, with these essentials tucked away.
TELL US
What essential items did we miss? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
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How to be the Perfect Host for Overnight Guests
Raise Your Glass to Home Bars in All Shapes and Sizes
Be ready when guests drop in, even at a moment’s notice, with these essentials tucked away.
- Clean sheets that fit your guest bed
- Air mattress, if you do not have a guest bed
- Extra blankets
- Extra pillows
- Fresh towels
- Alarm clock
- Soaps and mini-toiletries
- Extra toothbrush and toothpaste
- Reading lamp
- Scented candles and matches
- Selection of books and magazines
- Bottle of water or carafe and glass
TELL US
What essential items did we miss? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
Bloomin’ Marvellous Ways to Arrange Fresh Spring Flowers
How to be the Perfect Host for Overnight Guests
Raise Your Glass to Home Bars in All Shapes and Sizes
Even today, when you can find so much information online, there is still a place for a few well-chosen reference books in the home library. A trusted reference book can be speedy and satisfying to use, not to mention fun to flip through.