There’s nothing quite like the thrill of getting your first place. Although I lived in the dorm for a while, my first ‘official’ place was a basement suite about 10 minutes from the University. Living underneath a family of 4, I immediately went out and adopted a kitten, learned how to cook on the stove, and thanks to the kids upstairs, I developed a healthy and lifelong aversion to indoor games that involve jumping off and on the couch. To this day, if my own kids try it, I cringe and make them stop. I don’t have a basement tenant to protect either.
I was pretty happy in that place, and my only problem was I had absolutely nothing in the way of household furnishings. The cupboard was essentially bare, so to speak.
When I moved in I borrowed a couch, raided my parent’s linen closet for some really scratchy towels that were the first things to go, and slowly but surely started to create my own unique little home. I painted the bathroom green and added a very cool froggy shower curtain, moved on to creating my own bedroom complete with cozy linens, and set the course for my obsession with everything related to home décor.
So if you’re just starting out and are tempted to hit your parent’s house for a little ‘shopping’ you’re in luck, because I’m here to save you from that experience. With everything available for bed and bath right now, there’s no reason to suffer through hand-me-downs. Here’s what I recommend you stock up on if you’re just starting out in your own place:
For the bathroom
Don’t suffer in the shower
Unless you’re walking straight into a brand new condo, the odds are your shower won’t be up to par. Weak water pressure and an old, corroded showerhead can result in waking up on the wrong side of the bed. The first thing I replaced in my first place was the showerhead, and because I didn’t skimp on it, I even took it with me when I left.
Showerheads like the KOHLER Showerhead are easy to install, easy to remove, and have 72 nozzles for a very comfortable spray.
Towel off the right way
Speaking of showers, I’ve always wondered why all parents seem to have very small towels in their closets? When I’d shower at my parent’s house, the towels were small, scratchy, and very thin, so when my mom offered me a few to take along to my new place I was somewhat reluctant.
Two weeks later I gave them back, because I realized that a good shower is half about your showerhead and half about the towels you use after. I picked up a set of towels like the Cambridge Towel Set, and I was deliriously happy. They were soft, cozy, and even included a tub mat.
Maximize space with a shower caddy
I cannot emphasize enough the need for a good shower caddy. Most rental bathrooms are small and if you’re into ‘products,’ space is an issue. A bathroom organizer like the Oxo Shower Caddy will store your soap, shampoo, conditioner, and anything else you need for your shower.
Cozy up your new bedroom
Say goodbye to cold toes
For many of us, our first place comes with the inability to control the thermostat for the first time. I spent quite a few evenings with the oven door open because I was freezing to death and had no access to the heat controls. Or, as I found out when I moved onto a condo a year later, even if you do have access you don’t want to crank it up for fear of the bill at the end of the month.
That’s why, for Canadians all across the country, a good duvet is a must-have. I’ve never had anything keep me as warm as the fluffy, feather duvet I bought, and the Highland Feather Duvet will keep you toasty no matter what the temperature inside or outside. It has high loft Canadian Standard White Down inside to create a cocoon of cozy.
Don’t skimp on your sheets
There’s nothing quite like having a comfortable bed after a long day of classes and studying. I know having a full time job is just as exhausting, but there was something draining about school that made me long for sleep.
I can’t imagine having to go through hours and hours of studying and stress to go home to an uncomfortable bed, so I didn’t borrow sheets when I moved out and I didn’t skimp on them either. Having brushed up on what a good thread count was, I choose high quality sheets like the Simple & Pure 420 thread count sheets. Made from comfortable cotton, they’re cozy in the winter and cool in the summer.
Keep around a blanket or two
When sitting on the couch watching movies or up late studying, I always loved having a good throw blanket around. To this day I have several throw blankets on the couches, in storage bins waiting to be used, and even on my deck for cold mornings, so having a cozy throw blanket around like the Simple & Pure Corduroy Throw is definitely one of those ‘little things’ you’ll appreciate.
Speaking of the ‘little things’
If you lived with your parents before moving out, it’s easy to forget about all of the little things that make a house a home. When I moved out I couldn’t figure out why the couch felt so uncomfortable, and then I realized it needed some decorative cushions. In the bathroom, I didn’t even have a waste bin or toothbrush holder, so adding a bathroom accessory set with soap dispenser was a must. Now that I have my own home complete with large family and decked out in my own retro, I still make sure I stock the rooms with all of the ‘little things.’
If you’re heading back to school, out the front door of your parent’s place, and moving into your own digs for the first time, I can’t recommend enough spending some time and choosing your own bed and bath products. From towels to duvets, every little touch you add will make your house, even it’s a rental, your home.
Check out the Bed and Bath selection on Bestbuy.ca right now, and have fun with new place.
