to ask for your recommendations on basically everything?

[y0rkier0se]

We're moving out of rented into our first home. We've always had cheap house stuff from B&M/asda etc as didn't see the point on spending lots whilst we were renting and trying to save up so we've made do. Now we're in a position where we are starting fresh so we need to buy everything (other than white goods). I feel lost. We've spent hours wandering around DFS/Sofology/SCS/Ikea/Homebase/Next/Debenhams/John Lewis/Asda/Sainsburys and I feel so daunted about committing a lot of money on furniture and everything. We don't have a massive budget - hence looking in Ikea etc but want to buy the best we can afford with a mid range budget. Don't mind spending more on something that is going to last and be reliable. All we've bought so far are towels! We need a kettle, a microwave, a toaster, a bed, a mattress, crockery, cutlery, bedding.. etc. We even need a new hoover! So AIBU to ask for your recommendations please? What have you bought that has been worth it and that you'd recommend? What can't you live without? Any brands that you'd swear by?

Sainsburys home sections is fab and I've found their bedding etc really last as well as their pans. Purchased a lot of our first home stuff from there with intentions to replace later down the line but we haven't had to! Have some lovely China mugs from there too which I won't cry over if they break.

Big ticket stuff I'd say decide what you want then look around... Don't forget JL price match and have great customer service so might be worth choosing them.

Tk maxx for interior furnishings and homewares.

Good luck and keep us posted with what you purchase!

If you have a NEXT home near you remember they do a sale as well 50% off all display furniture. I have a beautiful sofa & side board.

Much of my furniture is antique or second hand.

Wooden frame 3 seater mid century sofa - £500 from eBay, would get more for it if I put it up for sale now.

Bed £50 eBay 12 years ago. Edwardian. Last year I upholstered a panel for the headboard in brown velvet so now it looks modern and luxurious.

DH made the tv stand and side table from really high quality veneer boards - looks like one of the better quality ranges from John Lewis.

Dining table and 6 chairs bought 8 years ago from an antique shop - £600 cherry wood, mid century. Could flog it tomorrow for the same.

Coffee table - bought in Nairobi flea market for £30. Worth about £200.

Antiques don't depreciate in value like new stuff, and are generally better quality for the money you spend.

When I moved into my own house out of rental I signed up to Which (1st month free then you cancel). This way I could do a lot of research. Eg I learned that Asda own brand kettle was as good as the most expensive models. It was really helpful for picking clothes washer and tumble dryer. I then sourced the cheapest place to buy (via topcashback if possible) using comparison websites.

Find really high quality/expensive brands, and then hunt for them on eBay. Also hunt for things that were ex-display items.

Not sure about all the recommendations for John Lewis tbh. We bought a few furniture items from them a few years ago and a lot had to go back (damaged), and when replaced really difficult to put together AND not worn well

I really don't understand why people love their Henry hoovers so much. They have the auction power of a one year old trying to suck through a drinking straw! (I've used dozens of them at different times over the years through work, etc).

Honestly, you can't beat a Sebo (Felix are really snazzy and compact and so powerful so brilliant for homes!) or a Miele. You couldn't even pay me to use anything else!!

Just heard from the EA that the vendors are leaving their massive wardrobe as a moving in present. One less thing to buy! I've never even heard of those brands of hoovers - we've always had Dyson in the past but we've been unimpressed with them really - we've been through about 3 in 5 years - I'm very clumsy and need heavy duty hoovers as they tend to bear the brunt of my clumsiness . I think we've decided on some Sainsbury's plates, we've got our TV, having a desk from Ikea (I'm a teacher so can't really be without a desk). We're going to Dunelm tomorrow after work to nosy on your recommendations. Thanks so much

Miele hoovers are fab!!
Linea diffusers work well long term
House of fraser have lots of good towel sales
Dunelm is great value

Dunelm have some lovely towels & a variety of bedding.

Ikea beds & bedding - warning they used to be different sizes to UK standard

See if you have a homesense near you, its the homeware part of tkmaxx. When we moved into our house we bought stuff in stages to make sure we got what we wanted rather than settling for something.

Things we spent money on were

Couch
Bed frame
Very good quality mattress
Dining room chairs
Side tables from habitat
Book shelf from made.com

Bed sheets I always go for quality, tk maxx is good or I wait for the sales in the dept stores and get them then

Ordered crockery Found Denby's everyday stoneware range in blue for £42 on Ocado, with pasta bowls for £25, added Cath Kidston oven gloves and tea towel (on sale!) to make it up to £80 then got £20 off as a new customer.. Yay!