Moving into my 1st home - Any advice, tips or tricks?

[Snowstorming]

Hello Mumsnetters!

My DH and I have just bought our first home (we've rented for 5 years). It is a 3 bedroom home (2 box-ish rooms, 1 much larger) with 1 bathroom, garden space, a store room and enough space to create a loft. We will be moving in with our 3 kids (all under 6yo).

I suddenly feel completely anxious and my brain is blocked - I don't even know where to start! All our stuff is packed up and ready to move in but... what do I do?!

My DH and I will have the large room to share with our baby. We're thinking one room should be for our twin boys to share. The third room... the potential loft space... Any ideas that would help us to utilise each space to the maximum? It's a decent sized house but with 3 kids it still seems like we could fill it up with utter tat.

It has an open plan kitchen and lounge which we would keep simple with a sofa and tv probs. The other lounge - should it be like a guest room? What would you do? Maybe an office/study space that could also be used to entertain guests...?

I know I sound like an utter waffle but I am just so strangely confused. It's like I don't even know where to begin! Can anyone offer some house inspiration, some space-maximising tips, some suggestions for interior design? Anything?

Is it a good idea to paint walls in winter?
Is it worth doing the loft conversion for the extra space?
Should we take out the fireplaces to 'open up' the lounge?

Any ideas and suggestions would be welcome! Or any websites/services that you used and loved?

Thank you in advance!

If your DH is going to skim, leave it to warmer weather. Living with plaster going off and no windows open can be a bummer. Unless you go to the expense of hiring a dehumidifier or heat fan. Another saying leave the loft conversion for a bit - do you know if there's enough head room? where would the stair go? proper ones you need if the loft is in constant use often take a chunk out of a landing/bedroom. Also consider leaving at least one fire place in unless they're crap - and taking a whole chimney breast out can be a problem if they serve to support part of the house - you could need Rsj replacements.

Congratulations, take it slowly, and best of luck!

@crosstalk we are actually staying with my in-laws until the walls/mess is done and cleaned up so doing the plaster work is okay for now - just depends if he can dry it up suitably! I would hate for all the work to go to waste.

And we will get an opinion on the fireplaces today hopefully! Really keen to get rid of them because if we keep them they’ll have to be done up - they’re practically falling apart and made of plain brick/stone so a little dangerous if it breaks off and hurts the kids.

Conversely to some other posters, I would use the second lounge as a lounge. The kitchen/dining/living area - use for kitchen, dining and then play area/family/storage area (bookshelves, cube units etc).

It will do your head in using it as the main living space, trying to watch tv or chat with friends whilst the washing machine spin cycle is going, cooking smells stinking out your clothes etc. Having a separate lounge is good for that.

First things to do, take meter readings or you’ll get an inflated estimated bill, change the locks as you never know who may have keys.

As for the layout, with three children you need storage so try and maximise that, built in cupboards in all rooms and having the extra room in the loft is a massive bonus, the kids could use it as a den, or you could move up there and have an extra room etc.

OP: a toilet with easy garden access PLUS a tumble dryer is ideal - the warm air from the dryer will keep the little room warm - (memories here of my grandma's outside toilet which was always freezing - even in summer!!).

With the 3 young kids, is it worth getting fake grass or something? No. Give them the chance to interact with the natural world from as young an age as possible.

Also consider leaving at least one fire place in unless they're crap - and taking a whole chimney breast out can be a problem if they serve to support part of the house - you could need Rsj replacements. Yes, this is an important point.

Leaving one fireplace gives some insurance against electricity failures (bear in mind even gas central heating goes off if the electricity goes off). I know power cuts have been rare in recent years but we've an uncertain future.

Congratulations!!

I would recommend living in your new home for a few months before rushing into buying any expensive furniture or painting walls- just see how you use the space first.

As previous posters have suggested, buy quality items that will last.

Enjoy your new home

Ive lived in a house where the fire dragged more air up the chimney than stayed in the room - making it colder. If you're going to keep an open fire, check its useful first.

Another quick question as I’m so new to all this.

The house energy supplier is EDF. I’m looking around for other suppliers but most of it makes my head wobble (probably because all I can hear in the background is MUUUM, muuuum, MuuUUUmmm!!!)

Is there an energy supplier you’d recommend? Ideally I’d like one that is “better” for the environment and as ‘green’ as possible.

Not sure about EDF as my parents have had crap experiences with them before!

I can’t recommend a utility company based on green credentials.

If though you want to be looking at green energy then look at solar power for you roof, as this will reduce your electric. Consumption during the day & you can sell electric back to the supplier that you don’t use.

So electric heaters, electric showers, tumble dryer, washing machine, electric oven and appliance is used during the day could be using solar electric

Please don’t get plastic grass.

Join MSE’s energy saving club to find your best energy provider.

I vote for keeping the separate lounge a quiet/tidy/adult space.

If the twins have a room each, what’s the plan when your youngest needs to move out of your bedroom?

@ivykaty44 what’s the payback period of solar power?

WotWouldCJDo It’ll depend how much electric you use, how much you sell back to the utility company. Also how you organise your heating, obviously if you have gas heating it’ll take longer - but nothing to stop you getting a couple of electric radiators to use on timers through the day to heat the house

The average is 8 years and that’ll lower on your location if it’s further south west

So if you stay in your house for 20 years you’ll get 14 years if the average panel has a 20 year life span

@WotWouldCJDo I was thinking real grass (turf?) because the garden is just a concrete floor if that makes sense? But now I’m thinking the concrete is fine too, it’s not the largest of spaces!
Also the twins would be sharing a room; they surprisingly get on well together and most of their toys, books, etc. are shared items. The bunk bed gives them their own sleeping space though of course! And I’m hoping by the time the 3rd is old enough, we would have created a proper attic/loft space.
Also thanks for the MSE club mention! Will check it out again

Thank you to all the PPs! Every comment is acknowledged and appreciated

Currently knocking out the fireplaces (aha) as they were not in the greatest state anyway and we could do with the extra space to be honest. I’ve also gone a little wild on Pinterest and Instagram for interior inspiration!

I have had 4. Scottish Power, Eon, E and EDF. My reviews are: no way in hell again; go fuck yourself; not that bad; ok.
It's really about luck from what I understand. I second the MSE website.

When it comes to backyard, you could look at some alternative to grass lile creeping thyme. I've always loved the idea of moss lawn, but mine is too sunny (apparently).

I was thinking real grass (turf?) because the garden is just a concrete floor if that makes sense?

Ah, turf is not considered fake grass. That means plastic grass (which is just terrible). You won't be able to lay turf on top of concrete, so it's either a case of pulling up the concrete to lay a lawn (a huge job, but not a terrible idea if you're going to be there for a while) or making the most of what you've got. My first house had a garden laid to concrete. Not ideal, but practical and you can work wonders with a bit of creativity and money.

If it's a small space, just make it wonderful and wildlife friendly with lots of containers :)

Hi everyone!

Just a little update. We tore everything down and are now in the process of replastering the walls and replumbing the bathroom.

I’m just trying to think ahead and wanted to ask about paints!

I want paint that will last, colours that are bright/neutral/make the house look big and bright but cosy. Nothing too expensive but not so cheap that it won’t last or I’ll end up having to buy loads of pots just for a layer.

To cut it short, my question is:

What paints do you recommend for the house? I keep seeing Farrow & Ball (?) so has anyone tried them? Or is good old adults the way to go?

Any tips or advice about it would be super appreciated.

Thank you

Mumsnetters, any paint recommendations?? xx

If you can afford it mylands - it’s a better more harder wearing pigmented brand - similar colours like f&b but recommended by a friend by his painter and decorator who had a problem with f&b. I have used f and b previously but now using mylands for my next project.

Never heard of mylands but I will check it out today! Thank you for the recommendation - anyone else have any suggestions? :)

Don't enable too much storage space - it will only encourage you to hoard.

Everything has a place, and if that place has been outgrown or doesn't exist, then remove/reduce/recycle. We have a very strict 'one in, one out' rule in our house.