Setting up a home in the UK

[mynamechangemyrules]

Ok I'm not sure if this is where this should go, but hoping for some help!

I've just moved back to the uk after a total of 18 years living in other places around the world.

I've just got divorced and I've brought the kids here and ex remains in the country we were last in and has just stopped paying maintenance...

SO..! I need towels/ duvets/ kitchen crap etc.
I have the money right now to buy ok/ good stuff but I also am relatively limited in my budget as there's a lot of beds to cover! I'm getting furniture off eBay/ Facebook marketplace but want to buy new for some stuff.

Where do I buy stuff like this here..?! I used to think John Lewis was the pinnacle of reliability, but is it still?

I also want to be eco if possible- so do I 'invest' now rather than getting 'cheap and cheerful'..?

For example- bloody duvets... We will prob all be cold as I haven't had a winter for 18yrs and the kids have never lived anywhere cold. What tog do I get for a start and then I've read that wool is great and eco but it's quite an outlay. But will I regret cheap synthetic ones in a few years..?!

Sorry a bit of a ramble but I'm massively overwhelmed at all the decisions to be made just to get a home ready for the kids in a weeks' time.

Basically- which
Duvets and pillows
Towels
Bedsheets
would you recommend and also
Which one-stop-shop might sell them all (online pref as I'm clueless about my new home area too 🤪😫)?

Thank you!

Also electric blankets or hot water bottles in winter and fleecey onesies for the kids, next or asda good for these. Fleecy Blankets great on end of bed but also over knees watching tv. But you will be fine with normal duvets etc until oct/nov so you can see how warm your house is. New builds etc can be boiling.

You can get wool duvets and pillows from Dunelm for John Lewis regular-quality money. Highly recommend the duvets - heavy, good for summer and winter - husband likes the wool pillow too. Add a throw over the top if it's really cold.

Towels - you can always just get a set of white from anywhere and add to them when you've got your bearings.

Oh, someone said you can't get wool bedding dry - I had to take ours to a launderette with a big machine but it washed and dried and got the cat's two separate incidents out ok.

John Lewis essentials are good.

If you're near an IKEA, you can't go wrong.

More likely, you're near a sainsburys and their home stuff is very decent a lot have argos and habitat in store now, so cover all the basics.

@mynamechangemyrules

Ooh yes, ikea didn't exist in my little world before- might see if it can be done online.

Will have a little search for Home Sense!

No one thinking I should invest?! Just crack on and get standard/ supermarket versions?

Just get kitted out for now, invest later, as or when the need or whim hits. Then you can take advantage of clearance sales.

Baavet for wool duvets... fantastic quality and sustainable company.

www.baavet.co.uk/

So cosy and warm but not sweaty.

I would definitely get quality duvets if you can afford it. And then buy the bedclothes at dunelm mill.

Wilkinson or Wilco as it's known online have some great stuff - their bedding is great

Welcome home!

I'd probably do a big Asda shop (make sure it's a big one with a home department) dunelm and Argos.

Oh wow, I've had a joyful morning browsing Dunelm and Wilco!! Think I'll be sorted with that. No ikea close enough to make it a pleasant journey with 3 children who are anxious about the new start and frankly the grumpiest I've ever seen them 🤣

Sorry, meant to say- thank you all!

eBay! Delivered to your door! Not everything… but I managed to mostly furnish a house in lockdown and get some great pieces by looking up what I wanted eg long lewis Egyptian cotton and then sourcing it on eBay. Plenty of new things on there that folks don’t want… I once bought a washing machine brand new for a fifth of the cost that still had all the paperwork in the drum, as a parent had bought it for a student who just kept bringing their washing home!

For cosiness I'd suggest brushed cotton duvet covers - they really keep the heat in.

If you’re looking to invest then I’d go for wool duvets. I’m a recent convert and won’t go back to synthetic (plastic) duvets. I got mine from Baavet.

Dunelm.

Have recently bought sheets/bedding and a duvet from dusk.com and thought it was good quality for the price (there always seems to be a sale on). Also depending on the age of your kids H&M Home has some great kids stuff and very reasonable.

Next also do twin packs of coordinated bedding.

Pleas do try to buy fewer things but better quality. The planet is burning. Dunelm bamboo bedding is good quality and far better than cotton or polyester.

Glad you liked dunelm, I think it's more reasonably priced than IKEA

Click and collect at dunelm. They brought out 2 trolley loads to the car for me! Just watch that you can fit it all in the car if you have all the kids with you. Duvets and pillows for 4 beds takes up quite a lot of space!
I initially went for 10.5tog duvets, but we quickly downgraded to 4.5. Somehow the breeze from arircon made bedrooms feel cool overnight. I wasnt expecting to be too hot! Getting ones that clip together to give you a range is probably a good idea.

Dunelm, items with the good house keeping award sticker on them are always good

I would probably go to a massive Sainsburys if you have one not too far away

That is true about eBay. I got all my John Lewis curtains from there - new ones too. Not sure but maybe they offload stock there, or the factory does.

@MoiraNotRuby

IKEA and Home Sense. (Do not confuse Home Sense, BRILLIANT offshoot of TK Maxx, with Home Bargains, cheap tat shop.) Good luck

Home Bargains is a cheap tat shop? Really?