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🏡 New House, Who Dis? Home Essentials & Organization Ideas
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items We finally bought our first house after two years of living with my parents! 🏡 Now we’re turning a house that needed some serious cleaning (including tackling a strong animal odor!) into a fresh, comfortable home for our family. Follow our room make...
Sections
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🧹 Cleaning, Repair & Home Maintenance
🔑 Move-In Day Must-Haves
🛋️ Making It Feel Like Home
🛏️ Primary Bedroom Makeover
🌎 Little Explorer Bedroom Adventure
🏆 Varsity Sports Room
🧹 Cleaning, Repair & Home Maintenance
Because apparently buying a house means inheriting a few smells and surprises too. 😂 From deep cleaning and odor removal to paint, repairs, and those random home projects you didn’t expect, these are the products helping us turn our new house into a...
When you buy a house with a strong pet odor killz is a must. We have been painting walls, subfloor and basically any surface with Killz and after less than a week as home owners, the smell has definitely decreased! Worth the price!!
KILZ KILZ RESTORATION 5 gal. White Interior Primer, Sealer, and Stain Blocker L200205
New house rule: check the air filter size before you move a single box in. This is the most common size (16x25x1) but go peek at yours first, then set a reminder to swap it every 60-90 days. Future you will thank you.
HDX 16 in. x 25 in. x 1 in. Standard Pleated Furnace Air Filter FPR 5, MERV 8 (3-Pack) HDX3P5-011625
You don't need a full garage of tools on day one, but you do need SOMETHING to hang curtains, fix a wobbly cabinet hinge, and assemble the 47 pieces of furniture that show up your first month. This kit covers the basics so you're not borrowing a hamm...
Husky 52-Piece Homeowner's Tool Kit 91632
Nobody tells you this part, but spraying a perimeter barrier BEFORE you unpack your kitchen boxes is the move. New houses (especially after a summer close) love to introduce you to bugs you didn't know you had roommates with. This one's cheap, works ...
Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor and Perimeter 2 with Comfort Wand, 1 Gal., Controls Ants, Roaches, and Spiders 4659905
If you're painting over Killz (and honestly, who isn't right now), don't cheap out on the roller kit. This one has everything: tray, liners, roller covers, angled brush. Get an extension pole too if you're doing ceilings, your shoulders will thank yo...
Wooster 8-Piece Pro Roller Tray Set 0HR3600090
If your new place came with a “previous tenant had a cat” situation, this is non negotiable. Regular cleaners just mask pet odor, this actually breaks down the enzymes causing it. We used it on carpet and baseboards and it made a real difference.
Nature's Miracle Spray Pet Stain and Odor Remover Enzymatic Formula 32 Oz: Multi-Surface Use, Citrus Scent
Keep a canister of these in every bathroom and the kitchen from day one. Doorknobs, light switches, cabinet handles, all the stuff you touch a hundred times a day that you don't think to clean until you're already living there.
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes - Lemon/Crisp Linen/Mango and Hibiscus - 240ct/3pk
If your new house has any real wood floors, cabinets, or trim, this is the classic for a reason. It cleans without stripping the finish, which matters a lot when you don't know the full history of what's on your floors yet.
Murphy Original Oil Soap Wood Cleaner for Floors and Furniture - 32 fl oz: Ammonia-Free, Bleach-Free, Phosphate-Free, Fresh Scent
You will go through paper towels at a shocking rate the first few weeks. Between unpacking, cleaning up dust from moving boxes, and every little spill, just buy the big pack now and save yourself a second Target run.
Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels - 6 Triple Rolls - 2-Ply - 123 Sheets
This is the roll of microfiber rags we grabbed and it's become an actual habit now. Tear one off, wipe down whatever, toss it in the wash, reuse. Way less wasteful than paper towels for the everyday stuff like counters and dusting.
HDX Easy-Tear 12 in. x 12 in. Microfiber Cloth Roll (50 count) HDX-866133
Okay hear me out, this is not glamorous but it might be the most useful thing on this whole list. We rented a dumpster from redbox+ for our reno and it has been such a lifesaver for getting rid of old flooring and years of overgrown yard weeds. If yo...
Montgomery County Dumpster Rental | redbox+ Dumpsters
🔑 Move-In Day Must-Haves
The things you’ll want on hand the moment you get the keys! From cleaning basics and tools to those little items you don’t realize you need until you’re standing in an empty house.
Non negotiable for day one, before you even unpack a box. This one's a combo smoke and carbon monoxide detector with a 10 year battery already built in, so you're not chasing 9-volts down every few months. Every new house should get one on each level...
Kidde 10-Year Battery Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector, 30CUD10 21031514
Keep this one under the kitchen sink or in a nearby cabinet, not buried in a closet somewhere. It's rated for the fires you're actually likely to have (grease, electrical, everyday stuff) and it's small enough that it doesn't take up much space. Chea...
Kidde Home 1-A:10-B:C Class ABC 2.5 lb. Fire Extinguisher, FA110G 21030926
With three boys in this house we will absolutely be using this within the first week, guaranteed. This one has 80 pieces and a hard case so it actually stays organized in a cabinet instead of turning into a junk drawer of loose band aids. Stock one f...
Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit - 80ct
Grab one of these before you need it, not during the first storm that knocks your power out. This one runs 12 to 150 hours depending on the setting and it's bright enough to actually light a whole room, not just a sad little circle on the ceiling. Ke...
Energizer Vision LED USB Lantern 1200 Lumens: Impact & Water-Resistant Camping Light, Portable, Non-Slip Handle, 12-150 Hr Run Time
A little cheesy, very on brand for us. This was one of the first things we put down outside, even before most of our boxes were unpacked, because it instantly made the place feel like ours instead of just a house we were staying in. It's coir so it a...
1'6"x2'6" So Happy You're Here Coir Doormat Natural - Threshold™: Outdoor Welcome Mat, Front Door, Medium Pile
One of the first calls we made after closing was setting up internet. We went with T Mobile 5G Home Internet since it was so easy to set up ourselves, no technician appointment needed, and it has kept up just fine with three kids and a house full of ...
T-Mobile Home Internet | Reliable 5G Wireless Home WiFi
🛋️ Making It Feel Like Home
The cozy details that turn a house into our home. Find furniture, lighting, rugs, decor, storage, and affordable home finds that add personality while keeping our busy family’s needs in mind.
This is Alabaster, my go to neutral for the main living spaces. It's going on the walls in the living room, dining room and kitchen so the whole open area flows together instead of feeling choppy room to room. It's warm without leaning yellow or beig...
Alabaster SW 7008 | White Paint Colors
Rounding out the paint list, our living room, dining room and kitchen are all Alabaster too. It is such a warm, soft white that goes with pretty much everything so we did not overthink it. Same drill, Behr color matched at Home Depot using the Sherwi...
BEHR PREMIUM PLUS 1 gal. Ultra Pure White Semi-Gloss Enamel Low Odor Interior Paint & Primer 305001
Random but important tip, get your photos off your phone and onto your walls. I use the FreePrints app for regular prints, you get up to 85 free 4x6 prints a month and only pay shipping. If you download it use my code hlewandowski5930 when you sign u...
FreePrints App - Free 4x6 Photo Prints
Same company, different app. FreePrints Photobooks gets you one free softcover photo book every month, you just pay shipping. It is dangerously easy to make one in a few minutes from your phone, which is exactly why I actually keep up with it instead...
FreePrints Photobooks
🛏️ Primary Bedroom Makeover
Turning our primary bedroom into a cozy retreat! Follow along for paint ideas, bedding, furniture, lighting, storage, and decor as we transform this room from move-in day to finished space.
Our primary bedroom color: Rosemary. It's a deep, moody green that feels so much more grown up and calming than I expected. This is the one room in the house that's just for us, so we wanted something that feels like an actual retreat and not just “w...
Rosemary SW 6187 | Green Paint Colors
This is our go to paint, Behr color matched at Home Depot. Our primary bedroom is done in Rosemary, the Sherwin Williams color linked above, it is such a calming muted green and it makes the whole room feel like a little retreat. Bring the color name...
BEHR PREMIUM PLUS 1 gal. Ultra Pure White Semi-Gloss Enamel Low Odor Interior Paint & Primer 305001
🌎 Little Explorer Bedroom Adventure
A cozy shared bedroom for two little brothers, filled with maps, adventure, travel-inspired decor, and room for imagination. Find shared boys bedroom ideas, twin beds, storage solutions, playful decor, and practical finds for growing kids.
This is the Sherwin-Williams color we matched for the boys' room: Languid Blue. It's a soft, dusty blue that reads calm and a little bit “under the sea” without going full theme park. We had our Behr paint color matched to this one at Home Depot, so ...
Languid Blue SW 6226 | Blue Paint Colors
Here is the actual paint we use. We are Behr people, color matched at Home Depot, and for this room we had it tinted to Languid Blue (the Sherwin Williams color linked above). Just bring the color name to the paint desk and they will mix it up for yo...
BEHR PREMIUM PLUS 1 gal. Ultra Pure White Semi-Gloss Enamel Low Odor Interior Paint & Primer 305001
🏆 Varsity Sports Room
Creating a fun sports-inspired bedroom for our 7-year-old! Find varsity sports decor, bedding, furniture, organization ideas, wall art, and personalized touches for a room that feels like his own.
The sports room is getting Alabaster on the walls, it's my go to neutral and it's already going up in the living room, dining room and kitchen too, so this keeps the flow going through the main areas of the house. It's a soft warm white, not stark an...
Alabaster SW 7008 | White Paint Colors
Same paint, different room. We used Alabaster here too since it plays so well with team colors and gear without competing with everything hanging on the walls. Behr color matched at Home Depot using the Sherwin Williams number, easy peasy.
BEHR PREMIUM PLUS 1 gal. Ultra Pure White Semi-Gloss Enamel Low Odor Interior Paint & Primer 305001
🌿 Outdoor & Backyard
Turning our new outdoor space into a backyard our family can actually enjoy! 🌿 When we moved in, the deck was surrounded by overgrown ivy and poison ivy, while the front garden had plants that had clearly become a deer buffet. 😂 Follow along as we ...
This is what we grabbed to fight back against all that overgrown ivy and poison ivy by the deck. It kills weeds down to the root and the sure shot wand means you can actually aim it without spraying your good plants by accident. If your yard came wit...
Roundup 1 Gal. Weed and Grass Killer₄ with Sure Shot Wand, Use In and Around Flower Beds, Trees, and Driveways 5375204
This cordless string trimmer is going to be a lifesaver once the ivy is gone and we are just maintaining a normal yard. It doubles as an edger too, so you get two tools for the price of one, and no gas or cords to deal with. Definitely a must have on...
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Battery Powered 2-in-1 String Trimmer & Lawn Edger Kit with (1) 2Ah Battery & Charger LST300
A basic garden tool set is one of those things you do not think you need until you are standing outside trying to dig with a spoon. This 5 piece set covers the rake, shovel, cultivator and trowel basics so you are actually equipped for the landscapin...
Anvil 5-Piece Garden Tool Set 78115-946
After the poison ivy situation by our deck, gloves are non negotiable now. These have a long cuff that actually covers your wrist and forearm, which matters way more than a cute pattern when you are pulling out something you cannot identify yet. Save...
Digz Women's Large Long Cuff Garden Gloves 77507-08
You will go through more trash bags than you think when you are clearing ivy, weeds and yard debris, so buy the heavy duty ones from the start. Regular kitchen bags rip the second you put a stick in them. These hold up and the drawstring actually clo...
Husky 42 Gal. Heavy Duty Clean-Up Bags (32-Count) HK42WC032B