Home may be where the heart is—but it should also be where you keep a lot of other important stuff, too.
Even if preparedness isn’t your strong suit, there are certain home staples that any successful household should possess. From essential cleaning supplies to must-have kitchen equipment and beyond, here are 104 items everyone should have at home—or at least plan on having sometime in the near future.
Tools & Supplies
A flathead screwdriver
A Phillips head screwdriver
Pliers
An electric screwdriver or power drill
A hammer
Measuring tape
Level
An assortment of nails (for different sized jobs)
Extra screws, nuts, and bolts (in case you need to quickly replace any furniture hardware that goes missing)
A tool box
A step ladder
A boxcutter
Duct tape
Transparent tape
Electrical tape
Oil and water-displacing spray (such as WD-40 )
Extension cords
Kitchen Equipment
Dish cloths
A dish scrub brush or sponge
A drying rack (even if you have a dishwashing machine good to have a place to dry hand washable items, etc.)
Pot holders or oven mitts
A skillet
A measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Cutlery
Paring knife
Cutting board
A baking pan (aluminum or glass)
A nonstick saucepan and lid
A pot (big enough to boil a pound of pasta)
Drinking glasses
Dinner plates
Dinner bowls
A mixing bowl
A colander
A can opener
A bottle opener/corkscrew
A whisk
A cooking spoon
Food storage containers , like Tupperware
Ice cube trays
A toaster
A coffee maker (even if you don’t use it, you’ll be prepared for guests)
Coffee mugs
A kettle
Hand mixe r
Baking sheet
Meat thermometer
Cleaning Supplies
All-purpose cleaner
Disinfecting wipes
Window cleaner
A hand duster
A detail brush
A scrub brush
A good cleaning cloth (microfiber or blue huck surgical towels )
A utility belt or storage caddy (to carry your cleaning supplies around from room to room)
A vacuum (handheld or larger variety)
A broom and dustpan
A mop
Rubber gloves
A plunger
A toilet brush
A bucket
Furniture
A comfortable place to sit
A coffee/side table (to set stuff on)
A mattress (that doesn’t hurt your back to sleep on)
A bed frame
A good pillow
A place to hang your clothes (if you don’t have a closet, consider a garment rack)
Decor
Bath towels
Hand towels
Soft bed sheets
A blanket or comforter
A bathmat
A flower vase (you never know when you’ll need it)
Coasters
Window treatments
A clock
A full-length mirror
A lamp
Storage and Organizational Items
A place to hang your heavy coats (like a wall-mounted coat rack or wall hooks)
A filing system (for important paperwork)
Something to write on (pad of paper, notebook, etc.)
A place to write on (desk, drop-leaf table, or lap desk)
Bedside storage (even if it’s technically not a nightstand )
A trash can (for every room)
A laundry hamper
Key hooks
For Emergencies
Smoke alarm
Carbon monoxide detector
Emergency candles (for power outages)
Matches
First-aid kit
A finger splint
Band-aids
Gauze and cloth tape (for deep cuts)
A flashlight
Ibuprofen / Aspirin (for unexpected headaches)
A hand-crank or solar-powered phone charger
A fire extinguisher
An umbrella
Bottled water (or a LifeStraw )
Canned food
Batteries
