Moving into a new home is undeniably one of life’s most stressful milestones. Once the heavy lifting is done, the moving truck is fully unloaded, and the reality of cardboard boxes scattered across every room sets in, the absolute last thing anyone wants to do is spend hours scrolling through endless online shopping pages trying to piece together a living space from scratch. Fortunately, the Shop AD team has navigated the chaos of relocating numerous times, occasionally moving multiple times in a single year. While college-era cutlery and starter apartment bath towels have served their purpose well over the years, the team notes that a fresh start is always welcome when settling into a new chapter.
To ease the transition of setting up a new household, the editorial team tackled a common question: If we were outfitting our homes entirely from scratch, what would we buy first? Drawing on years of personal experience, rigorous product testing, and professional interior design insight, the team compiled a comprehensive collection of starter home essentials spanning the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and beyond. Designed for buyers and renters alike—whether moving in or moving on—the curation emphasizes both style and longevity. To accommodate different budgets and preferences, multiple options are offered within key categories, ranging from accessible entry-level picks to team-tested favorites and investment-grade splurges.
Bedding
When cardboard boxes are still strewn across the living room floor and the kitchen is in complete disarray, having a freshly made bed to fall into at the end of a long day is an absolute priority. For those prioritizing sleep setup from day one, extensive team testing of various sheets and sleep styles has highlighted several standout brands.
Quince offers affordable, high-quality bedding that the team reaches for throughout the year. Their linen sheets are a particular favorite, celebrated for their beautiful texture, breathability, and availability in over a dozen colors and patterns designed to match any new bedroom aesthetic. Stepping up for percale devotees, KOTN provides simple, dependable, and Oeko-Tex-certified bedding that brings an insider favorite into the mainstream. Meanwhile, Frette delivers a level of luxury reminiscent of five-star hotels, utilizing Italian-made 100% cotton sets in world-renowned properties such as The Palace Hotel and St. Regis locations globally. These sheets offer a touch softer feel than typical percale while retaining the crisp, cool finish that makes the material a perennial favorite.
Duvet Inserts
What goes inside a duvet matters just as much as the cover on top. The team’s preferred duvet inserts range from down to down-alternative fillings, accommodating both cooling and all-season preferences. Brooklinen’s down comforter stands out as a versatile, crowd-pleasing option, praised by shopping writer Julia Harrison for maintaining a comfortable temperature and fluffing up easily during morning bed-making routines. For individuals who tend to run warm, the Buffy Cloud cooling comforter offers a plush down-alternative build with a satisfying weight and temperature-regulating performance even during warmer months. For those seeking an investment piece, the Ostermoor down duvet features a heavyweight fill of white duck feather and down, creating a cozy, cocoon-like atmosphere that provides reliable insulation through cold nights and heavy air conditioning.
Towels
Upgrading from bleached and frayed collegiate linens to a proper set of bath towels is a crucial step in transforming a new space. The curation prioritizes plushness, absorbency, and aesthetics. Brooklinen’s Super-Plush towels live up to their name, combining a soft hand-feel with high absorbency and quick-drying properties that prevent lingering dampness. For a more decorative approach, Autumn Sonata offers the Alma Essential Set, which brings vintage sophistication to the bathroom through a classic grid pattern. At the luxury end, Matouk’s Milagro towels have earned a permanent spot in shopping editor Audrey Lee’s linen closet, maintaining their ultra-soft texture over years of use without matting or fiber degradation. The line also offers playful animal prints and custom monogramming options.
Dinnerware
Thoughtful dinnerware can instantly elevate a casual meal of leftovers into a special occasion. Made In provides an everyday porcelain plate collection that brings the durability of chef-approved kitchenware to residential dining tables. For a wider array of glazes and custom finishes, Jono Pandolfi’s handmade New Jersey dinnerware offers a heavy, substantial weight with unglazed bases designed for an easy grip. Meanwhile, Brooklyn-based earthenware brand Noble crafts small-batch plates in unique glazes specifically for commercial use, ensuring they possess the durability required to withstand three meals a day for years to come.
Glassware
While insulated water bottles often travel from room to room, a well-designed drinking glass remains a household staple. IKEA’s 2025 Stockholm collection offers an unexpectedly elevated, minimalist Scandinavian design with a curved silhouette suited for iced beverages. For those desiring color and an eclectic touch, East Fork hand-blown recycled glass tumblers come in vibrant hues like cobalt blue, accompanied by coordinating pitchers. At the pinnacle of glassware craftsmanship, In Common With’s collaboration with Laguna~B features abstract Murano glass flowers and hand-blown silhouettes where every individual piece is entirely unique.
Stemware
Housewarming celebrations call for proper stemware rather than disposable cups. Amazon favorites like JoyJolt’s white wine glasses provide a sleek, durable, and budget-friendly option capable of withstanding everyday apartment life. Design enthusiasts can look to Kelly Wearstler’s collaboration with Serax, featuring the Dune wine glasses, which showcase a planet-like ring encircling their widest point and a substantial feel for full-bodied reds. For the ultimate wine enthusiast, the Josephine No. 3 wine glasses offer a dramatic, voluptuous shape with an ultrawide base that allows wine to breathe thoroughly without the need for a separate aerator.
Flatware
Much like dinnerware, proper cutlery plays a vital role in elevating a table setting for future dinner parties. West Elm’s Promenade flatware offers a streamlined, dishwasher-safe stainless steel design under $200 that functions as a versatile one-size-fits-all solution. Crate & Barrel’s Oxford Mirror cutlery, favored by actress Mandy Moore, provides a mid-range option featuring subtle handle banding and a satisfying mirror shine. For a bold statement, Sabre’s Parisian enameled-handle flatware—particularly in classic black—brings an editorial and modern touch to any future place setting.
The Finishing Touches
Completing a home often relies on final accents and accessories that turn an empty space into a lived-in environment. Le Creuset’s signature enameled cast iron braiser offers a versatile kitchen workhorse for one-pot meals, stir-fries, and weekend cooking projects. For coffee and tea lovers, the Fellow Stagg electric kettle provides precise temperature control and a sleek countertop presence. Finally, Piper’s ergonomic walnut pepper grinder replaces basic grocery-store shakers with a functional, beautifully crafted tool designed to keep peppercorns fresh while adding a tactile element of craftsmanship to the kitchen.