If there is one thing I have learned from moving a few times in my twenties, it is how much work goes into setting up a new living space.
Moving out of my childhood home — a place that ran, in my memory at least, like a well-oiled machine — came with a lot of discovery: research, trial and error, and many small domestic decisions I had never really had to make before. Every move brought new questions about what I could live without, which brands and products to trust, and how to make a place feel like mine.
Depending on the size of the home and the city you live in, the answers to those questions can look very different.
With that in mind, I have put together Playing House, a new series where I share my curated room-by-room lists for anyone settling into a new home.
I am beginning in New York, where space economy is worth its weight in gold — although honestly, this could work for almost any city you find yourself in across the US.
Pricing Key
To keep things easy to scan, I have used a simple price-band system below. Prices may vary slightly depending on where you shop, but this should give you a quick sense of where each item sits.
| Price Band | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| $ | Under $15 |
| $$ | $15–$29.99 |
| $$$ | $30–$49.99 |
| $$$$ | $50+ |
1. Daily Essentials
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toothbrush | Colgate Adult Toothbrushes, Soft | Pack of 6 | $ | • Soft bristles are my go-to for sensitive gums. • Colgate is a household name for a reason. • Affordable, simple, reliable. |
| Toothpaste | Sensodyne Pronamel Enamel Repair | 3.4 Oz x 4 pack | $$ | • I grew up using Colgate, but recently switched to Sensodyne. • I like the enamel repair version after years of fizzy drinks. • A small everyday dental upgrade. |
| Toothbrush Holder | Matani | 1 count | $$ | • Drainage holes prevent water from pooling. • The absorbent body dries quickly. • Practical and cleaner-looking on the sink. |
| Dental Floss | Oral-B Glide | 3 packs of 75 counts each | $ | • I did not grow up flossing, so picks feel easier than string floss. • Beginner-friendly and convenient. • A good brand for building the habit. |
| Mouthwash | Listerine Total Care Zero / Alcohol-Free | 1 L / 33.8 Oz | $ | • Listerine is a classic. • I prefer the alcohol-free version • ADA-accepted, and a gentler-feeling option. |
| Razor — Electric | Philips OneBlade | 1 count | $$$ | • Light on the skin and easy to use. • Especially useful for facial hair. • Gives a close shave with less harshness and less prickly regrowth. • Takes longer to shave when used on hands and legs. |
| Razor Refills — Electric | Philips OneBlade | 4 refills | $$$ | • Useful if the OneBlade becomes part of your routine. |
| Razor — Non-Electric | Gillette Venus Razor + Refills | 1 razor + 6 refills | $$ | • My reliable analog razor option. • Gillette Venus is basic, familiar, and effective – a staple. |
| Razor Refills — Non-Electric | Gillette Venus | 8 refills | $ | • The practical recurring purchase. • A larger refill pack is better value. |
| Shaving Cream | Gillette Venus | Fragrance Free Ultra Sensitive Twin Pack | $ | • Better than dry shaving if your skin is sensitive. |
| Shaving Cream | Gillette Venus | Coconut Scented 6-pack | $$ | • More hydrating than the fragrance free version – but only available as a 6 pack on amazon. |
| Hand Wash — Basic | Bath & Body Works | 8.75 fl oz / 259 ml | $ | • Great range of fragrances. • I linked lavender because I love it. • Plenty of options under $5. |
| Hand Wash Refill — Basic | Bath & Body Works | 32 fl oz / 946 ml | $ | • Kitchen Lemon is another favourite. • Practical once you have a dispenser you like. |
| Hand Wash — Slightly Fancier | Rituals Hand Wash Refill | 1 count – 600 mL | $$ | • Rituals is pricier, but lovely. • The Ritual of Sakura smells like spring in Japan. • Best used with a refillable dispenser. |
| Hand Wash Holder | Jasai | 1 count | $ | • Pretty glass option for the sink. • Great if you are using refills. • Makes the counter feel more intentional. |
| Hand Wash Holder — Alternative | IKEA | 1 count | $ | • Cute, affordable alternative. |
| Silicone Soap Tray | MicoYang | 1 count | $ | • Useful even without a soap bar. • Can hold handwash bottles or sink-side items. • Helps avoid soapy water pools. |
2. Shower / Bath
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Wash — Basic | Dove Body Wash | 30.6 Oz / 1 count | $ | • Easy, no-fuss, cost-effective purchase. • Clean fragrance and works well. |
| Body Wash — Basic, Scented | Dove Lavender Body Wash | 30.6 Oz / 1 count | $ | • Good if you want something basic but lightly fragranced. |
| Soap Bar | Dove Soap Bar | 8 bars | $ | • I moved away from soap bars a while ago but if you prefer them, Dove is a solid, cost-effective option. |
| Body Wash — Slightly Fancier | Rituals Body Wash | 2oo mL | $ | • A simple luxury bathroom upgrade. • The Ritual of Sakura is my favourite fragrance. • Thick, foamy, and genuinely indulgent. • Worth it if you have a few more dollars to spare. |
| Shampoo — Basic | Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner | 28.2 Oz / 1 count | $ | • No-nonsense anti-dandruff option. • Not the most hydrating or tailored for specific haircare routines. |
| Shampoo — Mid-Range | Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo | 24 Oz / 1 count | $$ | • Great if your hair is dry or frizzy. • The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil version is especially hydrating. • A good mid-range step up from basic shampoo. |
| Conditioner — Mid-Range | Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner | 24 Oz / 1 count | $$ | • I like pairing conditioner with the same shampoo range. • A good companion product if hydration is the goal. |
| Shower Caddy | Esseme | 1 count | $$$ | • Height-adjustable tension pole design. • No suction cups to worry about. • Fits neatly into a bathroom corner. • Strong storage option for smaller bathrooms. |
| Shower Liner | Barossa | 1 count | $ | • Helps protect the tub and shower curtain from moisture buildup. • Useful for reducing mildew and black mould risk. |
| Shower Curtain | Hearth & Hand @ Target | 1 count | $$ | • Good-quality option from Target. • Target generally has a strong range of shower curtains. • Check the measurements carefully before buying. |
| Tub Drain Catcher | TubShroom | 1 count | $ | • Catches hair without leaving it sitting on the surface. • Does not disrupt water flow in the tub. • Easy to clean and fits most standard bathtub drains. |
| Bathroom Slippers | Adidas | 1 pair, Women’s 8 / Men’s 7 | $$ | • Basic but good-quality bathroom slippers. • Adidas is a reliable brand, so you cannot really go wrong. |
3. Towels & Soft Goods
In general, I love Brooklinen as a brand. Their towels are great quality, last well, and do nicely in the dryer — but they are definitely on the pricier side.
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Towels | Brooklinen | Set of 2 | $$$$ | • A lovely everyday towel upgrade. • Good if you want a more hotel-like feel. |
| Hand Towels | Brooklinen | Set of 2 | $$$$ | • Makes the sink area feel more polished. • Nice if you care about matching linens. |
| Bathmat | Brooklinen | 1 count | $$ | • A nice good quality bathmat for the tub area. |
| Bath Robe | Brooklinen | 1 count | $$$$ | • Definitely a luxury, but lovely for a full at-home hotel feeling – tagged Oprah’s favourite things ! |
| Move-in Bundle | Brooklinen | 4 Bath Towels + 4 Hand Towels + 4 Washcloths + 1 Bath Mat | $$$$ | • Good if you want to get all your towels in one go. Does not include the bathrobe |
I have also included a more affordable options list here, so you can pick cheaper alternatives if you prefer — especially if you are setting up a new bathroom from scratch and want to keep the starting costs sensible.
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Towel | Target | 1 count | $ | • Simple, practical, and easy to replace. • Good starter option for a new bathroom. |
| Hand Towel | Target | 1 count | $ | • Useful to have a few on rotation |
| Bathmat | Target | 1 count | $$ | • Keeps the bathroom floor dry. • An easy way to make the space feel more complete. |
| Move-In Towel Bundle | American Soft Linen Luxury | 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 2 washcloths | $$$ | • A practical move-in option – I have linked the bundle but there are variants to get different piece sets in case you prefer this to the Target versions |
4. Cleaning & Maintenance
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet Paper | Charmin | 18 Mega Rolls | $$$ | • Soft, good-quality toilet paper. • Easy on the bum. |
| Toilet Paper — Slightly Fancier / Purpose-Led | Who Gives a Crap | 24 Mega Rolls | $$$ | • Slightly pricier than standard supermarket options. • A good option if you want a more sustainable toilet paper choice. • Love that the brand is tied to a good cause. |
| Toilet Cleaner | Lysol | 2-pack (or) Clorox | 2-pack | $ | • I grew up a Harpic girl — common in India and the UK. • In the US, Lysol seems more common. • Clorox is also a well-established option. |
| Toilet Brush | Clorox | Toilet Brush and Holder | $ | • Went with Clorox here. • Simple, practical, and reliable. |
| One-Use Toilet Cleaner Starter Kit | Clorox | Toilet Wand Starter Kit + 6 Refills | $ | • More hygienic than keeping a traditional toilet brush around. • Good low-effort cleaning setup – works really well. |
| One-Use Toilet Cleaner Refills | Clorox | 30 refills | $$ | • The practical recurring purchase if you use the toilet wand. |
| Drain Clog Remover — Liquid | Drano | 32 Oz | $ | • Useful to have before you urgently need it. • Good for basic drain maintenance. • Unglamorous, but necessary. |
| Drain Clog Remover — Plastic Snake | FlexiSnake | 5-count pack | $$ | • Helpful for hair-related clogs. • More hands-on than liquid cleaner, but often effective. • Worth keeping around if you have long hair or pets. |
| Bathroom Bin | Glad | 1 count | $$ | • When it comes to garbage, you want Glad. • Practical bathroom essential. |
5. Utilities / Extras
| Item | Brand | Price Band | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weighing Scale — Basic | Renpho | 1 count | $$ | • A basic one does the job perfectly well. |
| Weighing Scale — Slightly Fancier | Arboleaf | 1 count | $$$ | • A nicer option if you want something more design-conscious or feature-heavy – definitely an upgrade not a need. |
📝 Disclosure:
¹ Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only include products I already have or would genuinely consider for home setup.
The Big Smokey Apple 