I Just Moved States — These Are the New Home Essentials I Think Everyone Needs Before a Big Move

Whether you're heading off to college, moving into a new apartment, or transitioning to your first home, these 12 Amazon buys will lay the perfect foundation for what's to come

amazon home decor on a colorful background
(Image credit: Amazon)

They say moving is one of the most stressful times in a person's life ... and as someone who has cleared house multiple times in the last decade, I'm inclined to agree. In June, I moved across state lines for the first time in six years — and while I certainly wouldn't describe it as fun, it wasn't the worst relocation I've ever experienced. Indeed, my relative success can be attributed in large part to my role as a shopping editor, which affords me unfettered access to experts in home and home-adjacent industries, as well as a breadth of knowledge regarding the e-commerce landscape of interior design.

Today, I'll be sharing some of those insights with you. Not as they relate to the act of moving, per se, but to the art of setting up a new home. Consider this your post-relocation starter pack, including what sheets to buy, some quality flatware, and a few pieces of well-priced living room furniture, among other requisite buys. And the best part? Everything we've found is from the Amazon sale — low prices are a must when designing a new home or apartment.

And whatever you do, don't wait until the last minute. 'While there are extenuating circumstances, many moves can be planned weeks or even months in advance,' says Ashlyn Cook from UniMovers. 'Don’t wait until the last minute to book movers, order supplies, make arrangements, or pack. If you do, you’ll be stressed out, overcharged, and limited to the remaining available options.'

Let her words guide us all. Happy shopping! You'll be ready for a housewarming in no time.

Bedding

Bath

Kitchen

Living Room

How can I keep my move small?

Moves get expensive fast, and that's without factoring in new furniture and decor. One way to reduce both the size and cost of your move is to 'start going through closets and drawers a few weeks before your move and looking for items you don’t use,' suggests Ashley Graber, co-owner at Cool Hand Movers. 'Set them all aside to be donated, given away, or sold ahead of your move. You’ll save time and money when it comes to packing and moving, and you won’t clutter your new space.'

How should I pack for a move?

When packing for a move, Marshall Weber, Chief Marketing Officer at Stor-It, recommends transparent wrapping or stuffing — or better yet, clear bins — to more easily see what is in each box. 'This comes in really handy,' he tells me, 'especially in storage units or garages where you have stacks of containers.'

Brigid Kennedy
Style Editor

Brigid Kennedy is a Style Editor at Livingetc.com, where she scours the internet for the best and most stylish deals on home decor and more. After earning a degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, she spent the first 2.5 years of her journalism career covering U.S. politics and culture at TheWeek.com. She describes her design style as colorful and clean, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies, and curating impossibly niche playlists on Spotify. She recently relocated from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she's decorating and DIYing a new home downtown.