Settling In: Essentials For Every New Home

Moving into a new place brings a long list of things to sort out. This guide covers the practical basics for kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, workspace, decor and hallway, so you can settle in room by room without the guesswork.

Getting your kitchen up and running

A new kitchen needs the basics covered before anything else, and that starts with proper cookware and a few smart organisers. The ANNONS 5-piece cookware set and the TAGGHAJ frying pan handle daily cooking, while the IKEA 365+ food container with lid keeps leftovers fresh for longer, which matters when the weather turns warm and humid for much of the year.

For everyday eating and tidying up, the DRAGON 24-piece cutlery set and GRUNKA 4-piece kitchen utensil set cover the essentials without cluttering limited drawer space. The LILLHAVET multifunctional dish rack folds flat when not needed, a real advantage in smaller kitchens, and a set of IVRIG glasses rounds off the everyday table setting nicely.

ANNONS pot with lid, glass/stainless steel, 2.8 lMIDDAGSMAT frying pan, non-stick coating/stainless steel, 28 cmUPPFYLLD colander, bright green, 24 cmHAVSTOBIS food container with lid, set of 5, transparent/multicolourIKEA 365+ grater, blackFÖRDUBBLA 2-piece knife set, grey

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Bedroom basics for a restful space

A bedroom should feel calm and uncluttered, which is easier said than done in compact apartments and maisonettes where storage is often tight. The DIMPA storage bag and SKUBB box help keep off-season clothing and linen out of sight, while SPRUTTIG hangers make the most of narrow wardrobes.

A LINDKNUD rug or STOENSE rug adds warmth underfoot during cooler winter mornings, and the SAXBORGA storage box with mirror lid doubles as a practical surface for jewellery and small items. For quick tidying, the BÄSTIS lint roller is a small addition that earns its keep, and a PÄRKLA storage case is handy for keeping smaller belongings organised on a shelf or under the bed.

STOENSE rug, low pile, medium grey, 170x240 cmSAXBORGA storage box with mirror lid, plastic cork, 24x17 cmLINDKNUD rug, high pile, dark grey, 80x150 cmSKUBB box, set of 6, whiteSPRUTTIG hanger, black, 39 cm, 10 packPÄRKLA storage case, 55x49x19 cm

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Fitting out a practical bathroom

Bathrooms in older townhouses and newer builds alike benefit from a few well-chosen pieces that make daily routines simpler. A VÅGSJÖN bath towel and a BOLMEN toilet brush/holder cover the basics, while the BOLMEN step stool is useful for reaching higher shelves in smaller rooms.

For laundry, the JÄLL laundry bag with stand keeps washing contained rather than piled on the floor, and the PRESSA hanging dryer with 16 clothes pegs makes good use of vertical space, particularly useful given how much laundry dries outdoors through the warmer months. An ENUDDEN hanger for door adds extra hanging space without any drilling, and the EKOLN waste bin finishes off a tidy, functional setup.

STORAVAN 3-piece bathroom set, whiteHASSJÖN shower curtain ring, white, 12 packVÅGSJÖN bath towel, dark grey, 70x140 cmBOLMEN step stool, white, 44 cmEKOLN waste bin, dark yellow, 3 lENUDDEN hanger for door, white, 35x13 cm

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Setting up a workspace that works

Whether it is a dedicated room or a corner of the living area, a good workspace needs a few key pieces to stay organised. The FJÄDERHARV desk organiser and FJÄDERHARV magazine file keep papers and odds and ends from spreading across the desk, while the PLÖJA desk pad gives a clean surface to work on.

Smaller additions make a real difference too. The FNISS waste bin fits neatly under a desk, the KLOCKIS clock/thermometer/alarm/timer keeps track of the day, and the VATTENKAR desktop shelf lifts a laptop or books off the desktop to free up space. Together these pieces turn an unused corner into a proper place to focus.

DRÖNJÖNS desk organiser, white, 25x20 cmSUSIG desk pad, cork, 45x65 cmSITTBRUNN USB-C to USB-C, light green, 1.0 mFJÄDERHARV desk organiser, white, 16x16 cmFJÄDERHARV magazine file, white, 10x31x25 cmPLÖJA desk pad, white/transparent, 65x45 cm

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Simple touches to make it feel like home

Decorating does not need to be complicated to make a difference. A PÅDRAG vase brings a simple focal point to a shelf or table, ready for fresh or artificial stems depending on the season.

Tealight holders are an easy way to add warmth to a room without much effort, and both the GALEJ tealight holder and the FINSMAK tealight holder work well grouped together or placed individually. These small, affordable additions are often what turns a house into somewhere that feels properly lived in, long before any bigger decorating decisions get made.

PÅDRAG vase, clear glass, 17 cmGALEJ tealight holder, 4 packFINSMAK tealight holder, clear glass, 3.5 cmJUBLA unscented chandelier candle, white, 19 cm 6 hr, 20 pack

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Keeping the hallway in order

The hallway takes the brunt of daily comings and goings, so it helps to have a system in place from the start. The TRONES shoe cabinet/storage is a practical fit for narrow entrances common in Maltese homes, stacking neatly against a wall without taking up floor space.

Alongside it, the PINNIG rack with 3 hooks gives keys, bags and coats a proper place to hang rather than ending up on the nearest chair. Together these two pieces make a noticeable difference to a space that often gets overlooked until it becomes a daily source of frustration.

TRONES shoe cabinet/storage, white, 52x18x39 cm, 2 packPINNIG rack with 3 hooks, black, 79x16x17 cmMULIG clothes rack, white, 99x152 cmRIGGA clothes rack, white, 111 cmMULIG clothes bar, white, 60-90 cmTJUSIG hanger for door/wall, white, 60 cm

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Furnishing a new home takes time, but sorting the essentials room by room makes it far more manageable. Maltashopper brings these IKEA products to your door in Malta and Gozo.

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