19 Essential Home Items Every Renter in Their 20s Should Own
Your twenties are full of new and grown-up experiences like landing a proper job, learning how to pay taxes and insurance, and moving into your first adult apartment. But it can all get incredibly daunting and sometimes it can feel like you’re failing at adulting.
If you’re feeling unsure about how to navigate through your twenties, firstly, don’t panic as this is perfectly normal no matter your age. Secondly, the easiest way to start feeling like your life is in order starts with elevating your home. It’s different than decorating a dorm room, and the process of deciding what you really need (as opposed to what you want) can feel extremely overwhelming - especially if you’re on a budget.
So, to help you out, we’ve rounded up 19 of the most practical and essential home items every 20-something should invest in. From a quality mattress to a simple toolkit and a beautiful houseplant, these items will instantly make you and your home feel more mature.
19 Essential Home Items You Need in Your 20s
1. Framed artwork
It’s time to say goodbye to posters hung on walls with a few pieces of tape and blu-tack. Invest in a beautiful piece of artwork that not only brightens up your home but also brings you joy every time you look at it. Contrary to popular opinion, you can most definitely find artworks under the $100 mark. In fact, you won’t find any over $80 on our Shop.
If you can’t possibly say goodbye to your favourite poster, simply purchase a nice frame for it and hang it up - it’ll instantly look more sophisticated.
2. A comfortable mattress
While it’s incredibly tempting to settle for the cheapest mattress you can find online, spending your hard-earned money on a good quality mattress is an investment in both your quality of life and the state of your physical, mental and emotional health. An uncomfortable mattress will lead to back problems and restless nights, and we all know the less you sleep, the more likely you are to experience mood swings, confusion, fatigue, anxiety, depression and many other problems.
You also want to ensure you’re washing your mattress regularly, too (yes, another adult chore to add to your list). Unsure of how to do this? Here’s a full guide.
3. A toolkit
It sounds like a pretty boring home essential but how else are you going to hang your artwork, build all your flat-pack furniture and countless other scenarios where a toolkit will come in handy? Buy one now and it’ll save you from borrowing your neighbour’s… or calling up dad for help.
4. At least one plant
Not only do houseplants purify the air but they also inject colour, life and tranquillity into your home. Be it an unruly Monstera, classic Fiddle Leaf Fig or Devil’s Ivy cascading down a bookshelf, no home is complete without luscious greenery. Plus, unique ceramic planters and rich terracotta pots double as functional sculptural pieces that add style to your space. Here’s a guide on how to choose the perfect plant for every room.
5. A bed frame with built-in storage
While a floor of clothes and other belongings may have been the state of your bedroom during your younger years, it’s now time you learn how to keep your bedroom neat and tidy 24/7. An easy storage solution hack is to purchase a bed frame that comes with built-in storage drawers underneath. Scour online marketplaces or shop at IKEA for a budget-friendly one.
6. Bedding that makes you feel relaxed
Adulting is stressful and it can be made extra challenging if you’re not getting quality snooze every night. Overcome this by investing in quality bed sheets like 100% flax linen. It’s probably one of the best investments you can make for your bedroom and your health. Plus, it’s one decor update that will pay for itself in the long run and will stay with you well into your thirties.
If cost is an issue, we’ve managed to find an ethical and environmentally friendly way to make our high-quality linen accessible for everyone because ultimately, we believe it’s silly to have to compromise on quality or price in the pursuit of catching those elusive zzz’s.
If you need more convincing as to why our linen is worth the price tag, here are seven of the biggest benefits of sleeping in 100% flax linen.
7. An open design neutral-coloured bookshelf
Bookshelves are a great way to honour your most favourite books and serve as a way to display ceramics, candles, treasured trinkets and other smaller decor items.
Stick to a bookshelf that is neutral in colour as this will give you the opportunity to go big and bold by filling it with fun accent pieces. If your landlord approves, you could also look into floating shelves.
8. A vacuum cleaner
The days of your parents vacuuming for you are long gone. A vacuum cleaner is a lifelong necessity you’ll be using daily, so pay a little more for a decent quality one.
9. Basic cleaning equipment
On top of your trust vacuum cleaner, basic cleaning necessities include a mop, a toilet plunger, a bucket, broom and dustpan, rubber gloves and a few cloths. You’ll also want to keep extra bicarb soda and vinegar on hand as you’ll soon realise these are two of the best natural cleansers that are highly effective for a wealth of situations such as cleaning up messes and stains, deodorising your mattress, whitening sheets and clearing clogged drains.
10. An ergonomic office chair
With remote work now a norm as a result of the global pandemic, there’s a good chance you’ll be spending a few days a week working from home. Sure, you can simply seat yourself at your dining table or couch, but none of these chairs offer you the proper lumbar and pelvic support you need to avoid putting your back muscles under stress. Sitting on the wrong chair for hours can lead to bad posture, affect your breathing, lead to fatigue and decrease your productivity. Investing in an ergonomic chair will ensure you’re comfortable throughout your workday and it’s a home item you’ll have for years down the track.
11. A coffee machine
The average person will spend approximately $1,460 on barista-made coffee per year. That’s if you only drink one per day and don’t pay more for fancy dairy-free milk. Unfortunately, it’s not the smartest way to spend your cash now you have bills and expenses to pay for.
But it doesn’t mean you have to forego your coffee habit entirely - it just means opting for a more budget-friendly option. Investing in a coffee maker is a huge money saver and one you’ll come to realise you won’t be able to live without. And don’t worry, you can still make your coffee taste just as good as the barista-made type - just follow this how-to guide.
12. Proper dinner decor
There’s a good chance you’ll be throwing at least one dinner party in your new place, and that mashup of random plates and cups, plastic plates and paper serviettes isn’t really acceptable. Impress your guests with proper dinner decor like our linen tableware and a few special bowls and plates. As an added plus, your midweek meals will taste (and look) so much better on fancy dinnerware.
13. A quality couch
Splurge on a high-quality couch now and you’ll thank yourself later. Be extra savvy and look for one that converts into a bed so your guests always have somewhere comfy to sleep other than squished in yours.
14. Hand and face towels
This is probably one of the most overlooked items for 20-something-year-olds but it’s time you move beyond using your big bath towel for everything. Plus, having worn out (or even stained) towels can instantly make your bathroom feel outdated. Instantly elevate your bathroom by adding a few ultra-lush waffle linen hand and face towels, which can also double as tea towels for the kitchen.
15. Adult wine glasses
Drinking out of red cups and your coffee mug may have been cool in your teens but you’re trying to adult now. Buy some adult glassware that’s dishwasher safe, too, so you can feel fancy without the added fuss.
16. A dressing mirror
Place a dressing mirror against a wall near the main entrance so you can double-check you look your best every time you step out of your home.
17. A luxurious throw
On the bed as an extra layer of warmth, draped over the living room couch as an accessory or wrapped around you like a cosy blanket, your throw will soon become your most used homeware. Our luxuriously thick linen throws come in a range of our most popular hues that will feed warmth and energy into any setting to create a cosy, homely environment.
18. A nice candle
Don’t settle for deodorant, an old perfume or Glen 20. A candle is an absolute essential and choosing one you absolutely love will become your signature scent forever.
19. Personal trinkets
Do you have special items from travel abroad? Sentimental trinkets passed down from your parents and grandparents? Framed photos of your friends and family? Treasure the memories you’ve collected throughout your life by integrating them within your decor. Neatly place them throughout your space and they’ll be sure to put a smile on your face during the times when you need a pick-me-up.
