Home sweet home – 9 tips for furnishing your very first home

Moving into your very first home is a major milestone, filled with both joy and excitement. To ensure your new space feels like a true sanctuary, the editorial team of Design Stories has curated a comprehensive list of 9 must-have products to tackle all interior design needs for your new space. Home sweet home!

Sweet dreams ahead

First things first – and is there anything more important than sleep? If you ask our editorial team, probably not. Moebe's bed is guaranteed to be your trustworthy partner for the nights of the rest of your life. The clever bed frame is extendable from 90 centimeters to generous 180 centimeters, so you can adjust it to fit perfectly the size of your mattress. Sweet dreams!

• Moebe's bed >
• All products by Moebe >

Light up your life

The next thing to remember: sign an electricity contract. In case you forgot, don't worry, we have a solution even for the dark. &Tradition's Flowerpot VP9 table lamp is a portable version of Verner Panton's beloved Flowerpot luminaire. You can charge the cordless VP9 lamp using a magnetic USB cable or a separately sold charging base. The lamp is easy to carry with you from room to room – with the IP44-rating, the Flowerpot can be taken with you even to the bathroom. So no hurry waiting for the electrical connections!

• &Traditions Flowerpot VP9 portable table lamp >
• All products by &Tradition >

The only Thing you'll need

A stool is an absolute must-have in every home because of its versatility. It can be used not only as an extra seat for surprise guests but also as a bedside table in the bedroom, a side table in the hallway, or even as a ladder if you have to reach up high. A great option is Raawii's simple yet charming Thing stool, designed by George Sowden. The super multifunctional Thing can even be used as an additional seat on balconies and other outdoor areas, as its aluminum surface even resists moisture and raindrops!

• Raawii's Thing stool >
• All products by Raawii >

Your endlessly adaptable sidekick

Designed by Nils Strinning in 1949, the String shelving system has become a classic in homes all around the world – and for a good reason. The shelving unit charms with its versatility and adapts easily to life's changing circumstances as it can be extended and expanded infinitely.

String Pocket is part of the popular collection, launched in 2005. The lightweight but sturdy metal shelf is ideal for storing books and collectibles in the bedroom or living room, spices and dishes in the kitchen, or cosmetics jars in the bathroom. The bases of the metal shelves are perforated so you can attach hooks for hanging towels, potholders, kitchen utensils, or decorations.

• String Furniture's String Pocket shelf >
• All products by String Furniture >

Start the party

Iittala's Teema starter set makes a great gift for housewarming parties. The set contains everything you'll need when setting up your first own home: four large plates, four smaller plates, four deep plates, and four bowls make sure there are enough dishes for even the largest dinner parties.

The Teema tableware collection, designed by Kaj Franck, features a minimalist design based on three basic forms: square, rectangle, and circle. The simple plates suit well both everyday use and festive dinners.

• Iittala's Teema starter set >
• All products by Iittala >

Spoonful of sophistication

Complete the table setting with matching dinnerware, such as Georg Jensen's elegant New York cutlery set which Henning Koppel designed as a tribute to the 1963 World Exhibition in New York. Made of matt stainless steel, the 24-piece set includes six dinner spoons, forks, knives, and teaspoons. The clean, personal lines of the cutlery add flair to a wide range of settings, and the look easily blends with both modern dinnerware and old classics.

• Georg Jensen's New York cutlery set >
• All products by Georg Jensen >

Slice, dice, and delight

In addition to cutlery, the kitchen also needs cooking utensils. High-quality kitchen utensils make cooking and baking a child's play. Fiskars' Functional Form breadboard and knife set is the perfect pair for slicing bread but also helps with many other chopping and slicing tasks. The beautiful cutting board also pleases the eye and brings color and warmth to your kitchen.

• Fiskars' Functional Form breadboard and knife set >
• All products by Fiskars >

From student flats to forever homes

Hosting dinner parties is an absolute blast, but before you can charm your guests with delicious dishes, you'll need the perfect table to gather around. Look no further than Artek's table 90B, a timeless design from 1935 by the one and only Alvar Aalto, of course.

The iconic dining table features Aalto's signature L-leg and a round table top. Made of solid birch, the Aalto table 90B is not only an excellent choice for a student's first home but also built to withstand the test of time and use, making it a reliable companion that will be the heart of many gatherings in the years to come.

• Artek's Aalto table 90B >
• All products by Artek >

Style and comfort united

A stool can do the trick for a quick sit-down, but sooner or later, you'll find yourself yearning for the comfort of a proper chair. FDB Møbler's timeless J46 chair is a Danish design classic, designed by Poul M. Volther. 

When first released in 1965, J46 was a fresh contrast among the typical, heavier dining chairs of its age. The airy beech chair combines a V-shaped spindled backrest with a wide, comfortable seat. The J46 chair is available in several colors, so you can create a charming combination of chairs in different shades around your table.

• FDB Møbler's J46 chair >
• All products by FDB Møbler >

See also:

• What's new at Finnish Design Shop >

Text: Susa Pääkkönen Images: Manufacturers