New Home Essentials: Setting Up Your First Place
By The Binuns Registry Team · Published 22 September 2026
Setting up a first home in South Africa costs less than the internet suggests if you buy in order: the kitchen first, because you use it three times a day; then the table, because it is where people gather; then everything else as gaps appear. This is the order we walk couples through in store, with current prices.
Kitchen first
Cookware, a frying pan, knives, a board, a kettle and a toaster. Budget roughly R3,000–R5,000 for a decent version of all of it — a Russell Hobbs 6-piece cookware set around R1,169, a Kenwood kettle around R459, Victorinox knives from around R139 each.
Our full first-kitchen list goes into detail, including what to skip.
The table
Dinnerware and cutlery for six, plus glasses. Luminarc Opal plates around R59 each, an Olivia Princess 16-piece cutlery set around R1,099, Olivia Princess crystal tumblers around R299 for four and Chef & Sommelier wine glasses from around R109 each.
The pieces that last
One or two items bought properly change how the home feels and will still be there in twenty years: a Le Creuset Signature 26cm cast-iron casserole at around R7,699, a Smeg retro kettle and toaster pairing, or a Carrol Boyes serving piece. These are the natural group gifts if people are asking what to give you.
What is not on this list
Bed linen, duvets, towels, curtains and furniture. Binuns does not stock them — we are a kitchen, dining and homeware retailer. Plan those with a bedding or furniture retailer and keep the two lists separate rather than half-solving both.
Delivery and cost, honestly
Standard delivery is R85 on orders under R500 and free from R500 upwards. Very heavy items (10 kg and over) add R250. Gifts bought from a Binuns gift registry are delivered free regardless of value.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I buy first when moving into a new home?
- The kitchen: cookware, a pan, knives, a board, a kettle and a toaster. Then dinnerware, cutlery and glassware for six. Everything else can wait until a real gap appears.
- How much does it cost to set up a new home in South Africa?
- For kitchen, dining and glassware bought sensibly, roughly R6,000–R10,000. Premium appliances and cast iron push it well past that, which is where a gift registry does the heavy lifting.