Living in Spain and Setting up Home

Summary: What to take, what to leave – an expat's guide to packing up and moving to live in Spain

Thousands of British expatriates now call the balmy shores or mountainous inland areas of Spain home.  Buying or letting property in this European country is almost as easy as setting up a household within the boundaries of the UK.  Still, many would be expatriates wonder exactly how to go about getting themselves settled.

In this article ‘living in Spain and setting up home’ we’ll take a look at some of the top recommendations for setting up a household in Spain.  From what to bring to where to go to furnish a new home, existing expatriates often have very good advice to share.

Moving to Spain - What to Bring

With the costs of transporting the contents of an entire household to Spain rather high, most expatriates suggest travelling light.  It is more than possible to settle in and buy new, or used once you arrive.  For the most part, expats suggest bringing only important things and items with sentimental value.

English language computer keyboards, clothing, toiletries and personal effects are top of the lists of what to bring.  Paying to ship valuable furniture or pieces that have family heirloom value is also suggested.  Just unload the rest before you go to save a ton in shipping costs.  Most things can be purchased once you arrive at your new home.

Living in Spain - What You Need to Know

To go about furnishing a household in Spain, knowing a bit of the language is often very important.  From furniture and linen shopping to picking up groceries, the language barrier is often a very big deal when looking for the little things that make a house a home.

To this end, many expats recommend learning the right terms for the things desired.  Everything from what to call a sofa to the correct word for the desired decorating style for curtains can prove important!

Where to Shop in Spain

When speed and ease of furniture acquisition and assembly is required, Brits will find the old familiar Ikea has taken up residence in Spain (yay).  It is more than possible and quite affordable to furnish an entire flat or villa by shopping at Ikea.  Others find themselves visiting more localised furniture and second-hand stores for example.

Good old Ikea is also quite useful for setting up a kitchen with pots, pans, crockery and more.  The repurchase price is generally much less than shipping charges from the UK would prove in the case of these rather heavy items.

Grocery and other kitchen items can be purchased at local markets and from street vendors in most areas.  Do not worry - stocking a kitchen in Spain is not a difficult undertaking once you get a lay of the land and in fact – it’s part of the appeal of the nation.

Moving to Spain is an exciting venture that many Brits choose to embark upon.  Deciding what to bring and what to replace upon arrival is an important step in making the move...and it can be an exciting step as well.

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