Short answer: When you move into a new house in Kenya, buy in this order: beds first, then seating for the living room, then a dining set, then storage and tables, and finally outdoor and decorative pieces. Measure every room and doorway first, and spread big purchases over a few months if you need to.
What to buy first
A new house can feel empty for months, and the temptation is to buy everything at once. It is better to buy in order of daily need. You need somewhere to sleep from the first night, somewhere to sit within the first week, and somewhere to eat soon after. Everything else can wait until you have lived in the space and know how you use it.
| Priority | Room | Pieces | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedrooms | Beds, bedside tables | 6 by 6 Dark Mahogany Wooden Bed Set (KSh 89,000) |
| 2 | Living room | Sofa or recliner set, coffee table | 5-Seater Brown Wooden Sofa (KSh 38,000) |
| 3 | Dining | Dining table and chairs | 6-Seater Oval Mahogany Dining Set (KSh 65,000) |
| 4 | Storage | TV stand, chests, console | TV stand with storage (KSh 28,500) |
| 5 | Outdoor | Garden set, parasol, swing chair | 3-Seater Striped Swing Chair (KSh 24,500) |
Before you buy anything large, measure every room and the route in. Our guide on measuring doors, stairs and lifts takes ten minutes and prevents most delivery problems.
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What to buy first
6x6 Dark Mahogany Wooden Bed Set · KSh 89,000
From KSh 24,500 · 8 designs in this section
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Bedrooms
The main bedroom usually takes a 6x6 bed, and children's rooms or guest rooms a 5x6 or a Chester bed. Choose the bed first, then plan the rest of the room around it.
- Main bed: a hardwood or mahogany bed is the piece most families keep for many years. The 6x6 Mahogany Bed – Sleigh Design (KSh 115,000) and the Solid Mahogany 5x6 Bed (KSh 85,000) are two common choices.
- Bedside tables: one on each side of a double bed, such as the Beige Gold-Handle Bedside Table (KSh 9,500).
- Chest of drawers or tallboy for clothes if there is no built-in wardrobe: the Maroon Slatted 4-Drawer Tallboy Chest (KSh 19,500) fits beside a wardrobe or in an alcove.
- Guest room: a Chester bed is lighter and cheaper than hardwood. See the Chester beds.
Add a mosquito net if your area needs one; a bed with net stands makes it easy to hang.
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Bedrooms
From KSh 9,500 8 designs
Living room
The living room sets the feel of the whole house. Decide first whether your family wants a recliner set, a sofa set or an L-shaped sofa. Recliners suit families who watch TV together; sofa sets are lighter and easier to move; L-shaped sofas use a corner well.
- Sofa set: wooden-frame sets such as the 5-Seater Brown Wooden Sofa (KSh 38,000) are a practical start.
- Recliner set: if you want one, plan for space behind and in front. Our 6-seater recliner price guide compares leather and fabric.
- Coffee table: choose one about two thirds the length of the sofa.
- TV stand: measure the TV width and the wall before you choose.
Our guide to planning a living room with sofas and leather chairs goes into more detail.
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Living room
From KSh 38,000 8 designs
Dining room
Count the people who eat at home every day, then add two for visitors. A family of four with regular guests usually needs a 6-seater. Leave about 90 cm behind each chair. Mahogany dining sets last for years; glass and marble tops look lighter in a smaller dining area. See all options in our dining tables and sets, or the 6-Seater Brown Glass-Top Dining Set (KSh 45,000) for a lighter look.
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Dining room
6-Seater Brown Glass-Top Dining Set · KSh 45,000
From KSh 12,000 · 8 designs in this section
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Outdoor and balcony
Once the inside is comfortable, the garden or balcony is where a new house starts to feel like home. A swing chair or egg chair is a good first outdoor piece because it works on a balcony or a veranda. Larger gardens can take a rattan sofa set or a wooden outdoor dining set with a parasol. See our outdoor furniture.
Home office
If anyone works from home, a desk and a good chair matter more than a bigger sofa. A small desk such as the Office Desk (KSh 8,500) fits in a guest room or a corner of the lounge. See the office furniture range.
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Home office
From KSh 8,500 8 designs
Quick size checks for each room
New houses in estates such as Syokimau, Kitengela, Ruiru and Juja are often built to similar plans, but room sizes still vary more than people expect. Before you order, check these points for each room:
- Main bedroom: a 6x6 bed needs a room where you can walk round both sides and open the wardrobe doors fully. If the room is under about 3.5 metres wide, compare the 5x6 size as well.
- Children's rooms: a 5x6 bed or a Chester bed, a bedside table and a small desk usually fit. Leave floor space for play.
- Living room: measure the longest wall. A 5-seater set or an L-shaped sofa suits most family lounges; a 6- or 7-seater recliner set needs a long wall and space behind for the backs to tilt.
- Dining area: a 6-seater table needs roughly 3 metres by 3 metres including the space behind the chairs. In an open-plan room, mark it out on the floor first.
- Doors and stairs: internal doors in new houses are sometimes narrower than the main door. Measure them before choosing a large bed or a long sofa.
Write these sizes down on one page and bring it to the showroom or send a photo of it on WhatsApp. It makes choosing much faster, and it lets us warn you early if a piece will not suit a room.
Finally, think about where the light falls. Dark mahogany looks rich in a bright room but can feel heavy in a small, dim one; in that case, a lighter fabric sofa or a glass-top table balances it. Keep rugs, curtains and cushions in the same two or three colours and the whole house will look planned, even if you buy the pieces over several months.
Planning the purchase
- Spread it out. Buy the bedrooms and living room first, and the rest over the following months.
- Keep one style. Choose one wood tone and two or three colours for fabrics and repeat them through the house.
- Buy fewer, better pieces for the items you use every day: the main bed, the sofa and the dining set.
- Plan one delivery. If you are outside Nairobi, ordering several pieces together usually makes delivery simpler. Send your list and location on WhatsApp for a quote.
We deliver from our Utawala showroom across Kenya, including Kajiado and Kitengela, Machakos and Syokimau and Nairobi.
Frequently asked questions
What furniture do I need first in a new house?
Beds and bedside tables first, then a sofa or recliner set, then a dining set. Storage, outdoor and decorative pieces can follow once you have lived in the house.
How do I choose furniture that matches?
Pick one wood tone and two or three fabric colours and repeat them in every room. Mahogany, cream and grey work together in most Kenyan homes.
Should I buy everything at once?
Not necessarily. Buy the pieces you use every day first, then add the rest as you learn how you use each room.
Do you deliver several pieces together?
Yes. Send the product names and your exact location on WhatsApp; we confirm the delivery cost and timing before you pay. See delivery across Kenya.
Can I see the furniture before I buy?
Yes. Visit our showroom at Rubis Utawala, Along Eastern Bypass, Nairobi, open every day from 8am to 8pm.
Furnishing a new house? Send us your room list and sizes and we will help you plan. Ask us on WhatsApp, or visit our showroom at Rubis Utawala, Along Eastern Bypass, Nairobi, open every day from 8am to 8pm.
Prices checked on 9 October 2026. Last updated: 9 October 2026.
