9 home essentials to prove to Mummy-Papa that you're actually an adult now

The basic guide to making it look like you have it all together

Adulthood is a scam. No one told us that being adults meant replenishing groceries and buying crucial home essentials that you never knew existed, working round the clock, and saying “I will never ever drink again” while popping a Disprin every Sunday.

Who knew that “you get to make all your decisions” meant the painful ordeal that is deciding what to cook every single day, and that “independence and freedom” meant independently scrubbing your house clean, and the freedom to let your bartans pile up till you have nothing left to eat cold Maggi out of.

But just like there is only one right answer to your mother’s “Could you do me a favour?” there is only one way to deal with adulthood and everything that comes with it – embrace it with open and slightly sore (from scrubbing all the dishes) arms.

To save you time and energy, we curated a list of home essentials that will paint a picture of you being a self-sufficient adult as you scramble around to get your life in order behind the scenes.

9 home essentials to create the illusion that you’re great at adulting

It’s time to find a home for Lallu the laundry pile

The designated laundry chair in your room needs to go.

We know that Lallu the laundry pile has been a permanent fixture in your life, and has stayed despite you displacing him ever so often – from the floor to the bed and then back to the floor to ensure that your colleagues don’t get a peek of Lallu during your weekly Zoom calls.

But it’s time for Lallu to move out of your room and into a laundry basket. Apartment18.in, ₹ 2,499

Stay sharp

Don’t even start with “the one I have works just fine.”

We know it’s too blunt to cut through a tomato, but sharp enough to not be left unattended next to your kitten, but still not sharp enough to be used as a weapon of self-defence when fighting the imaginary figure that seems to follow you right after your horror movie marathon.

Long story short – get yourself a chef’s knife set. One that is durable, good quality, and will not turn your California rolls into a mountain of butchered seaweed and rice. Tatacliq.com, ₹ 6,003

 

Get ready to coast(er) down adulthood drive

Your mother is coming to visit, and as expected, the roommates and you are trying to mask all traces of delinquency with lemongrass agarbatti, by finally chasing out Dodo the dust bunny from under your bed, and by making it seem like all the glass bottles strewn around are a result of your newfound love for money plants.

So, when mummy does finally arrive, you are all set to floor her with well, your sparkling kitchen floor, spotless bathroom tiles, and organised wardrobe. What you don’t know is that mummy has some tricks up her sleeve that can, in a fraction of a second, deflate your newly acquired “responsible adult” persona.

And topping this list of cheats are rings of water left behind from the last movie night you hosted. Prove you’re adulting like a pro by investing in this oft-neglected item among home essentials – coasters.

These versions by Nicobar aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, but also sturdy enough to survive your weekend shenanigans. Nicobar.com, ₹ 1,200 for two

Let the adulting tray-ning begin

Dedicating years to being the perfect pre-adulthood party host teaches you a lot. Effortlessly carrying seven disposable glasses, full to the brim, one tray of ice and three bottles of mixers with your bare hands is a lesson that dorm room parties left you with.

But much like that ex with the Aamir Khan-inspired goatee, this part of your life too is best left in the era where you were blissfully unaware of how expensive cheese slices are.

Trays are the new party essential you need for the home, and no, you may not try to balance flaming shots on it while doing the dola re dola move.

Invest in this chic pick from Good Earth to serve adulthood goals in style. Goodearth.in, ₹ 2,800

Scent and sensibility

Take-out Chindian food might have been your preferred scent for the home all through undergrad, but chilli chicken from the night before infused with a pungent hint of soy sauce isn’t going to cut it anymore.

Shop for your favourite essential oils, and plug in this electric diffuser right before your guests arrive. That way, they’ll actually have to wait till dinner to know what’s being served.

And for all those with little furry friends, this can come in handy when the litter box is trying to make its presence felt. Amazon.in, ₹ 265

Stay grounded no more

Picnic blankets are romantic only once in a while, and definitely not when spread across your living room floor to act as a make-shift dining area for the home.

Invest in an actual dining table as you wave goodbye to the undergrad life.

Our pick is a sleek design in a neutral colour that will seamlessly blend into your home’s aesthetic. Dress it up with a table cloth and flowers when entertaining or use it as a makeshift WFH office – the choice is yours. Ikea.com, ₹ 5,290 for the set

 

Bowl people over at your dinner parties

Imagine sending your mother a selfie from a dinner party you hosted over the weekend, only to realise that you forgot to crop out the takeaway container you served pulav in.

Cue dramatic music, which is interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

You open the door, and standing on the other side is your mother, who has flown half-way across the country, only to toss you along with all your takeaway containers into the trash.

If this story has made you scroll through all the photographs you’ve shared with mum, and has left you feeling irrationally unsettled, then all you need to do is whip out your phone and shop for a couple of these rustic serving bowls. Ellementry.com, ₹ 1,750

 

Wi(ne) not go all out

This is a public service announcement for whoever feels that it is okay to drink expensive wine out of mismatched mugs meant for coffee – it is time to get your act together, Drunkita.

If you can afford expensive wine, then you can afford these classic wine glasses that can’t be left off a home essentials list if you’re faking adulting on Instagram. Home Centre,  ₹2,999

Adulting score: So-fa, so good

If you’re no longer in college then it is no longer acceptable to expect your friends to squat on your living room floor during game nights.

Not because we have anything against floor seating, but because in all likelihood, their knees have now begun to age, and their spines can no longer bear the lack of  a back rest.

We are not asking your 25-going-on-75 gang to stop lying to themselves about “Of course I can work after a night of partying,” we are just asking you to invest in a couch for when this lie falls flat on its face and you need something comfy to sink into while braving your hangover. Ikea.com, ₹ 6,990