Equipping your home
You will know what Spanish homes usually lack, what to bring or buy, and how to get big items delivered and installed.
Many Spanish flats are rented or sold with no lamps, no appliances and sometimes no kitchen. Old buildings and hot summers add their own needs. This topic helps you work out what to buy, what to bring and how to get big items delivered and installed. That covers appliances, furniture and bedding…
Pick the article that fits your situation
How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing
Explains what a Spanish flat listed as unfurnished usually includes, how to read listing labels, and what to buy first. For anyone renting an empty flat in Spain who wants to know what they must supply.
Bring from home or buy in Spain: household items decision guide
Helps you decide what to pack and what to buy once you arrive in Spain. Bring small, compatible and sentimental things; buy bulky, voltage-sensitive or size-specific items locally. Written for anyone shipping a household from the UK, US or elsewhere.
Buying a washing machine, fridge or cooker: delivery, installation and checks
How to buy a washing machine, fridge or cooker in Spain: what delivery, installation and old-unit removal to expect, how to read the energy label, how the guarantee works, and who may connect gas. For anyone equipping a new home.
Furniture, mattresses and kids' gear for a Spanish flat
Spanish beds, bed linen and children's gear use local sizes and safety marks, so foreign items often don't fit. This page helps newcomers furnishing a flat, with sizes to measure for, where to shop, typical prices and what to check on child and pet items.
Fans, air conditioning, heaters and dehumidifiers for a Spanish flat
How to pick fans, portable or split air conditioning, heaters and dehumidifiers for a Spanish flat. It covers safety, permission for outdoor units and the electrical limit that makes the power cut out. It is for newcomers coping with hot summers, unheated winters and damp.
Getting bulky furniture delivered up narrow stairs and small lifts
How to get big furniture into an old Spanish building: what to measure, what delivery usually includes, your assembly options, when a furniture lift needs a permit, and what happens if an item does not fit. For anyone furnishing a flat with narrow stairs or a small lift.
About this topic
It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. After reading, you will know what Spanish homes usually lack, what is worth bringing, and how to get large items up the stairs and into place.
Start with "How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing". It shows what an unfurnished flat includes and what you must supply. From there, move on to the guides that fit your next step: deciding what to ship or buy, buying appliances, choosing furniture and mattresses, picking fans and heaters, or planning a bulky delivery.
Repairs that are the landlord's job, fixed heating and damp, waste collection and shipping your belongings are covered elsewhere.
Key rules
- Mains electricity: Spain uses 230 V at 50 Hz, with two-round-pin Type C and Type F sockets.
- Guarantee: New goods bought from a business in Spain come with a legal guarantee of 3 years from delivery.
- Online returns: Online purchases can be withdrawn from within 14 days of receipt, and you normally pay the return cost.
- Gas connections: Only an authorised gas installer may connect or modify a gas cooker or boiler.
- Old appliance removal: When a shop delivers a new appliance, it must take away your old equivalent one free of charge, so ask for this when you order.
- Listing labels: The words amueblado, semiamueblado and sin amueblar have no legal definition, so trust the photos and inventory, not the label.
Documents you may need
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The inventory attached to your rental contract — How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing
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Receipt or other proof of purchase — Buying a washing machine, fridge or cooker: delivery, installation and checks
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Certificate of installation — Buying a washing machine, fridge or cooker: delivery, installation and checks
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Dated photos of the flat's kitchen — How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing
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Certificate from the periodic inspection of piped gas — Buying a washing machine, fridge or cooker: delivery, installation and checks
Equipping your home: questions that cross several articles
Does an unfurnished flat in Spain come with a kitchen and appliances?
Often the kitchen has units, a worktop, a sink and a hob, but a fridge, washing machine and oven are frequently missing. Lamps and curtains are normally missing too. Read "How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing" first, then "Buying a washing machine, fridge or cooker: delivery, installation and checks" if you need to buy appliances.
What do amueblado, semiamueblado and sin amueblar mean in a listing?
Amueblado means furnished, semiamueblado means partly furnished (usually kitchen units and some appliances) and sin amueblar means unfurnished. These terms have no legal definition, so ask for the inventory and photos in writing. "How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing" shows what to expect in each case.
Can I bring my appliances from the US or UK to Spain?
Yes, UK appliances work with a plug adaptor, and US ones work only if they are dual voltage or you use a step-up transformer. Heating appliances like kettles and hair dryers at 110 V are best replaced. See "Appliances from home: voltage, plugs and gas fittings" and "Bring from home or buy in Spain: household items decision guide".
What should I buy first in an empty flat?
Start with a bed or mattress and bed linen, towels, light bulbs and lamps, and basic kitchen items. Then add a fridge and washing machine if missing, and curtains if you need privacy. Read "How to equip an unfurnished Spanish flat: what is usually missing" and "Getting bulky furniture delivered up narrow stairs and small lifts" before ordering large items.
What bed size should I buy in Spain?
The most common single is 90x190 or 90x200 cm, and common doubles today are 150x190/200 and 160x200 cm. Sizes vary by brand, so measure your bed frame before buying. See "Furniture, mattresses and kids' gear for a Spanish flat" and, if you ship a bed, "Bring from home or buy in Spain: household items decision guide".
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