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We recommend that before you visit Kohl's to register, you and your spouse-to-be compare your customized room-by-room list to our bridal registry checklist. The checklist and the following tips will help you identify the items you need and want for each room.

Registry Essentials & Tips
Creating a Bathroom
Sweet Dreams
Escape to Your At-home Spa NEW!
Bar Basics NEW!
Hail to the Chef
Focus on Flatware
A Touch of Glass
The Art of Setting a Table NEW!
Must-have Electrics ... to Make Life Easier NEW!

CREATING A BATHROOM
Decorating a bathroom can be an infrequent occasion or a seasonal event. Creating a bath to suit your taste and personality can be as simple as changing towels, accessories, wall hangings and floor coverings or as involved as painting/wallpapering and updating light fixtures. No matter what your bathroom needs might be, starting with a plan and list of requirements should be your first step.

For each half bath, register for these powder-room basics:

• 3-6 hand towels
• 3-6 washcloths
• 1-2 decorative floor mats
• 4-8 fingertip towels (for guests)
• 1-3 scented candles

Keep in mind:

• Absorbency counts
• Velour towels have a velvety soft finish on one side, terry loops on the other
• Unsheared towels have terry loops on both sides

Don't forget to add your personal touch with these necessities:

• Soap dish or dispenser
• Lotion dispenser
• Toothbrush holder
• Tissue box cover
• Cotton swab and ball containers
• Clothing hamper
• Vanity cups (for drinking, make-up brushes, etc.)
• Wall hangings (framed artwork, swags and/or mirrors)

Tub Tip: Mildew tends to build up in hot, damp places where air doesn't circulate - like the inside of your shower curtain. To remove mildew, sponge the area with a solution of 1/4-cup bleach to two cups of water.

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SWEET DREAMS

Consider creating a bedroom retreat where you can really relax.

Items you may already have or can register for will help set the stage. Here are just a few ideas: a comfy chair covered in decorative pillows and a blanket throw; a quiet fan; a calming pool; an area rug you can sink your toes into; and scented candles. Don't overlook the basics of making your bed a great place to sleep! Here's where to start.

Register for these bedtime basics:

• 2 blankets (one for winter; one for summer)
• 3 sets of sheets (1 for the bed; 1 for the linen closet; 1 for the laundry)
• 4 pillows
• 4-6 sets of pillowcases
• 2 mattress pads
• 2-4 pillow shams
• A comforter or duvet cover, dust ruffle and assorted decorative pillows

Bedroom Tip: Changes in season typically call for a change in your blanket. Wool or acrylic is best for staying warm in winter, while 100% cotton is a breathable, natural fiber to keep you cool in summer.

Keep in mind: There is more to choosing sheets than just picking the color and pattern you like the best. Thread count (the total number of threads woven into each square inch of fabric) is the yardstick of quality for sheets. The higher the count, the closer the weave and the stronger, softer and longer-wearing the linens will be.

There are a few tricks to caring for your sheets. The easiest sheets to keep are cotton. They machine wash beautifully, easily releasing soils, and require bleach only for extremely difficult stains. Fabric softeners are not needed, as cotton grows softer naturally with repeated washing.

Cotton/polyester sheets should be machine washed on a warm/permanent press setting, and flannels should be washed and dried on warm settings. Jersey sheets should be washed in warm water and dried on a low setting.

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ESCAPE TO YOUR AT-HOME SPA

There's no question life can be stressful. It seems that just when you've successfully managed to juggle the demands of work and home, some new wrinkle comes along, and it's a whole new ballgame.

That's why it's so important to have an at-home refuge you can escape to when things get to be too much. Whether it's your favorite armchair, complete with cozy throw and your favorite book, or a pan-rattling bake-a-thon in the kitchen, your at-home escape needs to be your own.

The bathroom is a great place to customize because it has everything you need to relax. It's private, it's cozy, and it comes complete with the most relaxing amenity of all: a bathtub.

How do you get started? Begin with what you know best: yourself. Take a few minutes to think through your favorite things, and how you can incorporate them into your at-home spa. Then, be sure to include these nice extras on your registry. Your guests will jump at the chance to help you pamper yourself!

One easy first step to creating your at-home spa is to incorporate your favorite colors into your bathroom. Do you like bright yellows? Cool blues? Clean whites? Towels, bath mats and countertop accessories can help make these colors stand out.

Even better, towels and bath mats can be their own source of luxury. Pick thick towels and mats, and consider adding a fluffy terry cloth robe to wrap up in after your bath, as well. Sinking your toes into a luxurious bath mat … wrapping yourself in a soft, thick towel … these are extra treats that will help take your spa experience even further.

Add a vase of your favorite flowers for a soft, natural fragrance, or light a few candles. Turn on some soft music, or put a calming pool nearby for the soothing, natural sound of running water. Set your favorite book close by, and make sure you have your favorite bubble bath or bath beads on hand.

Plan to spend at least an hour in your at-home spa. You need enough time to relax completely, without worrying about what's next on the agenda. After you've lingered in your bath, soften your skin with your favorite scented lotion. If possible, slip into some comfortable pajamas or loungewear to help you carry that relaxed feeling out of your at-home spa, and back into Real Life.

And remember, you can always change your at-home spa. Switch the towels or add a new fragrance. Boost the luxury level on your bath mats, buy a new bottle of after-bath splash, or add a massager to relax those tense muscles. The idea is to adapt your special place to meet your special needs.

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BAR BASICS
If you plan to spend a lot of your post-wedding life entertaining friends and family at your new home, a well-stocked bar is one of the keys to a successful party.

Any serviceable (and respectable) bar needs some basic hardware. Register for these bar basics, and you'll be ready to party!

(And here's an extra little tip: For glasses, it's a good rule of thumb to register for a few more than you normally use to entertain. That way, you'll still have a complete set when you accidentally break one or two!)

Glasses

• 12 oz. tumblers for long drinks
• 8 oz. tumblers for short drinks
• beer mugs
• wine glasses
• martini glasses
• margarita glasses (if needed)
• champagne flutes (if needed)

Bar Tools

• corkscrew
• ice bucket with tongs
• stirring spoons
• blender
• "bar" hand towels

Optional

• coasters
• can opener
• small cutting board and knife to cut fruit
• platter for bar condiments
• serving bowl(s) for snacks

If you're a fan of theme parties, your bar is a great place to start. You can change your napkins to suit your theme, or toss in a favor to add a little spark. For example, for the holidays, tie festive ribbon around your glasses, or drape garland along the bar itself. Celebrate the Fourth of July with red, white and blue party napkins, and add a miniature American Flag to each drink. Throwing a luau? Substitute pineapple for the traditional orange slices. Your entertaining is a reflection of your personality, so be creative.

Your guests will thank you for it.

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HAIL TO THE CHEF

Cookware Tip: Check the scratch-resistance of the cookware you purchase. Some pieces are made to handle metal or plastic utensils; others require using plastic or nylon tools and avoiding abrasive scouring pads or steel wool.

Knowing a few key terms and definitions can really help you register for a variety of cookware pieces that will fit the way you cook.

Pan Styles: There are dozens of pans to choose, from saucepots to fry pans to roasters. If you are just starting to create a pan collection, select the basics first. A 10-piece set is a great choice.

Handles: Handles come in four materials: phenolic (high heat plastic), metal, wood and ceramic/glass. Many handles stay cool during stovetop use. Remember though, all handles get hot in the oven. Always reference manufacturer's care instructions for handle heat tolerance information.

Lids: The most important function of a lid is to trap steam. Therefore, it must fit the pan's body properly. In general, the snugger the fit, the better.

Material: Most cookware is made of stainless steel, aluminum or is hard-anodized. All can have a nonstick-coated or uncoated surface. Nonstick is beneficial because it has the ability to release food for easy cleaning.

Stainless Steel - 18/10 means 10% of the pan's content is nickel. In general, the greater the nickel content, the better the quality. The number 18 stands for the chromium content, which is the same for all stainless steel. This pan type wins points for durability, because it resists dents, scratches and stains.

Aluminum - This material is an excellent conductor of heat. Thickness is the key element of quality. The thicker the pan, the better the heat dispersion, reducing the chance of "hot spots." An aluminum pan heats up quickly and evenly over the total surface, including the side walls.

Hard-Anodized - A hard-anodized surface is twice as hard as stainless steel. This pan type was originally developed for commercial use, but is produced today for consumers. If you purchase a hard-anodized pan without a nonstick coating, you should use butter or oil to keep food from sticking.

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FOCUS ON FLATWARE

"Flatware" - a term often used interchangeably with silverware - refers to the knives, forks, spoons and serving utensils that you use to eat and serve.

Spotless Tip: Letting knives, forks and spoons sit in foods that are very salty or very high in acid (vinegar, citrus fruits and pickles) can leave unsightly marks. Keep stainless away from "silver polish," too; these products are too harsh and will dull stainless steel's natural luster.

A flatware place setting consists of five pieces: dinner knife, dinner fork, teaspoon, dessert fork and soup spoon. Plan to register for 8-12 flatware place settings, the same number as your dinnerware. Here are a few facts that will help you get the right flatware set for your lifestyle.

Most quality stainless steel is actually a metallic blend. You may notice a designation that says "18/8" or "18/10" on the package. That means the pieces have a steel base with 18% chrome for strength, and 8 or 10% nickel for shine. It's a mark of quality, your assurance that this flatware will last through years of daily use.

• Consider registering for additional flatware: tall drink spoons for iced tea, butter knives, a gravy ladle, and any other serving pieces particularly well-suited to your lifestyle.
• Most stainless is dishwasher safe and rust-proof; some manufacturers recommend you use non-bleach detergents, because chlorine bleach can dull that stainless shine. Abrasive scouring pads might also be too harsh.

Style Tip: Want a new, stylish way to display your flatware at a buffet? Try wrapping each set of knife, fork and spoon in a napkin, then tie it with a festive bow. Not only does it make an especially attractive presentation, but guests have an easier time helping themselves.

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A TOUCH OF GLASS

Glassware Tips: "Stemware" is the term used for wine glasses, champagne goblets, brandy snifters, or any glass that has a stem. Stemware is designed to be held by the stem, so your hand won't affect the temperature of wine, champagne or other spirits.

"Barware" refers to any kind of glass without a stem, the kind used for mostly everyday cocktails and beverages. Juice glasses, water tumblers, beer mugs - all these fit the "barware" label.

To prevent chipping, store your glasses on a cabinet shelf lined in paper. Stand them upright so odors and moisture won't get trapped inside. Most glassware is dishwasher safe - to prevent breakage, just make sure glasses aren't touching each other when they're going through the wash cycle.

Must-have glasses:

• 8 water tumblers (8-oz. size)
• 8 juice glasses (5-oz.)
• 8 tall glasses for serving iced tea, soda and other "long" drinks (12-oz.)
• 8 all-purpose wine glasses

For entertaining, consider these items:

• 12-oz. tumblers for long drinks
• 8-oz. tumblers for short drinks
• Beer mugs
• Champagne flutes

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THE ART OF SETTING A TABLE

It never fails: you've got guests coming over, and setting the table is the last thing on your mind. An hour before party time, you find yourself in the dining room, staring in panic at a bare table, a fistful of flatware and absolutely zero idea which fork goes where.

Don't fret. Keep a few, tried-and-true guidelines in your back pocket, and you'll be able to set a stunning table in a snap.

Step 1. Formal or casual? It makes all the difference.
All your table-decorating tactics are driven off one basic distinction: is your party formal or casual? Setting for formal gatherings usually requires linens, your special-occasion dishes and much more flatware. On the other hand, setting for casual get-togethers is the opposite end of the spectrum: placemats, everyday dinnerware, and only the flatware basics.

Step 2. Make sure everything's clean.
As a guest, there's nothing worse than discovering dust in your water glass. So, make sure your glasses, dishes and flatware are clean before they go on the table. Usually, there will just be a little dust to bust … take a clean dishtowel, and wipe the culprit from your glasses and plates.

Step 3. The flatware fiasco.
Still wondering which fork goes where? Here's a tip: forks are always on the left. In fact, your flatware is always arranged for a right-handed person … unfair, but true. Forks on the left; knives and spoons on the right. Arrange your silverware in the order it will be used; remember, your guests work from the outside in, so the first things used should be the furthest things from the plate. The sharp edges of the knives point toward the plate.

(And if you still can't remember what goes right and left, try this: the word "right" has five letters, as do the words "spoon" and "knife." The word "fork" has four letters - just like the word "left.")

One final tip on flatware: don't put out any utensils your guests won't be using. You don't want your dinner companions wondering why they've got two extra spoons and a fork left over after the meal's finished.

Step 4. Grab those glasses.
Just when you think you've got the silverware settled, you're facing another question: where do the wine glasses and water glasses go? On the same side? On opposite sides?

Again, think right-handed. Your water and wine glasses always go on the right side of the place setting. Place the larger water glass first, directly above the knife and spoon. The wine glass comes next, to the lower right of the water glass. The coffee cup and saucer go even lower, beneath the wine glass and to the right of the spoon.

Step 5. Go left with the leftovers.
What are you left with? The salad plate, probably. And a bread plate if you're throwing a formal soirée. You've already taken care of the right side of the place setting, which means the leftovers go on the left side. Your bread plate goes directly above the forks, with the salad plate lower, and to the left. This arrangement should mirror the water glass set-up on the right.

Step 6. The centerpiece.
No table looks finished without some sort of centerpiece. This can be as elegant or as informal as your dinner party, but always follow one guideline: your guests should be able to easily see each other above the centerpiece. So, keep those flowers or candles to a manageable height so your guests won't strain their necks attempting conversation.

Step 7. Remember the extras.
Keep a mental checklist (or, even better, write it down!) of the things you find yourself forgetting when you're setting the table. (You don't want to be jumping up seven times during dinner to grab salt and pepper shakers, the butter dish, and those other pesky afterthoughts.)

Here's a checklist to get you started. (And remember to register for these items, too! Your guests will be pleased to buy you a one-of-a-kind remembrance for your big day.)

• water pitcher
• serving bowls & spoons
• salt & pepper shakers
• butter dish
• gravy boat
• a shallow bowl or basket for bread (with linens to wrap in the warmth)

After dinner, remember to serve your guests that welcome (and expected) cup of coffee. To make sure you end your meal with the same entertaining savvy you began with, add these coffee niceties to your table.

• cups & saucers
• stirring spoons
• two carafes … one for decaf, one for regular
• sugar & creamer set

And, of course, a top-notch coffee maker doesn't hurt, either. Add one to your registry to help end your get-togethers with cups of perfectly brewed coffee!

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MUST-HAVE ELECTRICS ... TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

Let's face it … you're not marrying your kitchen. You want to get in, get the meal prepared, and get out as quickly as possible. Minimal dicing, slicing, whisking and washing - for maximum fun time with your new spouse.

Here's the secret all great cooks know: a few smart appliance choices, and you'll never slave again.

The Sharper, the Better.
If you've ever sawed away at a carrot or mangled a tomato, you know the importance of a sharp knife. Not only does it make cutting and chopping easier, it's also faster - and safer. Dull knives are a lot more likely to slip and take a chunk out of anything handy (the countertop, your finger) than a sharp knife.

Also, add a reliable knife sharpener to your Gift Registry. You'll be able to keep your knives razor-sharp with minimal fuss.

Voila! Instantly Minced.
Take our word for it: your kitchen needs a food processor. There's a wide variety of food processors on the market today, from the deluxe to the basic, and the style you register for will depend on your cooking needs. Regardless, you'll save lots of time mincing and chopping with a food processor: drop a few cloves of garlic into the bowl, press the button, and voila! You'll have perfectly minced garlic, without the by-hand hassle. These handy little gadgets also work great for chopping onions, grinding nuts or grating softer cheeses.

You Could Do This by Hand … By Why Would You Want To?
Compare for a second. With handheld can openers, you align everything perfectly and crank away … only to have to start over every five centimeters and fish the razor-edged lid out of the can when you're done. With an electric can opener, you hook the can onto the device and press a button. A few seconds later, you've got a perfectly opened can, and the lid's a safe distance away from your fingers, ready for disposal.

Actually - is it a comparison at all?

Blend It, Baby!
You'll actually end up using your blender more than you thought you would. It's great for festive, iced drinks, of course, but you'll find it handy for mixing other liquids, as well. Use it to combine ingredients for a smooth sauce, whip up some mousse, or make a puree. The incredible speed of a blender makes it a faster alternative to your mixer, and that ready-to-pour container saves you on clean-up, too.

The Unforgettable Extras
When you register, be sure to include all those extra "wish list" appliances you've been dreaming of: a coffeemaker, breadmaker, or grilling machine, for example. Your guests will appreciate the wide selection, and you'll enjoy all the time you save with each new appliance.