For beginner cake decorators, there are a few essential items that are needed. First and foremost, a good set of basic decorating tools is necessary, such as icing bags, tips (such as round tips and star tips), offset spatulas for spreading and smoothing icing, and a turntable to easily rotate the cake while decorating. Additionally, a beginner will need an assortment of food colors to create different shades for icing, along with piping gel or royal icing for creating intricate designs. It's also important to have a sturdy cake base or board to place the decorated cake on. Lastly, practice is key for beginners, so having patience and dedication to learning new techniques is vital.