A basic solar power system for home use normally consists of three basic components, which are a solar panel, a battery regulator and a storage battery. This will provide you with a basic solar electric power system that produces 12 volts DC power. You can take this electricity supply from the battery at any time to run low-voltage DC (direct-current) electical or electronic devices such as a 12 volt lights, a car stereo, some small portable TV sets or a CB radio or a low-powered ham transceiver (2-way radio). And with a bit of tinkering you can often run a small notebook or netbook computer off the 12 volt supply as well.
But running mains-voltage appliances takes more power and requires a connection to the higher voltage household AC (alternating current) mains supply. This is normally 110 volts in the United States and Japan, or 220-230 volts in Australia/NZ, the UK and Europe. Some asian countries, such as Vietnam, seem happy to have both types of power outlets in their hotels. (I guess that's the mix of French and US influences.) But to get AC power off your 12 volt power system, you are going to need a DC to AC power inverter to take your 12 volts DC, change it to alternating current and then boost it up to 110v or 230v AC for your household mains-powered appliances.
Many of these AC electrical appliances use more power than a small solar power system can handle. It should be fine to run an electric drill for an hour or two or do a load of dirty laundry in a small twin-tub washing machine, but that's about it. (Those old-fashioned twin-tub laundry machines use less electricity then most modern machines. Check at the shop when you are ready to buy one.) Anyhow, a basic 12v solar power system is fine as an emergency lighting system, especially if you fit L.E.D. lights (light-emitting diodes) in your home. These LED lighting fixtures drain far less power from the battery than the old-fashioned incandescent lamps running off 110 or 220 volts AC, the kind with a glowing tungsten filament, or even the transformer-powered small "mood lighting" lamps which point down into the room through holes cut through the ceiling.
To use more juice (electric current) than this solar power basic system supplies, you will need to upgrade to a fairly heavyweight solar system... one that's got an array of solar panels, not just one or two. Then you will have to have a large capacity deep-cycle storage battery (or bank of batteries) to collect and store that electric power, and then you'll need a high-amperage solar regulator (to make sure the batteries don't get over-charged or completely discharged.)
Finally, you will require a DC to AC Inverter that will take the stored 12 volt DC battery power and change it to the 110/230 AC mains power that your normal household appliances rely upon.
Be sure to buy an inverter with the right voltage for your country, or you will damage your equipment and possibly even start a fire as well.