Let’s set the scene: you’ve bought a new house, just the right size, and in the right spot. Now, you need to get it furnished! The question is this: where do you start? How do you make a choice as to what to buy for your new home?
It depends on who you are, and what you want and need, but there are some tips we can give you that we are sure will help you make the task a lot easier. Read on, and you might get some inspiration from our ideas!
Know Your Budget
The first suggestion we make is that you set your budget rigidly and clearly before you start buying. To do this, it’s best to browse websites and catalogues, and make a list of the basic items that are necessities for your home. Think beds, a couch, chairs, tables, and once you have an idea of what you want an where you want it, you can add up the approximate cost. We also advise that when you get to that number, you add a bit on, as there will always be something extra that catches your eye.
Decide on a Style
To narrow down your choices – the home furnishings market is a truly massive one – decide what style you want to present in your home. What will you be comfortable living with? Is your taste more traditional than minimalist? The clean, fresh modern look is very much in vogue these days, but it’s not for everyone. If you have an idea of style, you can cut down on the work it takes to find the right items for your home.
Take Measurements
Don’t make the mistake that many people do, and buy a bed or other item of furniture that is too big for your room. It’s all too easy to see something in the expanded space of the warehouse or showroom, and then find it is much bigger than you thought when you get it home! Measure the room you are buying for – we reckon it’s best you do it one room at a time rather than trying to deal with the whole house in one go – and draw a plan of what you want, and where you want it. Drawn to scale, this will give you a good idea of the amount of space you are going to occupy with your new furnishings.
Go Eco-Friendly
If you have bought a new-build home – or even a relatively recent one – you will most likely find it has been built using eco-friendly materials, and also includes energy-efficient appliances and systems. You can also buy eco friendly furniture, and in some cases it is a very sensible choice, at not over-inflated prices. They are also made from natural, eco-friendly materials, and as they do not use some of the chemical products found in standard furniture, you are buying non toxic furniture that will also make your home a safer place to be. It’s worth checking out if you want tailor made furniture, perhaps for oddly sized spaces around the house.
Mark Your Utilities
When you draw up your floorplan – as we mentioned earlier on – make sure you mark where the power points are. These will naturally need to be easy to access, so it’s a mistake to place heavy, permanent furniture in front of them. The same applies to light switches and any other fittings you may have on walls. This is an easy point to overlook, so make it something you do early on in the process.
Choice of Materials
A further consideration when you are choosing furniture for the home is that of the material. Take the couch: many people want a leather couch and chairs, for comfort and also for a touch of class and luxury. Leather is a wonderful material – and surprisingly easy to clean – but it can get scuffed and damaged easily. The various types of cloth-covered furniture are easier to maintain – especially the eco-friendly items we talked about before – and may fit more easily in your budget. When it comes to beds, for example, you can choose between wooden and metal frames. Which you prefer is personal choice, so narrow down your options beforehand if you want to save time and money.
Don’t Forget Lighting
You may have a new home that already has light fittings designed and installed, or – like many people – you might be working with a brand new house that is ready to be made into your personal space. One way of adding individuality is to detail the rooms with any of the many lighting options that are now available. We recommend you look at LED lighting – it is highly efficient, effective and affordable – especially in rooms where you want downlighting. The lighting design in a room can make a very big difference, so check out displays in the stores and catalogues for some ideas.
Recycle and Repurpose
If you want to save money and have fun at the same time, why not have a look around junk shops? You can find some older but good-quality wooden furniture at great prices, that will look great with a little work and some paint. Check out the small ads too, as people often put stuff up for very low prices that you might want or have a use for.
Now Add to the Basics
Once you have your basic essentials in place – somewhere to sit and relax in the lounge, beds for you and the children, storage spaces and a kitchen and bathroom – you can start to look around for the details, the little things that make your new home unique and yours.
You can find all sorts of interesting bathroom accessories – for example – by browsing online shops, and don’t forget that a large picture makes a blank wall a lot less blank! So, have another look at our ideas and start from the beginning, and you will soon have a dream home that is to your taste.
