Decorating your house will always be an adventure, especially if it is your first time doing so. After all, this is the first time you own a living space entirely yours. No more having to share with your siblings or be limited by your parent’s rules; you’re living by your own preferences and rules, now!
While you may be over the moon about your new home, you don’t wanna get too excited and get your stuff in a tassel. There’s a lot of things to do when getting a new home –– and whilst most people only consider packing and unpacking as the main sources of concern, it’s the things after moving in that make the most difference. Getting used to your new space, learning how everything works, and making it your home is your new responsibility as a homeowner. You must get it right when you move in, instead of procrastinating and assuming you’ll get it sorted later on.
If you’re looking to insure your newly decorated home with Youi, read on to find out our favorite do’s and don’ts when it comes to furnishing your new space. Soon enough, you’ll be ready to relax with a good coffee and some Netflix.
Things To Do
We’ll begin with a series of good habits to practice. There are probably a million and one ideas when it comes to interior designing, so let’s streamline and evaluate them systematically.
Have A Floor Plan
This goes without saying. It is crucial to have a proper plan before starting your decoration, or you’ll find yourself caught up in a heap of mess! You may have lots of flashy and creative ideas, but not all ideas are as feasible as you think.
This includes getting your priorities in which decor or furniture to get first, your budget, your home’s specific measurements, which furniture to splurge on, and which furniture to thrift on. A structured floor plan will organize your thoughts and ideas much better and help your decoration process go much more smoothly.
Set A Budget
The next thing to do is craft a rough budget when you first move in. Be as realistic as you can about it, and don’t overpromise anything because it will only worsen things in the future.
Measure Everything
You might not be used to this, but it’s important to measure everything –– especially when you’re purchasing several things at once. For example, it would be a shame to purchase a new fridge and find out it doesn’t fit your kitchen!
Consistent Color Palette
You don’t need to color match everything, but understanding how color palettes work will help you choose your decor and furniture better! This includes choosing the right shades and colors that go well together. If you still struggle to understand or choose colors, it is always good to seek a professional opinion.
Be Open To Painting
Painting can be a useful tool when it comes to refurbishing old furniture as well as saving costs. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to get everything brand new –– it might end up being too costly or impractical. Instead, why not save that money and use it on more important aspects of the home? This includes better quality electric appliances, costlier tiles, or even hiring an interior designer!
Make A Home
As much as you wanna go crazy on the aesthetics, don’t forget that you are still decorating your home! In its essence, it has to be personalized and filled with the characteristics of the owners. Remember, a home is often considered an extension of yourself, so make sure that they can see you in its design when people come to your home.
Embrace Hand-me-downs
On personalizing your home, you can bring memorabilia or decors from your parent’s home. We suggest bringing a childhood item, furniture, or even nostalgic decorations that hold significance to your family! Plus, it’ll help save a ton of money as well.
Adding Texture
You can always spice things up by adding rugs to your home –– this will help give a warmer and cozier atmosphere. On top of their beautiful aesthetics, rugs are also very comfortable to sit, walk or lie on. Furthermore, you can add other forms of textiles like pillows, blankets, or even upholsters. All of which will add texture to the design of your home!
Having Art Pieces
If you have the financial means to do so, you should also consider DIY decors and affordable art decors. Of course, art isn’t the most affordable, but its value isn’t just about the artist or its price– it’s about what it means to an individual. So making your art or even buying something affordable that you like is good enough. These could include wooden decors, pottery, canvas art, sculptures, plant, and even posters!
Things To Avoid
Now, let’s move on to the things that we should actively avoid so that we don’t waste excessive time and money later on.
Buying Everything Together
First off, do not buy all your items together. Instead, you should follow a systematic approach in buying your decorations and furniture to minimize mistakes in your whole decor plan. After all, some of the items you already have on your list might not look as good as they seem in your head.
You Don’t Need To Match Everything.
Next, you must fight the temptation to match everything with each other. Sticking to the theme might seem like the logical thing to do, but it might just make your home look tacky. So instead, having some contrast and diversity can emphasize certain decors –– thus maximizing the aesthetics!
Reject Ideas Blindly
I’m sure you already have a rough idea of what you want your home to look like, but you should try not to be rigid. Instead, try to be flexible and open to ideas from others or even professionals as the heat of the moment may burn you!
Over-reliance On Inspiration Boards
While most experts recommend inspiration boards, it is not good to over-rely on them. You have to think of the bigger picture –– you are going to live in this home for a long time, and this home will go through several changes as you grow. So try to lay off something too extravagant and keep your decors cheap and flexible. You wouldn’t wanna be in a position where you have to spend much more money to redecorate your current home in the future!
Splurging
Another ‘don’t’ is splurging on expensive decors or furniture at the start. Instead, try to purchase the cheaper stuff first as they are easy to replace if it doesn’t look as good as you thought. Or, try and stick to investing in key furniture pieces.
This usually includes getting some chairs, a coffee table, a sofa, and something to sleep on. You don’t need to get a bed immediately –– you can be as comfortable on a sofa or mattress, which gives you time to find your ideal bed later.
Overreact
As mentioned above, it is normal to make mistakes –– even experts can’t guarantee success in every home decoration project they work on. Expect to make some mistakes, as this is your first time decorating your home. However, the most important thing is not to overreact. Instead, be open-minded and learn from your mistakes. This is the best learning experience that you can get!
Conclusion
All in all, getting your first home is a huge deal for anyone. But, as excited as you are, you don’t want to ruin it with impulsiveness! The best thing to do is plan your decor rationally and execute it without letting the heat of the moment get to you.
Remember that this will not be your final product as your home will go through many changes in the future. Happy shopping!