Furnishing Your New Home
So you’ve built your new home and it’s time to move in! But wait, there’s one last step, and some would say it’s the most fun part of the whole process. Take your new home from a blank canvas to a true haven with stylish furnishing and decorating.
Here are some tips to furnish your new home:
Budget from the Beginning
Budget for furnishings as part of your build. It can be deflating to have your brand new home completed and then have to furnish it with shabby old pieces. Be realistic with your budget – a good way to get a number is to go to a site like Wayfair or West Elm and fill a cart with everything you will need for each room. Don’t forget easily overlooked items like rugs, lamps, side tables and artwork. You might be surprised how quickly the total adds up.
Stick to the Concept
Furnish and decorate according to a design concept. Whether your style is modern, rustic or eclectic, be consistent in selecting pieces of that same style which work together. Think about color palette and how that will work with your hard finishes – I recently used some gorgeous jewel green velvet accent chairs that really made the room. But if that’s a little too bold for you, then easily replaced items like throw pillows can be a great place to bring in color.
Look for Quality
If you’re shopping online, it can become overwhelming pretty quickly. Make use of filters to weed out poor quality items by looking for pieces that offer solid wood, kiln dried frames, metal (not plastic) hardware and mortise or dovetail joints. For sofas and mattresses, I always like to have clients do an in-person sit test – while furniture retailers are limited here in the valley, it’s worth it to try to find those key pieces in store so you can make sure they’re truly comfortable.
For upholstered items, check cleaning codes – ideally you want W or WS which allows water-based cleaning, to be able to steam clean. If you have kids or pets in your home, look for performance fabrics. And please never ever buy a rug with viscose fibers – it will stain with water and you will have to throw it out.
Measure Twice, then Measure Again
It’s critical that furniture not just fits in your space, but that it allows for the most efficient and comfortable layout that helps the room function as intended. You should have clear paths of circulation between rooms, your coffee table and side tables should work with the height of your sofa, TVs should be placed at a comfortable viewing height, rugs should be neither too big nor too small ... and the list goes on. Laying out a furniture plan can help enormously, and some furniture stores will do this as a bonus service if you’re purchasing from them.
Let the Professionals Handle It
If you’re already overwhelmed by the build process, consider hiring an interior designer. Not only will designers take the furnishing of your home to the next level, but they can maximize function and use of space. You’ll never have to Google “what size rug do I need” ever again!
While most designers do charge a design fee for furnishing and decorating projects, you might be surprised that they can access furnishings at affordable prices, meaning you could pay the same or less than in a retail store. Full-service designers also handle all of the hassle of shipping, receiving and installing the furniture – all you need to do is show up and settle in.
