INTERIOR DESIGN TIPS FOR A FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER
Buying your first home is such a crazy time - it’s exciting, it's stressful, and once you get past the house hunting and finances, figuring out how you want to decorate your space can also be daunting. Below I’m sharing 7 interior design tips that I would give to anyone planning for their first home purchase, or someone that is in the process of buying their first home.
1.ASSESS YOUR FURNITURE BUDGET
If you’re upgrading from a smaller apartment or moving out of your childhood home for the first time you may be bringing very few items with you. Whenever possible, I recommend leaving yourself some wiggle room in your budget to be able to furnish your new home. It doesn't need to be completely decorated on day one, but make sure you reserve enough to cover the essentials.
2, MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE!
Take some time to measure your rooms and your current furniture and plan what fits where. Designers measure everything - and then they double check their measurements! Interior designers and other industry professionals will also put plans and layouts into drafting programs. A sketch will be fine, but it’s a great idea to start to plan your layouts to get an idea where things will fit, what will go where and then you’ll also be able to start to plan what you’ll need to purchase when you are ready.
3. TACKLE THE MESSY HOME PROJECTS FIRST
If budget and time allow, it's much easier to perform any renovations or messy projects before you move in. This may be something as big as a kitchen or bathroom renovation, redoing floors or moving entire walls. Or, it could be ripping out old carpet, removing popcorn ceilings and painting. As much as we all want to get into the new home right away, taking a little bit of time to do this first will make the final move in that much more enjoyable.
4. SIMPLE SWAPS CAN MAKE THE PLACE FEEL LIKE HOME
Pay attention to small details and know that these are great opportunities to add your style to your new home - especially if you want to upgrade from standard builder options, or dated materials and finishes. My favorite small updates to make: swap cabinet hardware, change out light fixtures (restored vintage and antique are great options!),
5. YOU DON’T NEED TO STRESS ABOUT PAINT COLORS
Although it's easiest to paint without a home filled with furniture, it can be hard to pick a paint color for a new home without a clear design scheme in place, If you aren’t sure how you want to furnish or decorate your space, don’t panic about a paint color first. Allow yourself to purchase things for a room - let it start to come together organically and then pick a complementary paint color. A designer secret - the paint color is often one of the last things I pick because there are countless options. I want the paint to match the furnishings, not the other way around.
6. IT’S OK TO LET THE DESIGN COME TOGETHER SLOWLY
Between home design shows and social media, there’s a lot of pressure to move in and have a fully decorated house immediately. Doing so requires no time pressure to move, a sizable budget and, very typically, professional interior design help to create the vision and oversee implementation. It is ok to move in and piece together your home over time. We love a layered look and collected feel anyway.
7. INVEST IN QUALITY FURNITURE PIECES WHEN YOU CAN
This is especially true for big ticket items - sofas, dining tables & chairs etc. It's better for your wallet, your home and the planet if you spend for the long term rather than purchasing less expensive items that will end up needing to be replaced after a few short years. I always recommend antiques and thrifting to my virtual design clients to fill this need - it’s a great way to stick to a budget, find pieces that are unique and the saying is true - they just don’t make them like they used to.
I hope you found these tips helpful! If you’re interested in learning more about Abode Virtual Design’s myAbode Virtual Design Services, click here. Our mission is to create accessibly priced interior design services that are available to everyone - including first time home buyers! We’re happy to help get you the furniture layouts for your move in day, action plans for any projects you need to tackle, and full design schemes with buying guides for you to implement at your own pace.
HAPPY DESIGNING!
XX KATE