How do you want your first home look like?
Purchasing your first house is an exciting time. There are unlimited possibilities on how you can personalize your space and make it your own, but it also might be a little nerve-racking deciding where you should start. Luckily, we’ve compiled our best tips for how to decorate your home without breaking the bank.
Start with the bedroom It's where you'll be spending almost a third of your time when you're at home. If you're on a tight budget, go for new bedding first, but don't skimp on thread count! Buy as well as you can afford to spend in this area — it makes a huge difference. If you have a little more money, paint the bedroom walls to complement your new bedding and add coordinating window treatments. Early risers should choose lighter palette of colors and more translucent treatments. Night owls who like to sleep in will probably be more satisfied with darker tones and more solid coverings that block out the light. If you're really ready to spend lavishly, buy that bed you've always dreamed about. And choose carefully. It should reflect your personality, fit your room comfortably and stay with you for years.
Establish Your Style Your personal style truly reflects who you are. Are you a polished perfectionist? Are you a nature lover? Or more minimalist and intentional? Think of the characteristics that represent who you are and translate them into furniture. After all, you’re the person who’ll be spending the most time in your home, so make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy aesthetically and functionally. However, if you don’t know how to find your style, the best way to start is to do your research. It could be a mixture of styles, a more eclectic look, or it could be traditional, modern, vintage or industrial. You can also utilize online websites like Pinterest that help you build a board of home decorating and design ideas. When you figure out what home décor items best represent your style, you’ll be better equipped to add your personal touch to your new home.
Prioritize Trying to fill every room at once can be an overwhelming task, but the good news is, it’s unnecessary. Look at your list of rooms and rank them in order of where you believe you will be spending the most time. For example, you’ll most likely list your bedroom before the laundry room so you’ll want to fill this room first and make it feel comfortable and cozy before you tackle anything else. By prioritizing the rooms you know you’ll get the most use out of, you can spread out your trips to the furniture store, give your budget a break and take your time.
Less Is More There are many advantages of living a minimalist lifestyle that don’t just apply to decluttering your closet. From psychological health to financial freedom, many have found success with applying minimalism to every aspect of their lives. To clarify, minimalism doesn’t mean only have one couch in a completely empty room. It just means getting rid of anything that’s not a necessity, like clothes you don’t wear or furniture pieces you don’t use. So when you’re decorating your new space, think about furnishing your home with items you’ll actually use on a somewhat daily basis.
Lighting Is Key Many people underestimate the power of good lighting in a home until they move in and find out that it is inefficiently lit. A good lighting is important for both the overall look, feel and function in any room. Adding different types lighting can give your room dimension. Start with ambient lighting in each room, then consider how you can use task and accent lighting. If you want to create cozy ambiance in your home, opt for warmer light. Another type of lighting that is important is natural lighting. Consider your views out the windows and where you need privacy and where you don’t. This will help you sort out where you can let the light shine in.
Paint, paint, paint Nothing will transform and personalize your space more than a fresh coat of paint—and pro tip: It's something you should do before moving any furniture or boxes in. Painting an empty home is about a million times easier than worrying about moving furniture and covering everything in plastic. As a rule of thumb, think about the ambience you want each room to exude. Warm colors—think red, yellow, brown, orange—have a stimulating effect. On the other hand, for a more tranquil effect, opt for cool colors; everything from green, blue and gray.
