Interior decoration can be one of the most fun parts of house hunting. It’s also one of the most expensive. Finding pieces that work with your style and personality and fit into your budget can make decorating exciting but daunting at the same time. This guide to furnishing your house will help you find items that fit your taste, match the overall look you’re going for in your home, and aren’t too expensive—all while making it look like you spent way more than you did.
Decorating Trends
The good news is that there are a lot of decorating trends out there and since style is highly subjective, you should be able to find something that fits your personality. On top of that, trends come and go with some lasting just one season while others turn into design mainstays. To make things easier on yourself, focus on materials (wood versus metal) or color combinations (purple, grey and orange have become super popular lately). Whichever route you decide to take, adding inexpensive accents here and there will instantly give your home an updated look at minimal cost. It doesn’t matter if you’re furnishing your house for free or paying through the nose for it—interior decoration will always pay off in one way or another.
Budget Decorating – The Basics
Whether you’re furnishing your first apartment or getting ready to place a bid on a new house, knowing how to decorate on a budget is an important skill. No matter what your style, you should be able to find something that matches and feels comfortable in your space. Even if you have unlimited funds at your disposal, it can be fun (and rewarding) to walk through thrift stores and garage sales and put together an eclectic look that showcases items you love. A room full of unique and personal touches is always better than an identical bedroom set that was all purchased at once. And let’s face it—buying used makes sense when you’re looking for furniture.
How To Arrange Rooms
Interior decoration is one of those areas where it seems like there’s an infinite number of things you can do and ways you can do them. The best way to handle your interior design projects is to start small. Even if you’re going to live in a particular space for decades, every home benefits from some touch-ups or rearranging over time. So, let’s start by looking at how we arrange rooms; specifically, three common mistakes people make when it comes to interior design.
Choosing Furniture
When you’re furnishing your house, it’s important to choose furniture that complements your style and decor. When choosing a new piece of furniture, always keep your style in mind so that it fits in with what you already have. If you want to take a more build it yourself approach to interior decoration, we recommend checking out IKEA. You can also buy pre-built furniture online or at various retailers.
Lighting and Ceiling Fans
If you’re furnishing a new home, one of your first considerations should be lighting. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out and replaced with more energy-efficient light sources like fluorescent lights, halogen bulbs, and LED bulbs. Fluorescent lights are popular for their long lifespan and versatility—and you can find them in any shape or size, from table lamps to long tubes designed to illuminate entire rooms. Halogen ceiling fans can also help cool down a room while they operate.
Rugs and Carpets
One of our favourite ways to spruce up a living room is by using soft, colourful rugs and carpets. No matter what your style, from modern to rustic to industrial, rugs can help reflect your personality and make any space feel more inviting. If you’re lacking inspiration for where to begin with choosing your next rug or carpet, try browsing some of our favourites on Pinterest.