There’s nothing more exciting than getting the whole freedom of decorating your home if you’re a first-time homeowner, but it can be disorienting and downright confusing as there are many things you need to consider. If you’re just looking to spruce up your existing living space, then this applies to you too. Before you start, you need to determine your needs and preferences so you can plan the whole look or aesthetic of the room you want to transform.
To start off, you might want to research on some things like colors, styles, and designs. There are a lot of guides and inspirations out there on online blogs and even magazines. Once you have the general things down, take a look at the list below for some important tips on home decorating:
Reuse or Buy Secondhand
Home decorating can be expensive and the biggest expenses can be attributed to buying new furniture. Big pieces such as couches, sofa, chairs, and cabinets can really add up. You can always buy these things as investments later on. Like many people, you may also go through different phases of styles as you go from one to another in your quest to find the one you like the most.
Therefore, you don’t have to toss out your old things when you can reuse them. If they don’t match your chosen aesthetic, consider buying stuff secondhand. Check online or around your neighborhood for good deals. Chances are, you might find someone looking to get rid of their stuff at a moving away sale or in a flea market.
Lighting is Important
Lighting is essential to any home because they provide illumination especially at night, but they’re much more than that. They have the ability to transform the mood of the room depending on how you style them. Therefore it is important to layer your lighting. That is, have lighting in many parts of the room and not just focusing overhead. Lighting can come in the form of a small table lamp, floor lighting, and many more.
Start Simple
Sometimes it can be just plain overwhelming to not know what kind of design you want to have when there’s just too many and you want to apply an element of each to your space. The best way to not overspend or overthink your design is to start simple and go basic. Move in the furniture and accessories you have and change your layout up if you find something not to your liking.
White walls are always a safe bet because you can repaint later. They go with many aesthetic themes and home decors like nautical, minimalistic, and even rustic. The great thing about going simple is that you can easily find accessories and accents you want online or if you want to make them yourself, there are tons of DIY projects and tutorials you can find online.
Take Advantage of Samples
A lot of people take their home decorating seriously and for the big spenders, samples are important. Take advantage of companies and stores that offer samples. They could be selections of a catalog, brush-out boards, and more. Your collection of samples will allow you to visualize your style and design more clearly.
You can also make inspiration boards from them. If you’re good with your hands, you can make a diorama of your dream room. Visualization allows you to communicate your wants and needs better.
Don’t Forget About Plants
If you live in the city and want a space to come home to that is serene and calm, consider getting live plants. Potted floras, succulents, and even bonsai can do wonders to a room. The pop of green is literally a sight for sore eyes and they provide the tranquility you need.
There have been studies confirming that houseplants are beneficial for your health as well. Take care to carefully choose plants that are right for you. If you’re a busy bee, you may want to consider low maintenance greens like cacti or if you’re more knowledgeable with plants, choose those more sophisticated plants that contribute to your preferred room aesthetic.
Utilize Unused Spaces
If you’re just moving into your home or have a lot of things in general, it is a good idea to utilize your home to the fullest. Storage may be hard to come by in your house if you don’t have an attic or basement so make use of unused spaces. Fortunately, there are many ways you can hide your extra things creatively.
Inject Your Personality
Like many things, general rules for home decorating are there to guide those who are starting out. Rules are fine, but you can break them too. Take some little risks by putting quirky accessories here and there. You can do anything you want to your space, but don’t forget to inject your personality in it.
Keep At It Until You Are Happy
As time goes by, your taste will inevitably evolve. It is the same with home decorating. Experiment with different looks until you find something you are happy with. No one can make a home a home except you, after all.
Care to share your favorite home decorating tips and tricks? List them down below.
Feature image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/Vo52cKzOxMY
