Buying your first home or any new home can be exciting yet overwhelming. If it is your first home, you may think that you have to furnish every room right away. And then that’s when the pressure and stress sets in. It’s not as easy as designers and our favorite Instagram decor accounts makes it look. If you don’t plan properly, it can be time consuming and draining on your pockets. I’ve put together a list of Do’s and Don’ts of Furnishing Your First Home. And before you leave, don’t forget to grab my FREE HOME DECORATING BUDGET WORKSHEET to help you stay organized and on budget!

DO’S AND DON’TS OF DECORATING YOUR HOME

Do invest in quality furniture pieces like a mattress, sofa, dining table, etc.

Quality made furniture will last a lifetime.

Don’t rush.

Furnishing your home takes time. Trying to furnish your entire home at once can leave you with a ton of debt and you’ll feel the pressure of buying into here today gone tomorrow trends.

Do bargain shop for decor.

Your taste will change over time. Your needs will also change over time. If you feel the urge to redecorate, you’ll feel less guilt about donating items that you haven’t spent a fortune on.

Do consider thrifted pieces.

Train your eye to look at pieces in a new light. Especially ones that have good bones.

Don’t expect perfection right away.

Sometimes you’ll have to settle for the mismatched living room set that was handed down from your grandmother’s mother’s mother. It’s ok. You have a lifetime to make your home yours. It’s best to take your time and find the pieces you truly want in your home.

Don’t buy every piece from the furniture showroom display.

You can really add your own personality by mixing and matching pieces from different stores. You can also play around with different furniture styles to add a little interest.

 

Do consider the size of the sofa you fell in love with at the showroom.

The sleek and compact minimalist sofa you fell in love with at IKEA may not suit well in your two story great room with two story windows. Your furniture should be in proportion to the size of your room and ceilings to create overall balance.

Do prioritize by rooms.

If you have a family and know that you’ll spend a lot of time in your family room, you’d probably want to start there. Likewise, if you entertain often, you’d probably focus on furnishing your living room or dining room space first.

Do sketch out a floorplan and take measurements.

No, you don’t have to be a designer or an artist to sketch a room. Just a draft of your space will help you visualize how to arrange your furniture or whether the sofa you love will even fit into your space.

Don’t be afraid of DIY projects.

There are tons of DIY blogs with easy to follow along tutorials. Don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty!

 

Do pick a color palette.

There are tons of sites to help you visualize how colors will work together. One of my favorites is Design Seeds!

 

Do have fun with it!

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the all of the paint colors, choices of fabrics, curtains, pillows… you name it! Just take a step back and consider hiring a designer to help you finish off your space.

 

Happy planning and happy decorating!!

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