Signing that dotted line and finally having a home in your name is a monumental moment. A landmark life passage that liberates you from the rental apartments you may have been living in since leaving mom and dad.
Gone are the times where you couldn’t hang paintings on the wall or change the color of the walls. You now have the option and freedom to pick your favorite colors, get proper furniture, and turn a shell of a house into a welcoming, warm home.
However, decorating your first home from scratch – with its many possibilities, may seem daunting. But now with modern design tools, such as Pinterest, Houzz and Youtube– – achieving the modern design sensibilities isn’t as overwhelming and daunting as one may think.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or have a few things you’ve purchased over the years, the following tips will guide you when you’re decorating your first home. Let’s begin:
Beginning with the Bare Necessities
Unless you have a trust fund or just won the lottery, purchasing your first home will likely take a huge chunk of your budget, which leaves little room for accessories. Decorating your first home or any home is a process. Start by collecting the bare necessities and then slowly add accessories and smaller furniture pieces.
Besides cutlery and basic cookware for your kitchen, a bed, a table of sorts, a sofa, and some chairs are the bare minimum. If you can’t splurge on new furniture, you may ask family members for their hand-me-downs or try buying used furniture at thrift store and estate sales. Once you have the budget, graduate onto more expensive pieces.
Paint Away!
Paint is the best way to transform an entire space without having to change everything around. As for colors, the whole color wheel is your oyster. You have endless options to choose from. Before you pick out a color, consider what kind of vibe or theme you want for the room.
While bright colors are great, neutral colors, earth tones, or a shade of white are also good choices. You can get creative and paint or wallpaper an accent wall. Several on-line videos illustrate how fun and effective wallpapering can be!
Prioritize!
If you have a whole house to decorate, don’t try to decorate all the rooms at once. Prioritize high-traffic areas or the rooms and start decorating those first before you get to the other rooms in the house.
Start with the kitchen as it is the heart of the home. Yes, even if you don’t usually cook, you still need a place to warm up leftovers, make coffee, or host a party for your friends.
Window Coverings
After you’ve selected a paint color, it is a good idea to start thinking about window coverings early on, and how they fit into the overall look and color scheme you want to achieve. Don’t forget the purpose and function of the room, and the degree of light control and privacy you need, which should guide you in your decision for fabric opacity and room darkening properties of your window coverings.
Making these decisions can help you get the most out of your room and create maximum comfort. Norman® offers a fine selection of innovative shutters, blinds and shades with hundreds of paint, stain and fabrics choices along with the latest in window covering safety, technology, features and options. With virtually limitless options, it has something for everyone.
Rugs, Linens, and Other Things
Linens and rugs are important accessories for your home. They add visual interest, personality, and texture to a room, tying the overall theme together. When it comes to rugs, natural fiber area rugs such as sisals are a relatively inexpensive and great way to complete a room’s décor.
Linens such as throws, pillow covers, cushions, bedsheets, towels, etc. are great tools to bring in color, print, and interest to a room.
The Power of Art
Art, whether you prefer paintings, framed photographs or sculptures, is a great way to add personality and color to your home. You don’t have to have a degree in fine art or a huge budget to enjoy them. Small paintings, prints, or even artwork you create yourself are a great way to enhance your décor and showcase your style. If you started with a neutral theme or muted colors, use art to add color. You can find a large piece of art and then decorate the rest of the room around it.
Paying Attention to the Details
Big furniture pieces, window coverings, rugs, linens, artwork, and lighting are the big attention-grabbing items. You walk in the room, and these are the first things you notice. However, what makes a home yours are the small things.
Books, pictures in your frames, candles, plants, cushion covers, and knick-knacks you place around your home add the final touches to any room.
Start with the basics and slowly build your way up, adding furniture and decorative items as the years pass, as your children age and as your priorities and needs evolve over time. While decorating your first home is exciting, keep in mind that less is more. You can easily go overboard.
