Moving into a new home is exciting! So, it’s understandable that you are dying to start filling every corner with stuff as soon as you’ve unpacked your last box. Beware : time and time again, interior designers see overeager new homeowners make the same mistakes when furnishing their home.
Here are some mistakes you can keep in mind :
Buying everything at once
Of course, you want to make those empty rooms look like home as soon as you move in. So, you whip out your laptop and go on a shopping spree for every piece of furniture that your home needs. However, you should take some time to sit down and plan. Great decorating is about taking time to think though the rooms. Make a list of what you need to furnish the whole house; the focus first on the two or three most important rooms – generally the more exposed parts of the house such as the living room, kitchen and family room. From there, proceed at a pace where you’re certain you love each purchase you make. It really is OK to take up to a year to decorate a new home. You’re going to be living there for a while, remember?
Decorating around a legacy piece
It might be your mother’s armoire or that overstuffed chair your husband bought when he was still single, or maybe it’s a bookshelf you paid a ton of money for and wouldn’t consider tossing. Regardless, trying to decorate around some of these pieces will only cause you grief. Odds are they’ll push you into a certain layout or color scheme – even one that might be completely wrong for you or your new home.
Trusting your eye rather than a tape measure
Professionals know that measuring accurately is a critical step in design. Measuring a space is imperative before you purchase anything. It’s not just a question of whether a piece of furniture will fit, but how it will look sitting there. You need to understand the dimensions of a space so the scale will feel balanced. Everything needs to be proportionate to the architecture of the room. And always remember to measure doorways and hallways before purchasing large pieces. There are a few things more soul-crushing than lugging a sofa up six flights of stairs only to find out it doesn’t fit through the doorway. Most companies will give you the minimum clearance you need for delivery, but it’s up to you to ensure that it will truly fit. In most cases, it’s the height of a sofa that is the key measurement, not width or depth.
Cramming rooms
It’s OK to have some empty spaces and walls. You want to be able to move around freely without having to hurdle a cocktail ottoman. For example, how much furniture you decide to put in a space is completely dependent on the aesthetic you want to achieve. If you’re going for a more sleek look, stick to a key few pieces in a room to create the feeling of openness. The same goes for artwork – one large frame can create an art gallery feeling.
Looking like a page from a décor magazine
I know it’s tempting to want to buy everything all at once and from the same place – but refrain from doing so. The most interesting designs are the ones that are aesthetically mixed. Incorporate vintage or one of a kind pieces into your space to make it feel personal and curated. Pair that spanking new sofa with a beautiful, vintage credenza. Shop for accessories and artwork on Etsy and at flea markets so that your home feels unique. Because as nice as magazines look, ask yourself this : Do they look like a home? Your home?
