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Thinking about redesigning or just sprucing up an existing space?
Forget what you see in lavish home décor magazines. Most people nowadays live in dwellings that emphasize multi-functionality, smaller spaces and affordability. This is especially true of areas within cities,where more and more people vie for optimum locations.
Given the limitations of this economic reality,you still want your home to look its best. Clearance sales are a perennially attractive option for those looking to enhance their home with potentially amazing affordable finds. These sales can be a confusing ordeal to navigate as we drift away from the original plan and succumb to the temptation of buying ill-suited pieces just because they are cheap.
Here’s a bit of advice when decorating your home:make a plan,and stick to it.
Below are some tips to keep in mind when designing your home décor plan:
Consider hiring a professional. Hiring a professional interior designer,even for a few hours,can help you flesh out an effective plan for your home,or at least get you on the right track.
Adjust your timeline. This helps you to meet your budget requirements. If you can’t purchase all items at once,do it over time. Don’t rush,and do it right the first time around.
Rely on the classics. If you are operating within a budget,you don’t want to invest in pieces that will be out of style next year. Fill your home with classics and get good quality pieces that will last for several years.
Know when to splurge. Sometimes a classic piece might break your bank,but would nonetheless be worth it as it will stay with you for a long time. Your budget shouldn’t be a straightjacket –know when to take advantage of a situation that might test its limits. If you spent more on a classic sofa than you planned for,adjust the budget in other areas.
Keep the trendy purchases small. If you want trendy stuff but you’re on a budget,don’t get carried away on these items. When you want to get rid of it because it’s no longer trendy,you won’t be throwing a lot of your money away. Pillows,lamp shades and the like make perfect disposable trendy purchases.
Get colours you like. Forget what the colour trend is for that year. It’s always a good idea to put classic neutral colours on your more costly items and have the smaller ones follow colour trends or seasonal changes.
Stick to the big picture. Mixing styles is an art in itself. If you’re not sure about mixing a piece with another,proceed with caution and go back to your plan. You can’t go wrong by sticking with neutrals and classics.
Shop around. If you can,do so a lot. By the way,‘shop’ doesn’t mean ‘buy’. Just browsing will help you recognize a good deal and avoid impulse purchases.
Shop smarter. If you don’t have the time to shop around,find someone who can for you or recruit your friends to help you find what you’re looking for. Use the Internet to find information on new items before you go out and spend hours in stores.
Test it out. Sit down,lie down,do what it takes to test out big purchases. Don’t make a mistake by making important purchases online.
Mind the small print. Make sure you are clear on return policies before you commit. You can’t return most custom pieces and window treatments,for example.
Have a floor plan. You don’t want to buy something that won’t fit in your house,right? Draw up a floor plan or have a professional do it,and then ensure you stick to it.
Consider taxes. Don’t let your budget get ruined because you didn’t factor in taxes.
Reuse what you have. Look around your house and find what can be refurbished,reupholstered or re-painted.
Even if you are confident you can go at it alone,a good interior decorator or designer can be a handy voice of reason,a sober second opinion. They will ask questions you might not have thought of while you were making your plan. They will also help you create a sound strategy to fulfill your dream of a new and improved living space.
