While purchasing your first home might be one of the most exciting chapters in life, it can also turn out to be incredibly stressful and challenging. Not only do you have to make sure your home is suitable for everyday living, but you also have to create a space that is comfortable, relaxing, and that perfectly represents your personal taste and style. And this is exactly where furniture comes in. With a bit of planning and a few smart furnishing decisions, your first home can easily turn into a happy and inviting space. Here’s how:
Measure everything first
Ensuring the furniture you buy can properly fit inside your space is truly crucial, as large furniture pieces can easily overpower smaller rooms, while smaller pieces tend to get lost in wide, open spaces. For that reason, it’s essential to measure the width and length of each room before investing in furniture, including the height of the ceiling, as well as any existing architectural aspects such as windows, stairs, radiators, columns, etc. This will give you a clearer picture of the area you’re working with, allowing you to select appropriately sized furniture.
Try to create a floor plan
Once you know your measurements, it might be beneficial to create a floor plan that will give you a better idea of your home. Whether you use specialized software or simply pen and paper, start by drawing the outline of your space, and don’t forget to include any fixed architectural elements that might get in the way. Now, you will have the freedom to experiment with different furniture placements in your space, and choose the one that appeals to you the most. Just don’t forget to ensure the furniture you draw is properly scaled to the measurements of the room.
Start with larger furniture
After you’ve selected the ideal placement, it’s finally time to start shopping for furniture. It’s recommended to begin by choosing larger pieces first, such as sofas, beds, and dining tables, as these items represent the biggest and most important aspects of each room, which you can easily design around as long as they properly fit. It might also be a good idea to choose classic and timeless pieces such as high-quality furniture from Australia that will last you for years to come. Apart from being simple and incredibly beautiful, such pieces are also staple items in your home, which is why it truly pays to invest in them.
Complete with accessories
When the largest items of furniture have been placed, you will have a clearer picture of the space you’re working with, and you can effortlessly add the smaller pieces to complete your design. For instance, placing a sofa in the room will allow you to select the best size of coffee table and the right number of chairs, while a bed will give you the opportunity to assess available space in the bedroom for dressers and nightstands. Lastly, don’t forget to include some accessories as well, from decorative pillows and throw blankets to lamps and shelf decor, in an effort to pull the entire space together.
Tie it together through color
Working with a blank canvas doesn’t necessarily mean all the furniture you buy has to match in order to coordinate the space; you can achieve the same effect through the use of color. For example, if you’ve already purchased a dining table, consider chairs in a different color or material to combine these items seamlessly. Similarly, if you’re starting with a neutral space, color can also be injected through accessories like rugs, ottomans, and other decor options, if you wish to keep your furniture more classic and timeless, while still giving more interest and dimension to the room.
Even though furnishing your first home might seem overwhelming, the most important thing is to take it one step at a time. As long as you start with the right layout and quality large pieces, the rest can easily be added to create a beautiful and cohesive space.