Tips for Your First-Time Home Decorating

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Do you have friends whose homes bear their individualistic stamp while your own has always just been about the cheapest flat-pack furniture you can buy? Are you tired of living in an apartment that displays no personal style but you don’t know how to begin to change it? You don’t need a degree in design or even a particularly strong decorating sense to create a home that you love being in and that you are comfortable showing off to others. The steps below can help you decorate your home from the ground up.

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Figure Out Your Style

This first step can be an overwhelming one, so don’t get too bogged down in it. But you do need to start somewhere, and that begins with having an idea of what you are looking for. Do you like a sleek, modern look, or would you prefer the comfortable atmosphere of a rural farmhouse? Maybe you want to take your inspiration from a certain era, such as the 1970s or the Victorian period. If you aren’t sure, take a look at designs online and try to identify what appeals to you about them. You might also find that you want different looks in different rooms. If you’re going for a mid-century modern look in the living room, you aren’t stuck with that for the rest of your house as well. Many stores also have design consultants that are either free or low in cost, so be sure to check with the experts if you need help.

Make a Budget

How much is it going to cost? This isn’t a home renovation in which you will be without a kitchen or bathroom if you stop construction halfway through, so it’s okay to take your time. You may want to start by cutting back on some monthly expenses so you have some spare cash to spend on your home. One way to do this is by refinancing your student loans. A private lender can offer lower monthly payments by saving on the interest rate. You can use what you have left for home decorating. Other places to cut back are entertainment, meals out and shopping for clothes or other items that aren’t necessities.

Prioritize

Choose just one room to focus your attention on to start. Once you’ve decided, think about what will be the biggest piece of furniture. This sets the stage for the overall feel. For example, this might be the table in the dining room or the sofa in the living room. An alternative is to think about color. Painting one wall in a bold color can give you the inspiration that you need to choose the next piece.

Take Your Time

Think about your rooms in terms of layering. Once you have a couple of big items, you can move slowly, adding rugs, pillows, carpet or flooring, paint or wallpaper, art, lighting and anything else that you think brings the room together. Over time, you will probably get new ideas about what you want to do with the room and see things that you want to purchase for it.