With the new year, I find design tips are needed as people are ready to clean out and tackle home projects that might have been pushed aside.
Whether you are a building, renovating, or updating a space, there are several common mistakes people often make when it comes to their home. They can be costly ones- either causing buyer’s remorse or worse, mistakes that lower the value of your home when it is time to sell. Here are a few tips to make sure you spend your money wisely.
1. Choosing quality over quantity. Remember, it is always better to build or buy a smaller home with nicer finishes than a large one with generic ones. McMansions are a thing of the past, and as people focus on enjoying their homes, they want to enjoy some of the luxuries that can come with it. Not to mention quality lasts, where subpar has to be replaced in a few years.
2. When building or renovating, leave enough money to furnish it. Your surroundings play such a important part in how you live and enjoy life, and I see this one more than I care to admit. People build an incredible home but don’t budget enough to furnish it to a point of completion. They are mentally/physically exhausted, tired of spending money, and they think they will go back and finish at a later date. Life happens, bills come up, and it’s always easier (and better) to do it all when you are in that mindset.
3. Buy a rug that is proportional to the room. A rug that is proportional to a room is one of the most important things you can do to ground the space, especially if it is a large room. If you don’t have the basic pieces correct in a space, the room will never feel right. It is a layer, and the layer needs to be in relation to the size.
4. Have a furniture layout in mind- This is where a professional can really make a difference, because we know what scale pieces fit a room, how much of a walkway will be left with a certain size sofa and chair, etc…. Furnishing your home is an investment, one you should enjoy for many years, so spend your money wisely the first time.
5. Be patient until you can afford to buy the right piece. A room should be enjoyed for a long time, and it is an investment. Wait until you can buy the rug you really want, or the table that speaks to you. Over many years, a few hundred dollar savings or even a thousand will not mean much over the long span of time of enjoying the piece you really want.
6. Mix up the furniture lines used throughout your home. This goes with upholstery, too. Mix old and new, etc… I am beginning to see the same upholstery line used throughout a home, and your home should never look like an ad for a showroom floor or furniture line.
Hope you find these home design tips (and mistakes to avoid) helpful. Let me know what resonated with you and what other suggestions come to mind.
Have a great day-
Dana
P.S. I often post pictures on other social media formats that are not seen on my blog. To follow along, click below:
Instagram- DANAWOLTER
Pinterest- dwolterinterior
Facebook- Dana Wolter Interiors
Twitter- DWolterinterior