Interior Design Tips That All First Time Buyers Should Know
Exciting times ahead…
Buying your first home is one of the most exciting events of your life, not to mention one of the most expensive! For most people, it will be the first place that is properly their own and as such, will be the first time they get to branch out into the world of interiors — furniture, colour schemes, gardens, and that is just the tip of the iceberg! With all of this going on, not to mention solicitors, mortgages and actually moving, we thought it would be handy to give you our top tips for FTD’s — First Time Decorators.
Let’s talk colours
If you’ve bought yourself a new build — and with over 180,000 new houses built in 2017, this is certainly an option that is growing in popularity — then more often than not, you will be moving into a blank canvas. This is always a great way to start as it gives you the opportunity to put your mark on the property without having to remove stubborn wallpaper or attempt to paint over harsh dark colours. If you do have these obstacles to compete with, then be ready to put in some elbow grease (or pay someone else to put it in for you!). Picking a colour scheme is definitely something that you need to take time to think over — some people opt for one theme throughout the whole house, others like something different in every room. Whichever way you decide to go, make sure you have considered what the colours will look in different lights and in different seasons; remember dark colours will always look darker in the winter and can make rooms look smaller!
Take your time!
Okay so you’ve just exchanged contracts, picked up your keys and are eating that first meal in your new home (which, let’s face it, will be a take-away eaten with plastic cutlery straight out of the carton because you can’t remember which box the kitchen bits are in). Those first few weeks are generally taken up with life admin, popping out to the shops every now and again to pick up things like a masher (because who has ever thought they needed to buy one until the sausages are under the grill and you’ve just drained the potatoes) and getting used to remembering to put the bins out on a Tuesday morning. Take the time to get to know your home — work out what the natural light is like, which rooms you spend more time in, what you want on show and what you want your home to say about you.
Beg, borrow and steal (okay, maybe just the first two)
Moving is expensive — deposit, solicitors fees, bills and then after that you have to furnish a whole house which definitely doesn’t come cheap! Or does it? Well it can if you know where to look. Furniture & appliances don’t have to be brand new and buying second hand can help to alleviate some of the initial hefty costs. Family and friends are always a good place to start; people can be hoarders and it’s worth asking around to see who has spare bedsides sitting around in their garage or an old washing machine after upgrading and not knowing what to do with the previous one. Second hand items can also be picked up cheaply online or at your local auction house and things like vintage dining chairs can quickly and easily be updated with a lick of paint. Alternatively, if you are in the position to do so, then why not buy smart? Buying antique furniture is a sound investment — and by antique we don’t just mean Edwardian dressers, but new generation antiques too. If you buy a 1950’s chest of drawers for £100, there is always the opportunity to sell 2 years down the line and at least make your money back (if still in a decent condition!) whereas spend the same amount on a chest of drawers from that well known Swedish furniture shop and you would be lucky to get half that on Facebook Market Place.
Let there be light!
Choosing the right lighting can be difficult, mainly due to the sheer amount of choice that there is available — chandeliers, pendant lights, table lamps, standard lamps, side lights, lanterns; the list is endless! The right light can completely change a room so it’s important to consider what you want that room to feel like — for a bedroom you could consider a warmer toned light in a bedroom to get that cosy atmosphere whereas in a kitchen you might want a cool, white light to help with bringing in a clean, focused vibe.
—————————————————
My name is James Broad, antique & curio enthusiast turned entrepreneur. I buy, restore & sell beautiful things for homes & commercial interiors. For more information, check out my About Me page; for products, have a look at my Inventory & for anything else, well, just click on the big CONTACT button.