5 Tips When Shopping For Your First Home
on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 // in Interior Design, Jessica Waks // by Yehezkel Lipinsky // with 0 comments
By Jessica Waks
Design Editor, Style At Home
Decorating your first home or condo can be an intimidating and confusing process, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are 5 tips to help you:
Budget Accordingly
Think high/low! Invest in good pieces that are versatile and will be
able to travel with you to your next home, and save on more temporary
pieces like toss cushions and trendier items you may tire of. An
occasional chair with great lines and solid construction is always a
safe bet to spend on as it can work in almost any space.
- The Leo chair by Oly Studio is a solid investment piece with a versatile silhouette that will work in so many different spaces. http://olystudio.com/products/seating/leo_chair.html
Express yourself
Don’t modify your style to bend to trends that don’t feel right. You’ll
always feel more at home in a space that reflects your own unique style,
whether that is showcased in your colour palette, artwork choices or
accessories. Orange may be the hue du jour but if you’ve always been
into calming greys and blues, then don’t think you need to run out and
paint an accent wall citrus. Stick with what works for you and you’ll
ultimately be happier.
Curate Your Space
No one expects your first condo or home to look like it was ripped out
of the pages of a magazine the week after you move in. A successful room
can take time to put together so be patient and think carefully about
what you choose to put in your space. Curate your home with objects and
furniture you’ve gathered over time on your travels and at various
boutiques, mix in family heirlooms and scour vintage shops and thrift
stores for one-of-a-kind pieces that make you smile.
- Designer Nathan Turner has mastered the art of curating a room with interesting objet and vintage accessories. http://nathanturner.com/
Rescue and Recycle
Show some love to forgotten furniture by refinishing or reupholstering
vintage pieces. Check consignment shops and online sources like
Craigslist where you can find bargains on antique pieces that need a
fresh coat of paint or a new upholstery job. Often it will cost less
than buying brand new, plus you can customize colours and fabric to your
hearts content.
Plan Ahead
Don’t walk into a furniture store without an idea of the size and scale
of the pieces that will work in your room because odds are you will end
up with a costly mistake. Consult with a professional decorator or
- My tuxedo chair is a perfect example of taking a craigslist find and making it over to suit your style. http://www.styleathome.com/blog/2011/06/20/my-apartment-makeover-part-2/
designer to create a floorplan to help organize your layout and determine what sized pieces you should be looking at. If you don’t have access to a professional, use good old graph paper to sketch and scale your furniture plan.
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