Decorating Tips for When You’re Starting Out or Starting Over

One of the more fun parts about moving involves decorating your new home. However, the daunting task of deciding between all the designs possibilities can leave you feeling slightly overwhelmed. You will need to decide what colors you want to paint your home, where to place your old furniture, and which new decor items you should buy.

In the end, many people settle with the familiar designs they had in their last home. If you want to take advantage of starting over, try incorporating these design tips to make sure your new home is the place you’ve always dreamed about.

Set a Budget

After you buy a home, you may not want to spend even more money on new furniture and décor. Set a budget early in the decorating process to avoid overspending. Prioritize which areas you want to decorate first in your home. Then focus on decorating one room at a time. This way you will have at least one decorated area that you can feel confident taking guests.

As you set your budget, think of ways to save money. For example, try mixing new decorations with old decorations from your previous home. You can match a new painting with an old throw pillow.

You can also look for inexpensive accessories in antique stores, flea markets and auctions. These locations have hidden treasures that may give your living room that perfect vintage touch for an affordable price. By using old or inexpensive decorations, you can create new room designs for half the price.

Create a Design Plan

After you’ve decided on which room you want to decorate first and how much you can spend, you can start to decorate. Many people struggle with where to start on the decorating process. Consider determining the main function of the room first, such as watching TV, reading, relaxing, or entertaining. Use the main function of the room as the focal point. For example, the focal point in a library will most likely be the bookcases or reading couch.

Now, assess the shape, size, and architectural features, this will determine where you will place your furniture. You will also want to plan enough lighting for each area. As a rule of thumb, you should use roughly 100 watts for every square foot.

Now decide on the color palette for each room. If you plan to use furniture from your old home, use colors from these furniture pieces to determine wall colors, accessories, and window treatments. If you’ll buy new furniture, find a design and color palette online that you want your room to look like. Then incorporate the color palette with accessories throughout the room.

Focus on the First Impression

When you’re at a loss for how to start decorating, focus on where people go the most. For many homes, this includes the front door or foyer. Consider painting the front door a bright color or adding an area rug in the foyer.

These small accessories will instantly set a design tone for the rest of your home. Try designing the foyer with warm colors such as reds, yellows, and oranges. These colors represent a joyful, welcoming atmosphere, which is ideal for the entryway of your home.

You should also replace outdated screen doors with glass. The front door is a great place to spend a little extra money because this area will make your first impression with friends and family.

Take Your Time

Don’t feel like you need to have everything decorated in the first month. When you take your time, you allow yourself to prioritize which rooms need attention first.

You may find that the $5,000 you originally planned to renovate your bathroom with would be better spent on an entertainment system in the living room. Or you may also find that the loveseat you have in the living room looks better in your master bedroom. Use the first few months to organize your home and find out what you need most.