When it comes to the journey of being a homeowner, often, the initial excitement is clouded by stressful tasks such as sorting out legal fees, applying for a mortgage and the moving day itself. However, once you successfully have the keys to your property, then the fun begins- as it’s time to settle into your new home and begin the decorating process. Although this can feel like a slightly overwhelming time, there are plenty of ways to ensure that it is an organised process that doesn’t lose its enjoyment. Here at We Buy Any House we have compiled our top tips on how to decorate and furnish a house.
Decide What’s Your Decorating Style:
Before you start buying furniture and decorating equipment, it’s a good idea to sit down and figure out what your decorating style is. This way you can avoid making various purchases of items that don’t exactly suit your interior design style. A good rule of thumb is to carry your design style from the exterior of your property into the interior. For example, if your home architectural style is a ranch, then you may want to continue with wooden features and earthy tones. Now is a great time to do research, either by using sites such as Pinterest, Instagram, or home and design magazines.
Look What Furniture You Already Have:
If you’ve just moved into the property as a first-time homeowner, then you may not be in a position to start from the beginning in terms of decorating each room. A good way to avoid breaking the bank or going into debt buying furniture, or living in an unfurnished home is to see what furniture you already have- either things from your old place or donated pieces from family and friends. If they don’t suit your interior design style, then it’s the perfect time to undertake home renovation projects.
Take Your Time:
Although you may be keen to get stuck in and start furnishing your house straight away, it’s important to spend time in your house as a blank canvas, which will ultimately help you decide what needs doing in each room. Also, it will give you the opportunity to decide if you want to invest in any major renovation projects, such as knocking down walls to make open plan living. This way you won’t have to deal with the hassle of emptying your home before building work starts.
The 7 Elements of Design:
There are a number of help guides that revolve around property decoration and interior design. Each one is intended to ensure that decorating your house is a simplistic and easy process that is most importantly, enjoyable. Here, we’ve broken down the seven most important steps to ensure that your home is decorated and furnished to perfection.
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Space:
When it comes to design, space is an important factor. Referring to the proportions of the room, space incorporates the distance between furniture and around various objects. You will want to find the balance between ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ space in the room, to ensure the layout is just right.
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Form:
Falling under the subheading ‘form’, includes object shape, decoration and accessories you may want to add to the room. It’s important to consider how the shapes of furniture placed in the room coincide with the room itself. This includes things such as geometric shapes with harsh angles and lines, furniture with softer lines, or curvaceous pieces of furniture. The key to getting this right is by analysing the balance and contrast in each room.
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Line:
Focusing on the structural element of the room, lines can influence how a room feels. They can change the dynamic of any room, and can be used to create specific outcomes. For example, horizontal lines can make a room look wider and bring stability to the space, whereas vertical lines on windows or a fireplace can make the room feel taller and therefore more freeing.
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Light:
In your house, light is a hugely important attribute. It can massively impact the ambiance and ‘vibe’ of a room, and it’s a good idea to use both natural light and artificial illumination to get the best result. As natural light will come from windows etc., it’s a good idea to amplify them by choosing the correct blind and curtain style. Artificial light will enable you to draw attention to certain features or objects, and can help you to add personality to your house in terms of the choice of lampshade or fixture.
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Colour:
Colour is directly linked to our emotions, therefore it’s imperative to understand the effects of colour on the interior of your property. Neutral and lighter colours are popular choices for home interiors, as they maximise space and compliment various furniture colours and patterns. You may want to think about how natural and artificial light impact the colour scheme in your home, and how often it needs to be maintained.
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Texture:
Texture is a key part of a sensory memory and experience. Not only for how it feels, but for how it appears aesthetically. Textures can sometimes clash, so it’s important to understand how the mixture of fabrics can either help or hinder the depth and interest of your room.
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Pattern:
Incorporating pattern into your room is a great way to add life and personality into a room, and can impact the space and dimensions of any room. Adding things such as a designer rugs can add a modern look to your space.