You’ve built your new home, or bought your first one, or are just upsizing. And you have that moment of sudden panic – in all your number crunching, budgeting and planning, you didn’t think about furniture.
Somehow, the slightly mangy couch you grabbed off a neighbour’s nature strip during hard waste collection just doesn’t seem right in your pristine, spacious new environment.
So how can you get the best bang for your buck when it comes to furnishing your new home?
Measure
First up, measure the spaces you need to fill. This is a crucial step, and often overlooked. You want the furniture you buy to go the distance, particularly the big-ticket items, so it makes sense to choose items that will work properly in the space.
As an example, a 3-seater couch may be just right for a large space, but totally overwhelm a small one, no matter how much you might like the length of it for occasional overnight guests.
You also need to factor in the position of windows, doorways, and access routes. There’s no point buying a bigger couch if it means a side table is going to end up right in the place where people need to walk through to another room.
Allow for the Extra Bits
Remember, too, that you need to allow space for extras, such as side tables, lamps and other chairs. These bits and pieces can take up a surprising amount of floor space in a living room.
This rule of thumb applies in other rooms as well. In your bedroom, you might want a dresser or dressing table. A buffet in the dining space. The list goes on.
You don’t necessarily need to buy all the extra bits at the beginning. But if you’re aware that you’re probably going to want them one day, then you can make sure you allow enough space for them when purchasing the first bigger items for a room.
Compromise
Be strategic in your purchases. Focus on buying core items that will last, and if you do still need some supplementary items, use cheaper furniture initially then replace it down the track. Styling can do a lot to dress up or even hide a cheap IKEA table or shelving unit until you’re ready for something more permanent.
And remember – minimalism is a massively popular trend right now, which gives you the perfect excuse to stick with just the basics initially!