Furnishing a new home can be an exciting yet overwhelming task. With endless options and decisions to make, it’s easy to feel lost. But with careful planning and preparation, you can furnish your new home strategically and cost-effectively.
Especially in a vibrant city like Fort Lauderdale, furnishing a new home takes on added importance. With its beautiful beaches, thriving arts and culture, and amenities, Fort Lauderdale is an exciting place to live. When furnishing your new place here, take time to properly reflect your personal style.
Read on for tips to furnish your new Fort Lauderdale home in a way that is strategic, budget-friendly, and reflective of your personal flair. With the right approach, you can craft a living space that you love without breaking the bank.
1. Get Settled Before Furnishing
Before furnishing your new place, first focus on smoothly settling into the community. Hiring professional movers allows you to get situated without the added stress of transporting belongings yourself.
Moreover, the professionals’ experience allows you to focus on designing your space while they handle the grunt work. Discuss your specific moving needs with Fort Lauderdale companies ahead of time to ensure an efficient transfer.
Also, Fort Lauderdale poses unique challenges for those unfamiliar with the area. So, a local moving company in Fort Lauderdale will know the best routes and have the right equipment.
Once settled into Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant lifestyle, you can furnish your place to perfection. So leave the heavy lifting to the experts and let yourself daydream about how to decorate your new digs.
2. Determine Your Style
Before shopping for a single piece of furniture or décor, decide on the overall style you want your new home to have. Do you love contemporary decor with clean lines? Or are you drawn to cozy, vintage-inspired spaces? Don’t just think about the aesthetic you’re attracted to – also consider your lifestyle. If you have young kids or pets, you may opt for more durable, family-friendly furnishings over delicate antiques.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need inspiration, look through interior design magazines and blogs to get a feel for different decorating styles. Save photos of rooms and pieces you love to a Pinterest board or Idea Book to reference later. This will help you hone in on the look you want to create and serve as a guide when making purchases.
3. Make a Room-by-Room Plan
Once you’ve settled on a style, break it down room by room. Make detailed lists of everything you need to buy for each living space. Consider:
- Living room: Sofa, chairs, coffee table, end tables, TV stand, rug, lamps, wall art
- Kitchen: Table, chairs, bar stools, dishware, cookware, appliances, organizational items
- Bedrooms: Bed, nightstands, dresser, bedding, lamps, desk (if needed)
- Bathrooms: Shower curtain, bath mats, organizers, towels, accessories
- Home office: Desk, filing cabinet, chair, shelving, lamp
Factor in both furniture and decorative accents to pull the whole room together. This will give you a clear picture of everything required to furnish the home. It also helps prevent overspending by avoiding impulse purchases that don’t fit your plan.
4. Measure Your Space
One of the biggest furnishing mistakes is buying pieces that are too large or small for a room. Before shopping, take detailed measurements of each room – length, width, and ceiling height. Note the dimensions of doorways, staircases, and hallways too.
Use a tape measure to measure the existing furniture you plan to use in the new home. Record the dimensions of beds, sofas, tables, etc. This will ensure any new items you purchase fit the current furniture and don’t overwhelm the room.
If possible, bring your room measurements shopping with you. Many furniture stores have items labeled with dimensions. This allows you to visualize how well a potential new coffee table or media console will fit.
5. Set a Realistic Budget
Furnishing an entire home gets expensive, especially if you buy everything brand new. To avoid overspending:
- Determine how much you can realistically afford to allocate towards home furnishings. Factor in moving costs too.
- Break the total budget down by room, with more funds going towards expensive spaces like the kitchen and living room.
- Open a separate savings account and deposit a set amount each month leading up to your move date. This forces you to actually save instead of overestimating what’s available.
- Prioritize necessities first. Purchase items like sofas and beds new, and save money on accessories like throw pillows and wall art.
- Seek out sales, negotiate prices, and use coupons when possible. Sign up for store reward programs for exclusive discounts.
Setting a realistic furnishing budget – and sticking to it – will prevent you from wasting money. Shop smart and focus only on items you need and love.
6. Buy Quality Investment Pieces
It’s tempting to furnish your entire home in one quick, cheap shopping trip. But inexpensive, poor quality furniture won’t last and will need frequent replacing. Instead, plan to buy a few higher quality, durable pieces you’ll use and enjoy for years to come.
These investment items are worth spending extra on:
- Sofa – Opt for a durable frame, quality upholstery, and comfortable cushions. This is an item you may keep for 5-10 years.
- Mattress – A good mattress can last over a decade. Don’t skimp on comfort!
- Kitchen table – Choose solid wood over cheap veneers. Look for quality joinery and durable finishes that withstand daily use.
- Cooking pans – Well-made pans evenly conduct heat and last through years of cooking.
With proper care, investment pieces like these will stand the test of time – saving you money in the end. Mix in lower-cost occasional tables, home accents, and decor to stay on budget.
7. Add Personality Through Accessories
Transform a dull, cookie-cutter space into a home brimming with personality using accessories. They require smaller budgets than large furniture pieces, so you can afford to infuse rooms with your style.
Make bare walls come alive with:
- Framed photos, artwork, and mirrors
- Wall shelves and floating ledges to display decor
- Paint, wallpaper, or removable wallpaper
- Tapestries, string lights, or garlands
Show off your interests with:
- Books, magazines, records, and CDs on display
- Houseplants and fresh flowers
- Throw pillows embroidered with favorite phrases or imagery
- Candles, incense burners and aroma diffusers
Set out meaningful mementos:
- Sentimental items from your past like trophies or souvenirs
- Collections like seashells, stones, figurines or silverware
- Your kids’ or pets’ toys, drawings and photos
The right accessories breathe life into empty spaces, telling your unique story. So get creative curating and arranging the finishing touches that transform a house into your home.
Conclusion Furnishing a new home involves many steps – defining your style, setting a budget, buying investment pieces, and infusing personality through accessories. While the process takes time and planning, the end result is worth it: a beautiful, comfortable home tailored exactly to you. Use these essential tips to furnish your new place in a strategic, cost-effective way. Before you know it, you’ll be happily settled into a home decorated with your unique flair and style!