A Step-By-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home
No need to feel overwhelmed. Our decorating guide can help you put together a home look you'll love
Fred Albert
27 January 2018
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites... More
Few things in life are as daunting as decorating your first home. With so many options available and so many decisions to make, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Many of us just retreat into the familiar or the expected, leaving a trail of disappointment in our wake. That condition isn’t limited to the young. These days it’s not unusual for people to find themselves starting over in middle age, with the ending of a relationship or a move precipitated by a new job. Whether you’re starting out or starting over, these steps can help you navigate the difficult process of decorating a home for the first time.
Decide what you like
A lot of people don’t know what decorating styles they like. It’s not that they don’t have opinions – they just don’t know how to articulate their preferences.
The easiest way to figure out what appeals to you is by looking at photos of other homes. And at the risk of sounding self-serving, the easiest way to do that is by perusing the photos on Houzz. Save your favourite ones in an ideabook. You can also scour design books or clip pictures from magazines. After you’ve collected at least a dozen images, sit down and compare them. What are the common denominators, in terms of colour, furniture style, pattern and density of objects in the room?
Keep in mind the architecture of the space you’re living in and the limitations that might impose. High Victorian will generally not work in a cracker-box condo.
A lot of people don’t know what decorating styles they like. It’s not that they don’t have opinions – they just don’t know how to articulate their preferences.
The easiest way to figure out what appeals to you is by looking at photos of other homes. And at the risk of sounding self-serving, the easiest way to do that is by perusing the photos on Houzz. Save your favourite ones in an ideabook. You can also scour design books or clip pictures from magazines. After you’ve collected at least a dozen images, sit down and compare them. What are the common denominators, in terms of colour, furniture style, pattern and density of objects in the room?
Keep in mind the architecture of the space you’re living in and the limitations that might impose. High Victorian will generally not work in a cracker-box condo.
Create a budget
Figure out how much you can spend. If you can’t afford to decorate the whole place at once, pick the room where you spend most of your time and make that your priority. That way when the rest of your home is in a state of upheaval, you’ll have at least one finished place to which you can retreat.
Here’s how to build your home on a budget
Figure out how much you can spend. If you can’t afford to decorate the whole place at once, pick the room where you spend most of your time and make that your priority. That way when the rest of your home is in a state of upheaval, you’ll have at least one finished place to which you can retreat.
Here’s how to build your home on a budget
Sketch out a floor plan
I know this sounds like a drag, and something a schoolteacher would advise you to do. (“Make sure you prepare a floor plan before you start your assignment.”) But the internet has made this step truly fun. You’ll find free floor plan programs all over the web. These are relatively easy to use, flexible, offer a good selection of furniture templates and don’t limit you to proprietary furniture brands.
I know this sounds like a drag, and something a schoolteacher would advise you to do. (“Make sure you prepare a floor plan before you start your assignment.”) But the internet has made this step truly fun. You’ll find free floor plan programs all over the web. These are relatively easy to use, flexible, offer a good selection of furniture templates and don’t limit you to proprietary furniture brands.
Pick a colour palette
Some people say you should pull your colour palette from the flooring. Others recommend starting with a piece of art. I suggest starting with the item you’re most in love with. If that’s a rug, pull the colour palette from that. If it’s an artwork you own or an outfit you adore, let that dictate the decor. If you’re madly in love with the colour yellow, start there.
Once you have your palette established, let the rest of the decor spring from that. Use neutral colours for investment pieces, like the sofa and dining table, and put the colour in paint or accent pieces like pillows, lamps and art. That way you can change the colour palette if you feel like it without spending a lot of money.
Some people say you should pull your colour palette from the flooring. Others recommend starting with a piece of art. I suggest starting with the item you’re most in love with. If that’s a rug, pull the colour palette from that. If it’s an artwork you own or an outfit you adore, let that dictate the decor. If you’re madly in love with the colour yellow, start there.
Once you have your palette established, let the rest of the decor spring from that. Use neutral colours for investment pieces, like the sofa and dining table, and put the colour in paint or accent pieces like pillows, lamps and art. That way you can change the colour palette if you feel like it without spending a lot of money.
Paint
Please paint. It’s the cheapest way to personalise a space, and it will give you the most bang for your buck. Even if you prefer white, find a wonderful white that lends atmosphere.
If you’re reluctant to paint the whole place, just paint an accent wall. If you’re afraid of committing to a bold hue, choose an in-between colour. I promise you it’ll look more interesting than linen white.
Take a look at these smile-inducing paint palettes
Please paint. It’s the cheapest way to personalise a space, and it will give you the most bang for your buck. Even if you prefer white, find a wonderful white that lends atmosphere.
If you’re reluctant to paint the whole place, just paint an accent wall. If you’re afraid of committing to a bold hue, choose an in-between colour. I promise you it’ll look more interesting than linen white.
Take a look at these smile-inducing paint palettes
Invest in the right furniture pieces
A sofa is going to stay with you for a long time, so get a good one. Even if you think you’ll have it just temporarily, it’ll end up moving from the living room to the family room to the basement to the college dorm. So don’t skimp. The same holds true for a dining table.
I also think it’s worth investing in one good, super comfortable reading chair. Choose neutral upholstery, like white, taupe or grey, for your investment pieces.
A sofa is going to stay with you for a long time, so get a good one. Even if you think you’ll have it just temporarily, it’ll end up moving from the living room to the family room to the basement to the college dorm. So don’t skimp. The same holds true for a dining table.
I also think it’s worth investing in one good, super comfortable reading chair. Choose neutral upholstery, like white, taupe or grey, for your investment pieces.
Measure everything
Measure your space before you go shopping (as well as the doorways, stairs and elevator openings leading to your domicile), and bring those measurements when you shop.
Furniture will look smaller in a showroom with 20-foot ceilings than it will look in your living room. And don’t buy matching sets of furniture.
Measure your space before you go shopping (as well as the doorways, stairs and elevator openings leading to your domicile), and bring those measurements when you shop.
Furniture will look smaller in a showroom with 20-foot ceilings than it will look in your living room. And don’t buy matching sets of furniture.
Where to skimp
If you need to cut costs, do it with accessories: Look for mirrors, pillows and lamps at budget places. The dirty little secret of decorating is that if you mix in a few cheap things among the more expensive items, no one will notice.
If you need to cut costs, do it with accessories: Look for mirrors, pillows and lamps at budget places. The dirty little secret of decorating is that if you mix in a few cheap things among the more expensive items, no one will notice.
Include something old with your something new
Don’t buy everything new. Go to an antiques store, or if you can’t afford that, visit garage sales, flea markets or auctions, and pick up a few accessories that don’t look like you bought them off the shelf at the import store.
Pieces with history give a room personality and depth, and are what distinguish a home from a furniture showroom.
Learn how to mix antiques in a modern scheme
Don’t buy everything new. Go to an antiques store, or if you can’t afford that, visit garage sales, flea markets or auctions, and pick up a few accessories that don’t look like you bought them off the shelf at the import store.
Pieces with history give a room personality and depth, and are what distinguish a home from a furniture showroom.
Learn how to mix antiques in a modern scheme
Consider “temporary” furniture
Lots of experts advise against buying “temporary” furniture. Well, I’m here to tell you that I don’t necessarily subscribe to that theory.
It can take a long time to find just the right pieces for a home. And nobody likes camping out for six to 12 months, waiting for the perfect item to show up.
If you don’t have family members you can borrow pieces from, and the satisfaction of having something filling that spot outweighs the cost of it, then go right ahead and buy it.
Lots of experts advise against buying “temporary” furniture. Well, I’m here to tell you that I don’t necessarily subscribe to that theory.
It can take a long time to find just the right pieces for a home. And nobody likes camping out for six to 12 months, waiting for the perfect item to show up.
If you don’t have family members you can borrow pieces from, and the satisfaction of having something filling that spot outweighs the cost of it, then go right ahead and buy it.
Hire a pro
If you’re still unsure about all of this, you can always seek the services of a decorator or interior designer.
If you can’t afford a soup-to-nuts decorating job, then just ask for an hourly consultation. The designer will help you clarify your style, steer you toward the right furnishings and assist in the development of a long-term plan.
If you’re still unsure about all of this, you can always seek the services of a decorator or interior designer.
If you can’t afford a soup-to-nuts decorating job, then just ask for an hourly consultation. The designer will help you clarify your style, steer you toward the right furnishings and assist in the development of a long-term plan.
Chill
Your first home probably will not be your last home. So don’t feel like you’ll be living with every decision for the rest of your life. Sure, it makes sense financially and environmentally to acquire foundation pieces that will transition from your first home to your second, third and fourth. But that throw pillow is going to be around for only a few years. Same with those sheets and towels, and that table lamp. So have fun.
Read more:
Young Couples: The Secret to Designing Your First Home
Tell us:
Did you just finish decorating your home for the first time? Share your experiences and advice in the Comments below.
Your first home probably will not be your last home. So don’t feel like you’ll be living with every decision for the rest of your life. Sure, it makes sense financially and environmentally to acquire foundation pieces that will transition from your first home to your second, third and fourth. But that throw pillow is going to be around for only a few years. Same with those sheets and towels, and that table lamp. So have fun.
Read more:
Young Couples: The Secret to Designing Your First Home
Tell us:
Did you just finish decorating your home for the first time? Share your experiences and advice in the Comments below.
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Excellent article...
ad amazing photos...
thanks for sharing this useful article...
we are planning to construct a new house for sure I'll sure use these ideas...
FYI JB