When it comes to furnishing a home, unless you have a limitless budget, you’re going to have to make choices about where to put your hard-earned dollar. It can be overwhelming trying to create a budget when you don’t know where to start!
Here are a few recommendations to consider to when deciding to splurge or to save.
Upholstered Furniture
Splurge – Upholstered furniture pieces are splurge-worthy items. You will be spending a good amount of time sitting/relaxing on sofas and chairs, so consider investing in well-built pieces with neutral texture or tonal pattern fabrics. (click here for details on what to consider when purchasing upholstered furniture)
Rugs
Save – Rugs are a great way to make a statement in a room without a big investment. Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful vintage rug, but unless you see them as heirloom pieces to collect and pass onto future generations, I say go with a look for less.
Rugs allow you to go bold with color and/or pattern and tie a room together for a cohesive look. A colorful rug can help create a color palette for all the other décor in a room. Natural fiber and synthetic rugs are both available in affordable options. Synthetic rugs are typically more durable and will look good longer. Some are even washable now!
Make sure its soft and comfortable to walk on. A rug pad will help keep a rug in place but also provide extra cushion and extend the life of the rug. If you have multiple rugs in your home, consider switching them out between rooms for a fresh new look.
Tip* When it comes to rug size, bigger is always better. In a living room, every piece of furniture in a seating group should have at least the front two legs on the rug.
Decorative Pillows
Save – Pillows are the best and most affordable way to add style, color and pattern to a room. By selecting a combination of sizes, shapes, and colors/patterns, you can make a room feel cozy and pulled together. Homegoods and similar stores are great places to find high-end looking pillows for a lot less. For a more custom look, Etsy has a huge selection of hand made pillow covers in designer fabrics to choose from. (Type “designer fabric pillow covers” in the search box) You will typically get the pillow cover only, so you’ll need pillow forms to fill them. Amazon has good quality down forms (here) and fiber pillow forms (here) in many sizes. For a high end designer look, go with down pillow forms and give each pillow a good karate chop along top seam.
Tip* Choose a pillow form that is 2” bigger than the finished size of the pillow cover for a fuller and more luxurious look.
If you’re handy with a sewing machine, try making your own pillows for a unique and personalized look!
Artwork
Splurge and Save – I think you can make a case for both sides of this debate. A single piece from a local favorite artist can make as much of a statement as a collection of prints or replicas. Original works of art are more than decoration, they evoke emotion and create a conversation piece with guests. Many times, art purchases come with a great memory of where you’ve traveled and experiences you’ve had with special people. Choosing artwork is very personal, so select a piece that has some meaning and let it serve as a reflection of who you are as a person, couple, family, etc.
If original art isn’t for you, there are plenty of options to decorate your walls and surfaces. Abstract art is easy to incorporate as there is no theme to follow. It leans more modern but if it speaks to you, I say go for it! Landscapes can bring calm to a space with familiar subject matter. Photography is also a great cost-effective option. Framed personal photos hung in a gallery layout are often a favorite spot in any home. Photo galleries works so well in hallways, stairways and large walls where furniture isn’t a good fit. To keep a clean uncluttered look, use the same frame or 2 different color options (like a natural stain and white painted) and keep photo size 5×7 or larger. Color photos and black and white photos are a personal preference. Both are great options for a gallery wall. I like to combine the two and mix frame finishes for a casual collected look.
Mirrors also create interest in a space. Consider hanging a mirror opposite a window or glass door to reflect the light and brighten a room. Thrift shops are great resources for finding mirrors with lots of character.
Tip* Hang art so that the middle of a piece is 60” above the floor to avoid the look of it floating on the wall. If hanging art over a console or other piece of furniture, keep about 4-6” between the bottom of the frame and the surface of the furniture for a cohesive look.
I hope this helps you decide when to splurge and when to save when furnishing your living room! Let me know if you have any good splurge or save stories in the comments below.
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