If you’re searching for your first property, there’s a lot to think about.
Perhaps you’re concentrating so hard on buying the home that you’re not even considering furnishings.
But, how you set up your new house or apartment plays a fundamental role in your enjoyment of the property.
So, spend a little downtime working out a budget and a style that appeals to you.
You’ll find well-meaning friends and family might offer you furniture, knowing this will save you much-needed cash. They may or may not be doing you a favour as some design choices will make your home look outdated.
Colour calamities
It’s easy to get colours wrong. It doesn’t help that certain hues are fashionable for one year and “so yesterday” the next. We suggest you opt for a timeless look of classic whites and creams. Too many colours turn a home into a collection of disconnected rooms.
Texture trauma
You can overwhelm a home with too much texture. Keep to a minimum the features such as dark wood panelling, textured walls and heavy-coloured tiles (ban these on kitchen benchtops). Many apartments have a fire-retardant vermiculite ceiling, often called a popcorn ceiling. If you find one of these units, that’s sufficient texture.
Fussy flooring
The influence of flooring on a home’s decor is far more significant than most people imagine. Flooring absorbs and reflects light, so keep it light and bright. Resist any urge for old-school patterned tiling or carpet.
Decor disruption
Like colours, you want to take a consistent approach to your furniture, especially in an apartment. A 50/50 mix of Ikea and second-hand furniture is not a great look. By all means have a statement piece, but stick to one style.
Matching mayhem
Don’t feel obliged to splash out on a matching three-piece suite. The days when this was the only acceptable option are long gone. Mixing textures and shapes will create interesting rooms if you’ve been conservative with your floor and ceiling.
Okey-dokey
Heavy oak furnishings are out. It’s what your parents (and maybe grandparents) bought. Don’t do it. Big wooden kitchen cabinet doors, thick wooden tables and chairs… the list goes on… scream 80s.