How to Save Money While Decorating Your First House
Housing-Market / Home Improvements Jan 14, 2021 - 04:57 PM GMTDecorating a house can be very expensive and challenging due to the initial inversion made. Because of this, the house often remains empty and gloomy for months, which sometimes turns into years, without its owners being able to give it a touch of their personality and bring it to life.
From the colors of the furniture to the design of the curtains or the types of pictures we decide to hang on the walls, decoration says a lot about the family who lives in the house. Decorating can turn a house into a real home and make it part of who we are. This is why we want to make it easier for you and give you some tips on saving money while decorating your first home.
Have a list of priorities
The first thing you should do is make a list of the things you want to remodel, change, or add to your new home's decoration. The list should be organized in order of priority. What do you need most urgently? What do you feel is missing but is not essential? What do you want to add? This way, it will be easier for you to know how you will act and the money needed. It will also allow you to focus on the most important things first. In order to make this list, you can brainstorm with your family members, as they may have important needs that you may not be taking into account.
It's essential that you define a style of decoration so you won't end up buying different pieces later that will not be cohesive with each other. Among your priorities should be to choose the color palette, the textures to work with, etc.
Make a budget
Research the cost for each of the items on your priority list. How? Compare the prices of different suppliers. It is very easy to ask for prices online or visit different specialized portals. This will allow you to see how costs can vary from one establishment to another and choose the best deal.
Decide the amount of money you will allow yourself to spend per month and contrast the information you collected from suppliers with your budget. Make any adjustments you consider appropriate and move on to the action plan.
Make an action plan
Once you know what you want to buy, and have organized a budget, divide the whole project into different phases. For example, in May, you will decorate and buy furniture for the living room. In June, you will renovate the kitchen. In July, you will take care of the details of the backyard.
When you divide the project into phases, it is more likely that you will finish it. You are setting very specific and achievable goals instead of looking at the whole project in general, being scared of its magnitude, and seeing it as something far and non-achievable.
Additionally, by taking care of a specific phase, you will have more control over the budget, and every time you finish something, the progress will be more visible (even with small details), which will motivate you to continue with the project.
Visit second-hand stores
Thrifting in second-hand stores might be your best option for saving money while getting the perfect decoration. You can find quality items that are just what you're looking for, but you may never have thought of searching for them in these places. Keep an open mind about where to find accessories, furniture, and more.
There are also stores where large luxurious establishments throw away pieces with manufacturing defects, so they sell them at impressively low prices. These defects are often not even noticeable or are small details that you can fix with a little paint. Consider visiting these places; they could make your budget go a lot further.
Create your own pieces
If you are creative, another good idea to spend less money is to create your decorations. On Pinterest, you can find lots of inspiration. From photos of your favorite style to tutorials for building various pieces at home with different materials you already have, your house can look gorgeous if you have dedication.
However, don’t forget to use a VPN if you’re browsing the web for inspiration. A VPN can secure your internet connection and protect your privacy. Also, it’s a great option if you want to keep your sensitive information safe.
Be flexible
It is true that you have a plan of action and a budget, which will guarantee the desired results when you stick to them, but if at any point you need to stretch out of it, you must allow yourself to do so. If you think it is better to change the order of the phases or cut money from one side to invest it in another, do it. As you go along, you will learn to make better decisions that will give you better results.
By Russell Fenton
© 2021 Copyright Russell Fenton - All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.
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