Six Easy Decorating Ideas for Your First Home

So you’ve read and followed almost all of the different real estate practical tips that you’ve found online and finally bought your own house. Whether you have bought a condo unit, a townhouse, a single detached house, or any property type, when you’re ready to move in, you need to do some DIY interior decorating first. While there are tips on how you’ll be able to create works of art around your home, it is important that you know how to properly balance and place them inside your home.

When it comes to home decorating, it is always best to avoid clutter especially with small living spaces. You don’t want to feel cramped and claustrophobic inside your home. On the other hand, having a big living space does not give you an excuse to overstuff, as a cozy and relaxing atmosphere is something that is always welcome. Oftentimes, the best ideas are the simplest and easiest to do and you don’t have to be very extravagant.

To help give you a fresh start for your new home, here are six easy decorating ideas that you can try.

1. Decorate with Mirrors

Place mirrors strategically to make small spaces look and feel larger. Mirrors reflect light and add a pleasant ambiance that brightens up a room. In small living rooms, place mirrors in the center of a wall to serve as a focal point. They can also be placed facing a window to either reflect the view outside or give the illusion of another window. You have to give a lot of thought when putting mirrors and make sure that they do not reflect dark and dim spots.

2. Mix and Match Colors, Textures, and Patterns of Upholstery

Create harmony in your upholstery by having a balance of colors, textures, and patterns. Don’t be afraid to mix and match and try out different combinations like plains and prints, shiny and matte, or smooth and textured. If, for example, you prefer having a leather couch, you don’t have to settle for leather throw pillows; or if you have a light blue–painted bedroom wall, your bed covers do not have to be light blue as well. After all, it’s going to be your home and you can always bring out the artist in you. If you’re unsure, you can check out ideas from different sources like magazines, websites, and furniture stores, and you may ask interior designers who are willing to help out and give a few suggestions.

3. Give Your Windows Life and Color

Windows can help brighten up your home. When you’re deciding whether to use curtains, roman shades, venetian blinds, or honeycomb blinds, you have to keep in mind that they should always match your window’s shape and design. Window frames or trims, and cornices can be added to plain windows; you can have them painted as well. Just make sure that the paint will blend in with your wall color and whatever window cover you’ll be using. Check out different color palettes and what works well together from simple to the most outrageous but still beautiful, depending on your taste.

4. Accessorize Your Home

This is one crucial part in home decorating because some people have the tendency to overdo things and the end result is an overload of different stuff that are really unnecessary. There are different things that can help accessorize your home like adding plants, kitchen herb garden, displaying your favorite collections, wall paintings, and your family photos, among many others. These things need to be well-balanced and if you’re adding fresh plants, make sure to really care for them because dead ones will really look bad. Different tips and accessorizing ideas will help give you a clearer view on how to arrange your knick knacks to make sure they don’t result in clutter.

5. Set up a Front Entrance with Style

Your front entry gives out a good first impression and this part of your home should always have a welcoming and inviting atmosphere that will allow your guests to be even more curious seeing what is in store for them once they are inside. Door architraves, molding designs, potted plants, leadlight doors, and porch lights are some good design ideas that you can choose from or combine. However, if your home is a condo unit with limited space, your entryway will be behind the door so don’t put large objects that will create obstruction. Choose a miniature entryway table and put accessories on top like a small potted plant, a candelabra or a lamp, a table fountain, a small aquarium, or whatever looks good but will not be overly dramatic. You may add a small mirror or a painting by the wall and accent the floor with a nice rug or small carpet. You may also add decorative hooks by the wall for guests to use just in case they might need them.

6. Space Size and Height Should Dictate Furniture Style and Placement

First and foremost, when buying furniture, you have to make it a point that they would all fit inside your home. Your furniture are like puzzle pieces that should be properly scaled and arranged to make sure that all spaces are maximized and you’ll still be able to move freely. If you have a home with a low ceiling, follow design tips for low-ceiling homes; keep the heavy furniture like your sofa or your bed low, and make use of vertical designs and open shelving to give a better illusion of a higher ceiling.

If you have a home with a small space, don’t buy oversized furniture; instead buy convertible, multi-purpose, and expandable ones for maximum use. It would be good to follow tips in choosing furniture that will best work with small spaces and look for local stores that sell furniture that are customized for small-space living.

The basic parts of your home—the living room, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen—should all function as to how they are all meant to, and your decorations and designs must not become hindrances that will make them look uninviting and unpleasant. Always plan ahead and when doing home decorations, you must keep in mind the basic principles of interior design. Be practical, and be simple yet imaginative, and design your home right. After all, it is your investment, your cozy space where you can be your own self, and your first home is where your story really begins.

This article was contributed by MyProperty.ph