Decorating Guide for New Home Owners

Decorating a new home can feel overwhelming, so choose your remodeling projects carefully — gutting everything while you are still unpacking is unnecessary … and stressful. Here are some tips on how to determine what to do first.

 Focus on One or Two Rooms   

Bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens are spaces people spend the most time in.  Before choosing your first redecorating projects, be practical about what rooms to tackle first. Does the bathroom need to be re-tiled or have a shower fitted? Is the kitchen safe and workable? You want to ensure that your home allows you to live well and comfortably.

Think about which room the family will congregate in. For some, that’s the living room. For others, it might be the kitchen. Decide which is your most-used communal space and renovate here first. Maybe your bedroom gives you a refuge — if that’s the case, start there.

Leave spare rooms, hallways, and gardens for last. That extra space provides excellent storage while you are redecorating, and offers a door that you can close.

Use Items That You Can Change Easily 

Little things make a huge difference sometimes. “My biggest suggestion is to choose items that can be easily changed later on,” said Amanda Seamans, blogger at Her Happy Home. “More than likely your home decor style will change.  So items like pillow covers, wall art, blankets, candles, etc. can easily be switched out seasonally or as your style preferences change. “ 

Details matter, too. A pop of color or texture can make an impact when choosing fabrics for curtains, furniture, and bedsheets, advised Joanne Archer, the content editor at the Expert Home Tips website. So look at all those things carefully. Even scrutinize functional items. “Don't forget fluffy towels for the bathroom and some cute dishcloths and a pair of oven mitts for the kitchen,” she added. Adding a bit of personality and care into these selections can elevate your home’s look.

Consider Color and Light

Whether you are painting or wallpapering your space, selecting your color scheme is an important first step before re-doing a room. For instance, if you choose a pink-toned wallcovering, then you might opt for a dusty-pink, velvet sofa to bring out those shades. Or if you go for a dark red, you can bring in gold tones with your furniture and bright lighting to make the room lively.

Paint is the easiest way to make a new home your own. “Painting the front door a fresh new color is an easy and gratifying way to put a personal stamp on your new home,” said Janet Lorusso, designer and blogger at JRL Interiors. “And painting walls, trim, or cabinets can make a huge difference."  

You must have a plan before you start anything. Paint color should be chosen after you determine all the other elements going into the room. “While paint comes in literally any color; textiles, finishes, and furnishings generally have more limited options, so choose those first,” explained Lorusso.

Lighting can become a prominent room feature by using artistic lampshades or dramatic light fixtures, suggested Amy Hillary, interior content creator at Wallsauce, a custom wall mural company in the United Kingdom. She also advised keeping windows uncluttered. “If you don’t need thick curtains or blinds, choose light, see-through fabrics so that it appears as though the curtains are almost not there.”

Lighting is the thing most likely to date a house since trends change about every 10 years — so take a look at the fixtures after moving into your new home. “Changing out a chandelier, ceiling fixture, or bathroom sconce will instantly update a room, just be sure to get the scale and height right,” warned Lorusso.

She offered that warmer natural brass, black iron, gilded iron, antiqued silver, and polished nickel are all currently popular finishes, and while all the metals in a room don’t need to match, there is an art to mixing metals: “Limit it to two or three metal finishes per room and be sure each one has some others like it sprinkled around the space.”

Keep It Personal

Ultimately, make your home about your family’s story. That includes displaying photos of loved ones as well as using your favorite blanket on the sofa or putting fresh flowers in your grandmother’s vase.

“First and foremost, when you move into a new home, make every room feel cozy - even before you whip out the paint and brush,” said Hillary. “Make sure that initially each room is decorated tastefully with your current, treasured items. You can even start thinking about where your current items will fit into each room before you move in.”