We Answer Wednesday - Where to save and where to spend when buying furniture

"We have bought our first home and we need to make a lot of furniture purchases.  We see the price tags and the costs add up, and quickly.  When it comes to buying furniture - which pieces are worth splurging on and where can we save?"

Congratulations of your home purchase ! What an exciting time! Furnishing and decorating your first home is a fun experience, it is a great way to bring your sense of style into
YOUR space.  But you are right, the costs can really add up and very quickly.

The first thing you need to do - is figure out your budget.  Your budget is determined by what you feel comfortable spending.
Figure out:
What you need to buy?
What (if anything is coming with you from your last place)?
Are you getting any furniture pieces from friends or family?
What would you like to have but it's not needed now.
This is a great guide to figure out what you need to spend now and what to focus on later.



When it comes to actual items that are worth the extra cost, we have some suggestions.

- Sofa, it is worth to spend on a sofa but again be sure it is an amount you feel comfortable with.  Not everyone feels good about spending $5,000 on a sofa.  But when it comes to sofas, there is a quality and comfort difference that is attached to price.  We also suggest 'test driving' a sofa in person - make it is comfortable and supportive - don't just buy a great deal because it is a great deal.

- Mattress, you will sleep every night on that mattress so find the right one and be sure to check them out in person.  Buy the best mattress that you can afford.  You don't want to live with neck and back pain everyday because the mattress was a great deal!

- Flooring, if your current home has ugly or dated flooring or flooring that is is terrible shape, it is worth spending now on the update (before you move in). 

- Labour, when it comes to work that's being done in your home, don't skimp - it will be noticeable and you will end up spending more to have someone else come in and fix what was already done. 

- Window coverings, we would put this on the 'maybe later' part of your list but that does depend on your size and style of windows.  If you have a standard size window, store bought pre-packaged panels with a rod will be just fine.  Custom window drapery varies in price but if you have oversized windows, or odd shaped windows - the extra cost is worth it.




Where can you save?

On just about everything else.  You might be at a point in your life where you are figuring out your taste and style and this is a great time to experiments with less expensive pieces like dining chairs, armchairs, rugs and bedding.



When you move into your first place it is exciting but also a bit overwhelming.  Many feel that they need to drop a fortune to furnish their place.  Don't spend anymore than you are comfortable with and don't invest in anything that you don't love or is uncomfortable - it's not worth it!  True personal style comes from mixing the pieces, colours and textures that you love and building that 'nest' takes some time....Rome wasn't built in a day!

Don't fight your style, Find it!

So you found a great house - you love the location, the price was right and now it's time to put your stamp on it, so now what? Take a look at the architecture of your home and that will give you a direction to move in - is it traditional? modern? sunny rooms? somber rooms? etc... Use those aspects of the home (or room) as a starting point, that will give your design some direction and intention - don't try to fit a square peg into a circular hole. When you fight the natural flow of a home (or room) it is obvious and rarely works.

Once you have really connected with the style of your home, next is too look at it empty and come up with a plan. Placement of furniture (existing or new) and figure out what goes where and possibly what you'll need to purchase or purge.

Think colour - don't get to specific but have an idea of the tones that will work in your home. I was in a beautiful chalet in the Laurentians which has the original wood beam ceilings and unfortunately the owners painted them a fire engine red because they wanted a funky colour - that funky colour would have worked better in a blanket, throw pillows or other accessories. The wood beams would have added some charm, warmth and maybe even a lofty feel.

So if you have a traditional home but like the look of modern what can you do? A LOT!! Take traditional shapes for example a wing back chair but upholster it in a pattern fabric. Add elements of sparkle like a funky mirror over the fireplace mantle. Don't go too over the top but splashes of modern in a traditional home is very chic and a truly personal style.

Last step is to shop, look around at all sorts of stores to create your one of a kind personalized look. Don't make your room or home look a like an image out of a catalogue but something from a stylish decor magazine.

When you work with the existing style of the home and mesh it with your personal taste you really end up with something fabulous and fun!

How to Furnish a Room

Many people are intimidated at the idea of furnishing a room, this is probably one reason why staging is so successful - it takes the guess work away!

Furnishing a living room is like filling a wardrobe with clothing you might wear everyday. just like you would with clothing, start with the basics, so when selecting your furniture start with sofa(s), chairs, side and coffee tables. Make sure the items are classic in shape and colour and of course, take proportion into consideration. Now that you have your foundation pieces, you can start to dress your room up with details that add personality and interest.

When furnishing a room you also have to consider the room's most beautiful elements and deciding on how you want the room to flow. Is there a fireplace you'd like to be near while reading on the sofa or club chair? Or, is there a window with a fabulous view that you want to call attention to? These are called focal points. Be sure to choose pieces that you can arrange in a way to take advantage of the room's assets.

The most common pieces placed in a living room are:-a sofa, two arm chairs, two side tables with table lamps and a coffee table. how you arrange these pieces can add some uniqueness and personality to your space. Try an L-shape formation (the sofa facing the fireplace and two arm chairs side by side on one end of the sofa, end tables on either side of the sofa and the coffee table right in front of the sofa). the U-shape formation (sofa facing fireplace, coffee table right in front, side table with lamps on either side of the sofa and armchairs on each end of the sofa just facing each other). these are pretty typical formations. But here are some other suggestions:- Face to Face (place the sofa on the right side of the fireplace facing the window, and the two arm chairs side by side facing the sofa and coffee table in the middle.) Diagonal arrangement (use the U-shape formation but place the sofa on an angle and every other piece accordingly - this is a great way to take advantage of a window in the spring/summer and angle pieces in the direction of the fireplace in the fall/winter).

Dressing up the room is how we make the space ours. Adding those elements like colour, texture and shine. Adding decor pillows, throw blankets, artwork, mirrors, knick knacks, lamps, and other unique touches. Side tables and coffee tables are functional and fashionable but keep them clean from clutter, a rule of thumb no more than 3 pieces on a table. so a lamp, a small plant and a small dish is more than enough. If you want to display some of your collectibles this rule applies too - too many objects make a space cluttered an no one can see your beautiful pieces. The sofa is also a piece to present colour and texture. Try mixing different textures and patterns to create a warm and cozy area for guests and yourself. I personally like to start with a neutral foundation piece (cream, beige, camel,grey or espresso) are good tones to start with, they are classic and timeless and you can add any colour you wish.

Don't be intimidated to furnish your own space, it is fun! Afraid your place is too generic? That's where unique pieces you love, colour and texture come into play. Use books and magazine for inspiration. Take your time it does not have to be finished over night.

Damaged goods??

If you are looking for a unique piece or maybe just a little something to liven up a room, try the clearance aisle.

I know it's a lot of junk, right? Wrong. Often the clearance aisle (in many cases) consists of items that were once floor models, items from 'last season' and pieces that have been on the show room floor for too long. Yes, there will be some damaged goods but take a close look before you buy you can find some really great deals.

Just last week at Home Sense, I purchased a beautiful, crochet-knit blanket in a sage green for $3.00. This week, I purchased some Italian glass vases for under $20.00

You can find art pieces and even furniture at IKEA. Their floor models always end up in the "as-is" section. A few weeks ago, they had a great chrome and glass kitchen table set with 4 chairs for under $100 and in great condition.

Clearance, sale or as-is shopping can be like a fun treasure hunt, you just don't know what you'll find. It is also great for anyone on a tight budget or shopping for your first home.