Guest blogger: The Aesthete Collective
Hey Style Smarties,
Welcome back to the fifth and final episode of the Style Smarts Series! Just like Friends, all good things must come to an end, although I promise we’ve saved the best til last.
I’m Lulu Cavanagh from the Aesthete Collective and I’ll be giving you my checklist of top interior design tips to keep in mind when shopping and styling your brand-new home. I know that shopping for a new home can be overwhelming but I like to view it as your blank canvas with so many possibilities. So, I’ve visited one of my favourite interior stores in Perth, Granite Lane, which is the perfect one-stop-shop full of stunning pieces for any new home.
Wanna learn how to furniture shop like a pro? Let’s go!
Preparation is key
When you go furniture shopping for the first time, it’s important to have a clear idea of your style. So, before you even step foot in a furniture store it’s important to have a think about a few things. Have you decided on what aesthetic you’re going for in your home? What colours and tones are you hoping to incorporate.
Even if you have these big ideas bouncing around in your mind, it’s a good idea to bring these to life visually. I recommend creating a mood board using images from Instagram, Pinterest, and magazines of items that you love. Having something visual to refer to will help you not get too distracted from buying things on a whim or purchasing items that just don’t fit with the rest of your home.
Size up the place
This next step to keep in mind when furniture shopping for your new home is crucial but can often be overlooked. Always take your measurements! Whether you have your digital floor plans or printed versions, there is nothing worse than buying the most beautiful piece of furniture, getting it home, and realising it’s too big. Trust me, we’ve all been there. Before making those big investment purchases I would recommend printing your floorplans to a 1:100 scale and drawing in the furniture items to that scale. It’ll help you to visualise the space and most importantly – make sure it fits!
Everything costs money
Nothing nice in life is free (sorry), so we better talk about where to spend the cash. When deciding on the furnishing budget for your new home, it’s a no-brainer to make sure you have enough saved up for your investment pieces. These are things like your dining table, chairs, sofas, and beds. Your investment pieces should last you a long time, so it can be worth spending a little bit of extra cash if you can.
Just relax and take your sweet time
Furniture shopping for your new home is meant to be fun and exciting, so make sure you take your time and enjoy the process. Remember, beautiful homes aren’t created overnight. If you’ve been searching for something in particular, take the time to research where you can find it. It’ll be worth the wait!
Taking time is especially important when it comes to art. Art is very personal and has the power to change the mood of a whole space. For these pieces, really think about what you want to display and only showcase things you really love, otherwise, what’s the point?
Product lead times
If 2020 taught us anything, it is patience. Make sure when planning the furniture for your new home that you are taking into consideration product lead times. Sometimes (especially in the world we live in today), it can take up to 16 weeks for pieces to arrive.
The best thing you can do to avoid waiting? Start the research process as soon as possible. I can’t imagine anything worse than wanting to organise your housewarming straight away and having to wait because guests have nothing to sit on.
Design Smarts 101
When purchasing your styling items, make sure you take into consideration design principles and scale. Lots of little pieces in a space can look bitsy and get lost. Therefore, I would recommend choosing fewer yet larger pieces to look more visually appealing to the eye. Always mix and match textures, colours, and tones to help create more interest and keep things exciting in your new home.
It’s time to shop til you drop!
And there you have it. You are now all clued up on my checklist of top interior design tips for shopping for your new home.
To summarise, my checklist to shop for your new home like a pro is:
- Always prepare and go in with a vision
- Never leave home without your measurements
- Allocate your budget wisely (towards investment pieces)
- Take into consideration lead times
- Take your time (especially with art)
- Use the design elements and principles
So that’s a wrap folks. From bedding, couches, florals and coffee tables, we hope you’ve loved tuning into the Style Smarts Series and that we’ve inspired you to turn your dream home into a beautiful new reality.
Accidentally missed one of the previous instalments? You can check them all out below:
- How to Style a Coffee Table
- How to Style a Sofa with Throws and Pillows
- How to Create Floral Arrangements for Beginners
- How to Style a Bed Like a Pro
Stay tuned for what Smart Homes for Living have lined up next!
Happy shopping smarties.
Xoxo, Lulu
Still need more #inspo for your new pad? Contact our team of smarties, visit our award winning showroom or check out one of our many display homes across Perth.
