HOT PROPERTY
This content is produced by the B2B Publishing team of the LA Times. It does not involve the reporting staff of the LA Times.
FURNISH YOUR FIRST HOME
Purchasing your first home can be one of life’s most thrilling experiences. Equally thrilling is making it your own with furniture and accessories that reflect your tastes. But how do you start the buying process?
Makeabudget: Just likeplanning a vacation or wedding, draw up abudget for buying furniture. “Furnishing ahome is an expensive undertaking that happens on the back of another big financial commitment – buying an actual house!” says Mélanie Berliet, general manager of home/lifestyle website the Spruce(thespruce.com). “Set financial limits for yourself to avoid getting overexcited while shopping, which can leadtoexpensive and impulsive decisions.”
Setamaximum youcan spend larger items such as asofa, dining table, and bed. You’ll alsowant to setaroom-by-room budget.
“Hold yourself accountable,”saysBerliet.
Prioritize buying furniture for high-trafficareas: Berlietsuggestsoutfitting the rooms you’ll spend the mosttime in, generally the living room and kitchen. Getthe basics, likeseating and tables,you’llneed to create a comfortable place for youand your guests.
Buy some non-investment pieces:
Inexpensive furniture, such as adesk made of particle board, won’tlastaslong as one made of solid wood. Should youalwaysdismiss the cheaper furniture? Notnecessarily. “It is definitelyokaytopurchasepieces that don’t qualify as ‘forever furniture’ in your mind,” says Berliet. “You can buy something decent that will serveyou well for afew years while yousaveupfor atrue investment piece.”
Knowyour measurements: Beforebuying anypieceoffurniture, carefullymeasure the space youhave to work with. Youdon’t want to fall in love with asectional sofa when you’ve onlygot enough room for aloveseat.
Don’tfearhand-me-downs: Your family and friends mean well and want to help you out with your newplace.You could dismiss their used furnitureatfirst, but takealook – youmay seesomepotential in afew pieces. “Whether youadd afresh coat of chalkyfinish paint to adingydresser or affix mid-century modern legs to an old chair to give it anew look,”saysBerliet, “thereare alot of ways to spruceupuseditems and save money.”
— CTW Features
Contact us with comments or questions at hotproperty@latimes.com
Furnishing and decorating can make anewly purchased house ahome. Photo courtesy of Content That Works
