Whether you’re moving house and excited to furnish and decorate it from scratch, or you’re keen to give your home a refreshing, modern update, furniture and home decor are expensive. While there are pieces for all budgets, you should not adopt a blanket approach and shop everything on a low budget.
Some items are worth investing more money in, so go for the more expensive options. Knowing where to splurge and where to save can be tricky, so hopefully, this advice can act as a guide for your home decor purchasing decisions.
Items to Splurge On
As a rule of thumb, when deciding on what items to splurge on, consider how long you are likely to keep them, how often they will be used, and if the item’s quality will affect your life. Here are some examples of things you should splurge on:
Beds and Mattresses
Think of a bed and mattress as investments in your wellbeing. It is well worth spending more on a good quality bed and mattress that is comfortable to have a good sleep. When you sleep well, you function more effectively. Also, sleeping on a poor-quality mattress can cause body pains and doesn’t provide adequate support to your spine.
Take your time shopping for the right bed and test different mattresses to find the one that is most comfortable for you. Before buying the bed, find out about the warranty so that you will be protected if there is a problem.
Sofas
Sofas and chairs should be viewed as investment pieces, especially if you’re buying them to put in living areas like your lounge, where you probably spend a lot of time. Since you’ll sit on them for long periods, they should be comfortable.
Good quality, durable upholstery is more expensive but takes longer to show signs of ageing and can withstand wear and tear. When shopping for sofas, look for classic designs and colours that won’t date. Good quality sofas can still look good twenty years later.
Kitchen Cabinets
The kitchen is a high-traffic area, and the cabinets are probably opened multiple times daily. Because of this, you want to spend money on high-quality cabinets built to last and still look good years later.
If you buy poor-quality cabinets, you may notice that the handles become loose, the colour fades, the surfaces chip or peel, and, after a while, the doors may become unhinged.
Items to Save on
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you should save on items you will often replace, like trendy items, things you don’t use often, or items where quality doesn’t make a difference. When decorating your home, look for budget options for the following items:
Decorative Cushions, Pillows, and Throws
When shopping for pretty cushions and throws to brighten up your sofa, the cheapest option will do. These things don’t serve a functional purpose and are just there to make the room look aesthetically pleasing, so the quality doesn’t matter.
Also, since these are considered fashion items, you are likely to replace them in a year or two either because you got bored of the look or because it is out of fashion, so it’s not worth spending a lot on.
Light Fittings and Lamps
Good lighting enhances the look and feels of your home, but you don’t need to spend much money on light fittings and lamps. You can buy reasonably priced lamps that will do the job effectively.
Also, lamps and light fittings aren’t subject to as much wear and tear as other home items since they’re not handled very often, so they’re less likely to look worn over time. Choose lamps and light fittings in classic designs that blend into your decor. Even though they’re cheap, you don’t need to replace them frequently.
Mirrors
Mirrors make a room look lighter, airy, and larger, but you don’t have to buy the most expensive ones. Mirrors range in price – you can pick one up for as little as $20, but others sell for hundreds of dollars. There is very little difference between cheap and expensive mirrors, so buying a mirror on the cheaper side will be just as effective.
Make Sure You Have Enough Cover
Before upgrading your home, you must ensure that you have the right insurance. Most people have homeowners insurance which will cover you for damages caused to your property or belongings or for losses. However, most homeowners insurance limits the amount they will cover, so if the cost of your damages exceeds the limit, you will be responsible for paying the balance.
Because of these limits, it is helpful to have umbrella insurance. If you’ve not heard of this and are wondering what is umbrella insurance?, it is a type of insurance that will cover any expenses above the limit of your homeowners’ insurance.
References
