Rushing to create the perfect home can be a disappointment
We’ve all felt the pressure to have the perfect house, whether it be for an upcoming party, the holidays or to simply blend in with the neighbors.
Photo Credit: jupiterimages
Interior
Avoid the Most Costly Home Furnishings Mistakes
by Jennifer Litwin
Are you only getting second best, at best? If not thought out properly, your new home can become a disappointment when the repair bills appear.
Retailers bank on the fact that people are too busy these days to shop for their homes just one piece at a time, and just want their houses done. Period. Well, if you fall into the rut getting everything at once, you will regret your purchases. Each piece you buy should represent a purchase you made because of your everyday living needs . If not thought out carefully you will risk overpaying and creating a generic-looking space that really doesn’t reflect who you are, your taste or current daily lifestyle.
View the slideshow above to learn how to avoid the most costly home furnishings mistakes.
Take your time, and you, too, will have the house you love for a lifetime.
Are you a first-time homebuyer and not sure where to begin? We found this great article from our friends at AOL Real Estate, First-Time Homebuyer's Guide, which offers everything you need to know about buying a home. From fixing your credit to getting your money's worth, they share that there's more to buying a home for the first time than paying a mortgage. Check out all their tips here.
Read more home expert tips from The Shop Cop here.
Photo Credit: Alamy
Tags: Budget, Curator Network, Décor, Jennifer Litwin, Furnishing, Designing, Redecorating, Shopping
-
Pin It
-
Pin It
Consider shopping at an auction right now!
After buying my first home, I realized how empty it looked. I went to auctions at the time, and felt the urge to bid on dozens of inexpensive items, hoping to be the “lucky” winner of all of them. I overbid on things I never even loved—the prices seemed too low to overlook, and I had a house to furnish.
Photo Credit: Alamy
-
Pin It
I wound up with over twenty pieces of junk for my home, and after putting everything inside, I realized I didn’t like half of the pieces, and would have no real use for them. Several of the pieces later required a considerable amount of work; something I never considered budgeting for.
Photo Credit: Alamy
-
Pin It
Start out small, have patience, and wait to buy your favorite pieces, but don't settle just to get your home fully furnished.
Flea Markets: My best advice for someone with refined taste, who wants an elegant, interesting home is to start out small. For that reason, flea markets are the best way to get your feet wet.
Photo Credit: jupiterimages
-
Pin It
In Chicago, I love the Randolph Street Market, a flea market that has an urban flair mixed with country charm. Dealers rent stalls, and I’ve picked up pieces from $5-$2,000 at flea markets. The trick is buying only what you love, one piece at a time, mixing new with old, and only buying pieces you have a use for. Learning these skills takes time and a trained eye.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Auction: Auction is another great way to furnish a great big house, or even a city apartment. I love shopping at local auctions for artwork, and that I don’t have to pay for shipping. My favorite auction houses for the great values are: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago, Neal Auction in New Orleans, and occasionally Sotheby’s more reasonably priced auctions.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Especially if you put in a silent bid and agree only to a maximum price you would be willing to pay. Becoming emotional about a piece will not serve you well. Avoid auctions or brokerage firms that charge an astronomical amount to sellers or buyers, like 1stdibs. These places are not the best about warrantying the products they are selling.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Become Your Own Interior Designer
The fastest way to date your house is to make everything look perfectly coordinated. The perfectly coordinated look is outdated and always has been. Your home will express more about you and your personality when you acquire one piece at a time.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Designers will also want to save themselves time, and earn the most amount of money possible by trying to create an entire ”look” for you and your family. I’ve especially seen this when they are working with big families and know that people don’t have a lot of time to deal with all the details.
Photo Credit: jupiterimages
Part of AOL-HuffPost Home