6 tips for furnishing your first home

Buying or renting your first home is a big hurdle, but furnishing will also require some planning and budgeting. Here are some tips to make furniture shopping less stressful and more rewarding.

Start neutral – Neutral is a good place to start. Look at whites, blacks and timber tones that will always let you add color by changing the cushions or by adding a rug.

Make lists – Making a list of what you need and how much you are willing and able to spend on each item will help guide your decisions. A clear plan will also ensure that you don’t miss buying essential items.

Invest in a quality bed and bedding – We spend a third of our lives in Therefore it makes sense to spend on a quality bed and bedding.

Have a budget – Moving into a new home, means that your budget will be tight. Therefore look at how much you can realistically spend on furniture. Invest in the essentials first and then look at additional pieces during the year.

Know the dimensions of your room – Measure your room and your doorways to buy furniture that will fit in your space. Remember that large showrooms will make furniture appear a lot smaller, so it’s a smart move to take a measuring tape with you when you shop.

Don’t buy everything at once – Start off by shopping around before you make a firm decision. Look at furnishing one room at a time, which can help you make wiser investments.