Conversations I’ve heard between design clients: “We’re going to spend that much on the living room??” followed by “You spent more than that on a new motor for the boat!” (you can take a guess as to who’s the hubby and who’s the wife in that exchange!). There’s usually always something to make you chuckle when working through the process of deciding on a budget!
Making interior design style changes to your home have a cost associated with them – balancing needs and wants, determining the budget, and committing to the time it will take to bring the changes to life. So, how does an interior designer take an overall budget and decide where to spend and where to save on individual home décor and furnishing pieces?
- Think longevity: in a living room, upholstery pieces usually have the longest lives. You don’t want to scrimp here and be unhappy with your choice for years to come. Sofas = splurge.
- Think ease of change: smaller items like table lamps, throw pillows, and even art work can be easily swapped out. Unless you’re using original art (which is a fantastic option when and where you can!), accessory items like these = save.
- Think overall impact: one of the quickest ways to take a space from ok to amazing is through custom window treatments. I feel like I’m on repeat when I say this, but the difference in final product from store-bought to custom drapery is HUGE. Go custom, but stick with a neutral colour or pattern to get a longer life out of them. Window treatments = splurge.
- Think personal preference: some people have a love for more lux items, like 100% wool rugs rather than machine woven. If you KNOW you have a preference for something specific, take the plunge the first time, rather than saving on the first purchase but inevitably going back to get what you actually wanted in the beginning – that’s just wasting time AND money! Personal preference items = splurge.
- Think level of usage: have a sitting room that rarely gets used, but it’s the first room you see when you come home? Unless you decide to change the room’s purpose (which can be a good idea – make use of your entire home!), this is a good space to save in. Upholstery pieces that perhaps have the look you want but not the same level of quality as a sofa you’ll use daily can work well here. Occasional pieces = save.
Of course, these tips aren’t hard and fast rules – we all place different levels of value on different things, so choosing to splurge or save is a very personal thing. I always make sure I chat with my clients about what’s important to them in their furnishing pieces, where they usually splurge and save, and go from there. The important thing is to finish with a space you LOVE. What items are you thinking about splurging on? What’s holding you back from making the final decision?
