There are both positives and negatives involved in furnishing a house from scratch. The major benefit is that, as you have a blank canvas to work with, you can get a true feel of the size of the rooms you have to work with. Plus, you are free to choose any style that suits you.
One of the negative aspects may be that furnishing a completely empty house involves a lot of expense, and doing it in one go can be stressful. Below, we have listed some useful tips that will help make your life easier when creating your dream home, so let’s get started!
Start With a Floorplan
Easiest if your property is a new-build, the best way to visualize your potential rooms is to start by drawing up a floorplan. Measure each room and mark where windows and doors are – remember the opening arc of the latter – plus also make a note of the location of power points, and any other such fittings that you need access to. This will help you design a layout that is practical as well as comfortable – and beautiful too!
Modern or Traditional?
You will, of course, need to decide on the style of décor you want your new home to feature. Many people tend towards the clean, sleek and stylish modern look. This often involves the use of metal and glass for effect, and is put to best use in the bathroom and kitchen, where the materials used are also practical.
There is nothing stopping you from applying the minimalist look in other rooms. A good idea is to look at furniture in muted, reserved colours – grey and light brown are very popular for this effect – especially if you are going to create an uncluttered and fresh-looking room.
For some people, this style of decoration and furnishing is bland, and many still prefer the more traditional styles. You can easily combine them – a minimalist, futuristic bathroom with a traditional 3-piece suite lounge, for example – and the choice of furnishings is simply vast.
Now Plan the Basics
Start with the very basic items that you need for the essential rooms. If you have bought a house that comes without a kitchen fitted, for example, this is one area to start. Many new-build properties will be fitted with the basic kitchen cupboards and perhaps appliances. The main rooms to consider are the living room and main bedrooms.
With the former, you should start with the chairs and sofa you intend to put in place. You likely have an idea of the model you want, so need to make sure it is not too large for the available space. For the bedrooms, you will need to choose beds and other basic furnishings, but before you settle on your choices, we have an idea that might help!
Your Chance to Go Eco-Friendly
A new-build home will very likely be built with eco-friendly materials, ideas and practices. Why not carry this on with your furniture? You will find a great choice in eco friendly furniture that is of a superb quality and also very beautiful. The demand for eco-friendly furniture has never been higher, and there are other benefits to furnishing your home this way.
One advantage to the eco-friendly route is that this sort of furniture will be made from natural products. Manufacturers take care to use locally sourced materials where possible, including wood, cotton, wool and latex, and you may also find some that build furniture using reclaimed and recycled material.
You may also appreciate that they steer away from using any potentially harmful chemicals used in standard furniture-making practice, making your home a healthier environment to live in. Furthermore, you can take advantage of furniture created especially for your rooms – tailor made for you from your requirements – providing the most efficient use of the space available.
Think About Lighting
One factor that often gets overlooked when planning and furnishing a house from scratch is the lighting. In recent years the choice of lighting for the home has become far greater. You can find everything from strip lights to under-counter lights, LED lights and a variety of light and lamp designs that can be quite bewildering.
You may find that certain types of light fittings require an electrician to put them in place, while others you simply put in place and switch on. When designing your lighting set up, be sure to look at the lighting in relation to the furniture and other details in the room – especially the potential for reflection off mirrors, pictures and glass.
Flooring Ideas
The trend in new homes has been for wooden flooring, and it makes a great choice if you are going for the modern, sleek look. It doesn’t have to be expensive; laminate flooring is affordable, easy for someone with basic DIY skills to lay, and looks great.
You may also want to consider floor tiles, especially in rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen. Stone tiles also look wonderful, and provide a durable surface that will withstand heavy use. Be aware that they can provide a cold feel underfoot.
For most people the thing to do is go for traditional carpets. Quality carpets have become far more affordable recently thanks to modern production methods, so it is worth talking to a local supplier and checking out some designs.
Some Final Words
Furnishing your home is a matter of taste, and as you are starting from scratch, the end result should be your dream home in every way. For the best results, we recommend having a professional apply the finishing touches to your kitchen and bathroom, where you may already have the basic appliances in place.
Take the time to plan ahead and also to look around. Choose eco-friendly furniture where you can as it tends to be the best quality and will make your home a healthy, pleasant and comfortable place to be. Once you have all the basics in place, you can add your detail touches and make your house uniquely yours!
