Surely There Has to be a Better Way to Furnish Your Dream Home! Learn Tips on How to Buy Home Decor Furniture Online the Smart Way (2020)

When planning your budget for the interiors at home or buying furniture, what suits your pocket is what your budget should be. Budget planning is imperative especially when purchasing furniture since the large pieces like sofas, chairs, couches and tables are typically the most expensive buys in any home décor. Once you’ve decided on how much your budget should be, then the chances are that your ‘desired’ list would be longer than what you actually ‘need’. For instance, a broken chair is a need, but a stylish dining room set constitutes a want. The best way to prioritize is to understand that you need not have everything at the same time. You’d think of investing in such pieces in the long run.

Using your furniture appropriately is one of the key considerations you need to make whilst decorating your home/rooms. Your lifestyle has a significant impact on the kind of things you have in your house. Your level of comfort and preferences for style and utility are important elements that need to be factored in your purchase criteria. For instance, if you prefer reading in your living room, then it’d be wise to get a chair which makes for comfortable seating for long hours or get a sofa-cum-bed for your living area, which can be used both for lounging or taking a nap.

Further, how you use your furniture also impacts its durability and the look & feel of your home décor. If you have kids or pets at home then sturdy pieces with easy to clean fabrics are the need of the moment. Furniture with the classic make and simple fabrics always work well, even with changing trends and this would help you match it with different other things in due course. Assessing your lifestyle helps to choose your colour palette wisely. For example, white isn’t suitable for kids room or spaces for pets, and mid-dark tone prints work well when you have the mischief-makers at play!

To ensure you have ample space and enough furniture to fill your home without it feeling too cramped, you need to invest carefully. Take the time out to plan sensibly in the nascent stages and measure your space well, sketching each room to scale including every aspect of every room and other permanent features that complement the furniture in your house. Also, your existing furniture is no less useful and should be measured as well, for it will help you envision any future placements and evaluate your space effectively. With changing trends, people go for bigger and overstuffed furniture pieces, so this initiative will help scale your room, keeping in mind the dimensions.

Irrespective of whether you go shopping in a store or online, a blue tape in the room (marking where your furniture will be placed) will aid in evaluating your space. For instance, most people like to have their coffee table lower or at the same level as their sofa or a table that’s taller when you’re sitting in front of a television.

Whenever you decide to redo your house, begin with your living room first. From paint colours for the walls to the kind of furniture, you have to what you’d require, how to accessorize it and arrange it, decorating the living area is a significant step in home décor. Whichever room you work on, it is important to first be aware of its actual measurements and your space size, so you can place your furniture properly. The chief rule for any living room, be it big or small is the same, to choose furniture that fits the space and isn’t squeezed into it! One of the most common shortfalls in arranging living room furniture is that most houses have a sofa pushed against one wall, a few chairs against one another and that just about sums up the room décor! However, it is important to choose a focal point, consider the flow of traffic and creating areas of conversation.

Armless sofas are sleek for small spaces but may not be comfortable for lounging, so it’d be wise to choose one that’s comfortable. Your accent chair should be light in every sense of the word, without any tall backrests. You’d also consider transparent chairs to go along in small spaces if yours is one. In smaller spaces, furniture should be so chosen that is spread evenly and is simple without overpowering its visual appeal. You can choose a sectional sofa with a coffee table that serves multiple purposes of being used for utility as well as entertainment. Then there are the area rugs, which are as essential as they can be challenging. With a size too small they can make a room look disjointed. When you arrange your furniture, it should all be on top of the rug with about 10-20” of bare floor between its edges and the room walls.

Lighting in any room is a complex element and in living rooms, it may be less utilitarian but important enough to be considered. Your living room should include all the main lights like accent, task and ambient, placed at different levels. You’d experiment with overhead chandeliers, table/floor lamps, wall scones and recessed lighting. Painting your walls with the right colours can be breezy if you start with choosing your expensive items first and then follow it up with a wall colour that complements your buys. Some of the most sought after furniture in decorating your living room can include TV units, bookshelves, display units, wall shelves, magazine racks, tables, chairs like lounge chairs, wing or rocking chairs, bean bags, armchairs, individual sofas or sofa sets, recliners, and futons.

The concept of a formal dining room often provokes images of a conventional dining space that’s stuffy, however in the modern era, the dining space is as elegant and visually appealing as the traditional one, but a bit more accessible! From a mid-century modern look to a more contemporary vibe, use your dining space with a refreshing turn of décor. With the right kind of furniture, you can not only utilize your space well but keep it simple and minimalist without it feeling bare or unfinished. Choose colours that add dimension to your space and complement your furniture as well. The trend of open kitchens is a widespread concept these days, which not only eliminates the barrier between your dining area and cooking space but also makes entertaining your guests or socializing with the family more exciting and accessible while whipping up your meals.

Some interesting ideas for your kitchen cum dining room décor can include a set of small café table and chairs that make for an inviting space to sit, share a meal or drink a cup of your favourite brew, evoking a sense of whim and naturalness making it seem special. You’d explore the concept of having a country kitchen/dining area with rustic beams, vaulted ceiling, hanging baskets and pendant lighting, not to forget antique dining table and wooden chairs. Another idea to experiment with could be to design your dining/kitchen space with an upholstered banquette that’s attached to the back of your kitchen peninsula and has the dining area facing away from the appliances and the cooking space so that it creates a refuge of sort for sharing meals whilst making it seem like an open space.

You’d also have a glamorous overhauling with a mix of ornate crystal chandeliers, with rustic wood dining furniture and a combination of modern + vintage chairs at a focal point in the dining area, defining the eating space of the kitchen. A mix of all white modern cabinets and elements with an antique wooden armoire for ample storage gives off a timeless vibe and makes space seem more layered and appealing.

A home bar is one of the highpoints in Domestic Luxury and is immensely preferred by those who can afford to have one, as the ultimate entertaining hang out spots in the house or simply a lounge space after a long day. Whilst there are some houses which come with bar spaces in places, there are others that require some amount of work. There’s no dearth of variety to style your bar space, irrespective of whether you’d like it to be centrally located or open out of a converted space. With a hint of elegance, your home bar can be a perfect space to socialize, and you can do it up with a variety of classy furniture choices that included tufted seating, deep and sophisticated colour combinations. For seating arrangements, it is important to measure your counter’s height so that you can buy the right kind of chairs or stools. For instance, stools typically come in 3 sizes – counter height, bar stools or tall stools.

A short stool will force you to stretch while a tall stool will make you slouch, both of which can be uncomfortable, so accurate measurements are imperative. Prolonged seating at the bar is quite common and comfortable seating will help you relax better. When choosing the seat style, take the shape, contours and padding into consideration, then stationary vs. rotating or swivelling style stools also make for easy decision making. Before you purchase your seating essentials, keep the colour of your bar area in mind, as this will help you choose from a variety of metallic, acrylic, leather or wooden finishes, each with its own set of visual impact and functionality.

Bedroom furniture is an important aspect of home décor, especially if it is done in restricted spaces. When designing your bedroom space it is good to sketch out a plan and consider both utility and essentials, as there would be several things you may end up having in the bedroom that may just clutter your room without them being of any use. For a tiny bedroom, you should go for tall dressers and shelves for ample storage space and using less room. If you like watching TV in bed then plan a layout that works accordingly. Similarly, a walkway from one end to another is a must if you want to get your clothes and looks right without blocking your mirror and dressing space! A good step to begin with when planning your bedroom décor would be to measure your bigger pieces like the bed, dresser, shelves, etc., in addition to the room’s dimensions.

When placing the furniture, get the bed placed first as it is one of the most important features in the room. Ideally, its placement should be in a way that allows your bedroom and closet doors to open & close with ease, as also factor in the windows. Having the bed under a window may look visually appealing but may turn out to be uncomfortable during seasonal changes. Once the bed is done, start arranging everything by placing the next big piece followed by the smaller pieces. Furthers, an area rug may not constitute a furniture piece but is an important component when arranging your bedroom. One of the best ways of placing the rug would be under two-thirds of your bed to create an ample cushy area to step on when you get out of bed. And ensure you arrange all your existing pieces of furniture before you go and buy new ones!

Even though home décor in any room isn’t easy, decorating the kids’ room can be quite challenging as you need to keep in mind the growing phase of your child through the interiors and key furniture requirements. When I come to a room for children, less is usually more and by keeping minimal furnishing and simple décor you’ll be able to create more space for the kids to play and also give them a neutral backdrop that can be updated as the child outgrows one setting. Choose furniture that’s adaptable and in simple lines. For instance, a race car bed may be perfect for a 7-year-old but a teenager, it would need replacing. In that sense, oak wood or daybeds are ideal choices as they complement most colours and age groups. There should be ample space for the kids to move around, play, or store their stuff. In comparison to a toddler who needs more floor space for playtime, a teen would need more seating space for engaging with Friends.

To add fun elements in their room, you’d put a chalkboard wall or easy to update art gallery where you can display the kids’ artworks. Some other elements could be a bunk bed slide, rock climbing wall or ceiling suspended cargo net for playtime, inexpensive fairy light or glow in the dark ceiling stars for a bit of magic and imagination. You also allow the kids to have a say, give them the creativity and expression to choose their bedroom colour or furniture, something that reflects their personality. Also, you could enclose all clutter with hooks, under-the-bed storage crates, wall-hugging bookshelves or furniture with built-in storage.

An office-cum-study room should be an ideal space where one can focus on your task at hand. Irrespective of your budget or space, you can decorate this room to reflect your style. Whether you have a whole room or a tiny corner, a large closet or a small alcove, space would turn out to be more productive for the purpose it’s meant for rather than other things you end up doing in other spaces like a bedroom, dining or living room. Situate your workspace near a window if that’s possible as natural light will keep you attentive as also provide you with a view during breaks. Use partitions or curtain to separate the work/study space from the rest of the space if it is part of a larger room. A comfortable chair or couch opposite your work table will help you take a break or change to a different seating when you feel restless.

A chaise lounge will a throw and pillow/cushions will make for a great resting/reading space. It is wise to keep the design elements minimal that includes a plain work table or desk and an ergonomic but comfortable chair with ample storing space for your stationery and work supplies. For your books, folders and other things, pick a cabinet or bookshelf to house them, or better still make your own space with crates, screwing them together and use an L-Bracket to attach them to a wall.

Accent Furniture are those elements of home décor that stand out owing to the way they complement your room’s interiors and have much more value than just being functional. Their additional value include colours, definition and adding a bit of drama to an interior space. When choosing accent furniture it’d be good to indulge a bit depending on what you want and perhaps also explore thrift stores/flea markets for vintage pieces. The perfect place to use accent furniture is at the entrance primarily, for instance, a bombe chest or a painted/ornate chest will be ideal in varying shapes or vibrant colours. Further, small tables can also be used as accents with some interesting treatments, paints or décor. The best thing is that these tables can be used pretty much anywhere in the house. Furnish your home with imposing and large accent pieces like a china cabinet, an armoire or a large painted folding screen or if you have a busy room, then a plain accent with a noticeable colour that complements the room colour. Alternatively for mute coloured furniture, pick tall, imposing and ornate accents.

Chairs are often used as accents and work well with those that are made with strong constructs, incredible upholstery and visually appealing colours. Experiment with different styles like matching a modern chair with traditional furniture or vice versa. Whatever accents you pick to ensure you make the purchase considering it as an investment both from a style and fabric perspective and the fact that it will be a design statement for years to come.

Every home requires at least one bookcase if not more to display not only books but your beautiful memories in frames. To begin with measure space you plan to place your bookshelf/casein. You will need a tall bookcase for a lot of storage requirement or smaller ones if you don’t have much to store. With kids in the house, you may want to assess the purpose of the bookshelves, for if you’d like them to access the shelves then a short case would be suitable, else a taller bookcase may be ideal for placing special or fragile items out of their reach. You can also explore wall mounted bookshelves.

There are other options which are wider, with open or closed backs, cube bookcases, etc. Some bookcases are decorative in addition to being functional, they aren’t heavy and are made typically of thin frames, decorative touches and open shelves set in a unique pattern or interesting shapes. For décor that’s all wooden, you’d have a wooden bookcase, light or dark as per your desire with handcrafted shapes or scrolls or other desired detailing. There are glass and metal bookcases as well.

Outdoors space and patios are inviting especially during warm weather, adding not only to your overall space but also seeming perfect for a variety of exciting, relaxing and entertaining activities. Purchasing outdoor furniture is just as essential as buying indoor furniture with a few additional things to keep in mind. It is essential to factor in the weather before you invest in outdoor furniture to gauge if the weather is hot and humid or dry, rainy or not. Whilst hot and dry weather make the wood splinter and crack, strong winds can make the aluminium furniture fly away, while wicker will not survive exposure to moisture. Keeping mind the space availability and the kind of shape your outdoor space is in, with the dimensions of balcony or deck space, you can use the area and shape of your space to ascertain the size of your furniture. But be sure to ensure the traffic flow and ample walking space in between. Placing softwood on grass or an in the exposed area can rot the wood and metals to corrode. For too much sun, you can get umbrellas for shade as well.

Apart from space and weather conditions, comfort plays a significant role as well in the purchase of outdoor furniture. Ensure to buy premium quality outdoor fabrics that are mildew resistant, invest in cushions and pillows, and explore options like chaise lounges, rockers, recliners, hammocks and daybeds for variety and comfort both.

Shoe racks are equally essential as furniture items, ideal for built-in storage to keep your footwear together and safe. Commonly placed in the entry foyer, home closet or a vestibule, shoe racks not only prevent shoes clutters, but for cleanliness as well. Most shoe storage can be built in as shelves or wall units that are low to the ground for convenience, or from stacking crates/plywood screwed together as cubbies or shelves. Typically a 13” or 33cm shoe rack is ideal for most users and can be placed inside a closet or in the entryway for easy organization. For a large tiered rack, you can include some other personal items or décor elements on the rack’s top surface.

Home Décor is visually appealing but it is also why your house becomes Home. Furniture as an accessory makes your rooms unified and enjoy the amenities of a comfortable lifestyle. But besides buying new furniture, there are options like investing in second-hand furniture as well, which are not only easy on the pocket but can also bring your way good quality vintage furniture that would enhance the essence of the décor. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right kind of second-hand furniture.