Where to begin?

We have a closing date for the end of next month. We're moving from a very tiny one bedroom apartment to a much larger 3 bed, 2 full bath, den, LR, Kitchen, expanded ranch. We're leaving most of our stuff behind and buying new furniture (with the exceptions of a new pieces).

Where on earth do I begin!? People ask things like "What's your vision?" or "What's your style?" I'm not a very visual/artsy person so its difficult for me to have a real vision of what I want. I don't know what my style is....I feel so lost.

And so I'm looking toward LIF for advice (because you gals [and guys] always know what to do!)

Please let give me a starting point!!

Re: Where to begin?

I think when people are asking that they are asking your style. Do you like modern? Country? I think mine is cozy. We have neutral colored walls and comfy couches. You would seriously have no problem coming to my house, getting yourself a drink and plopping on the couch and putting your feet on the coffee table.

Re: Where to begin?

Posted by Cheeks24

I think when people are asking that they are asking your style. Do you like modern? Country? I think mine is cozy. We have neutral colored walls and comfy couches. You would seriously have no problem coming to my house, getting yourself a drink and plopping on the couch and putting your feet on the coffee table.

Re: Where to begin?

First off, congrats on your home purchase!!!




Secondly, don't worry.......just breathe. We've been in our home since March 2008 and are not even remotely finished with every room and we have a teeny, tiny 3-bedroom with only a living room (no den/dining room).

We have started to envision what we ultimately would like, but that all costs $$$$$ so we've just been doing a little at a time.

Outside of our bedroom set, most of the rest of our furniture is hand-me-downs or from Bob's.

We have pets and a toddler too so I don't want to spend a lot of money on good furniture just yet.

I think our living room is going to be the last room we do because we want to move around our front door and some windows.

DH also talked about having a professional designer/architect look at our kitchen to give us some ideas before we invest $$$ on that too.

DH is in construction, so he often gets ideas from some of his customers, and my mom also ordered me a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens which has a lot of ideas.

Most magazines have lots of cute ideas, btw ;).

Message edited 6/5/2011 4:44:30 PM.

Re: Where to begin?

I have same issue and I've been in my house for months now. My issue is that I like SO many styles. It was frustrating for a long time, because I struggled to define myself, decor-wise. Then I said, hell, why define myself?


I ended up doing a different style in each room.

Dining room is french country

Living room is Moroccan/zen

Ktchen is like...well, it's like being outside - nature inspired.

Master bedroom is old hollywood glam.


just start small by picking up a few items you are drawn too...and let each room speak to you. It wasn't until I was in my house and saw how much sunlight I got in there that I decided I wanted a feeling of an outdoor dining experience.

hope this helps somewhat, but I'm still at a loss myself!

Re: Where to begin?

I personally am not a fan of getting everything at once, or buying sets. I would get a bunch of home magazines and see what you like, then buy pieces as you see them. Auctions are a great source as well, especially if you can sand and paint.

Re: Where to begin?

Try to avoid getting things before you move into the house and live in it a little bit. What is in your head now might be different after you have lived there for even a few weeks.

Congrats

Re: Where to begin?

The first thing I would do is measure your space. Then I would go to a few stores:
ethan allen
macy's furniture store
pottery barn
crate and barrel
room and board (in NYC)
the place
raymore and flanigan
bob's
broyhill
thomasville
lazyboy
jennifer convertibles
ikea

Just look - get a feel for what is out there. See what appeals to you. Keep a note book and write down the item number, price, dimensions, colors. Take a camera and take photos of the stuff you like. Just go look. Don't purchase anything yet. Then from what you like, what you can afford and what will fit in your space you can begin to fill it up. Set a budget.

ETA: From there, look at magazines and figure out what you need.
I would get neutral big pieces. You can change accessories easily. Do a little at a time. I would get a sofa and kitchen table set first.

Message edited 6/5/2011 8:42:07 PM.

Re: Where to begin?

Start with a few pieces you like. Then go from there and you will soon find out your style.

You might like different things and you will eventually be able to coordinate them.

I'm in my house 8 years and we are far from done.

I don't think it will ever be done.

Re: Where to begin?

congrats!!!!
i would grab a few home magazines and start ripping pics of things you like out. print out pages of rooms you like from home websites like hgtv, martha stewart, tlc, etc. so you can get some ideas of where you want to go, and do 1 room at a time (go with the most important 1st- like your master bedroom, living room, main bathroom) then move on to guest bedrooms, other bathrooms, den, etc. kitchen is a major ordeal if you plan on renovating so figure out financially if that is something you need to do right away or if it can wait. painting, running electric and wiring, changing fixtures, putting up molding and all that is WAY easier in an empty room, so get that stuff done before you move any furniture in.

good luck!!

Re: Where to begin?

Maybe start with big furniture like sofa, dining room set and then work around that.

Re: Where to begin?

I agree with the suggestion of browsing in stores and looking at catalogs and online before you start purchasing items. You'll start to get a sense of what you like and don't like.

It also helps to start small -- get one piece of furniture, or one rug or window treatments or something, and then build off of it. I know decorators never start with wall color first, but in some of my rooms, I chose a paint color and then got the rugs, couches, etc. based on that. Whatever works!

Also, I moved from a one bedroom apartment in the city to my house, so it took some of the pressure off to make some of my old apartment furniture my "temporary" furniture. So my old dining area pieces went into my eat-in kitchen. My old living room couch and love seat became my temporary den furniture (and then went to the basement). But at least I didn't have empty rooms and it gave me time to decide what I wanted to invest in for more "permanent" furniture.

In a lot of rooms, it's best to go with neutral "big" pieces (couches, tables, etc.) that you can then change up or accent with throw pillows, accessories, etc.

Good luck and have fun with it!

Re: Where to begin?

Thank you everyone for the tips. It seems much less overwhelmining now.

I think I'm going to pick up some home magazines next time I'm at the store!

Re: Where to begin?

It is overwhelming but it will eventually all fall into place. Look at a few pictures online. Try the HGTV and DIY network websites. You might find some inspiration there. Or you can shop for furniture and see if you can visualize your furniture in a room, think of what color walls would go well with your furniture and go from there.

Re: Where to begin?

Having just move in, decorating takes a back seat right now. Getting used to home ownership and still unpacking. Who knew we had this much stuff.

Not every room is filled with furniture yet. But I've picked out some paint colors, a few things of art and candle sconces. But I'm definitely going to let the house evolve with time.

Re: Where to begin?

Watch HGTV alot! Also... don't rush to buy things you don't need right away... Try to take some stuff with you to give yourselves time to get used to living there and see what you want, where you want it... after living in a space and seeing it everyday you will get a better feel for what you want.
Go to furniture stores and look around and see what jumps out at you!