Splurge on This, Save on That: Your Tips for Decorating on a Budget
Decorating on a budget requires careful planning to ensure you end up with the design of your dreams while staying within the right price range. Once you have decided on a budget for your project, it is time to choose how to spend it. Take a look at some tips for when you should splurge or save on a design element to help you plan your home décor on a budget.
Splurge
Investment Pieces:
This includes the larger, more important elements of a space, such as a sofa, bed frame or dining room table. You want these pieces to last for the long haul, so consider both the quality and the style. Consequently, your sofa, dining and bedroom sets are likely to be the most expensive furniture pieces in your home. When shopping for these investment pieces, be sure to look for features that are both functional and aesthetically appealing to help you get the most for your money.
Window Treatments:
Drapes, curtains and blinds have the potential to really draw a space together and round out a design. While some cheaper design elements generally blend in well within a space, cheap-looking window treatments tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Consider what you are looking for from your window treatments—privacy, style, light and more—to help you decide on the best option for your home.
Statement Pieces:
These are the design elements, such as a piece of art or unique chair, you simply cannot live without that really draw the space together. If you feel like having a certain statement piece for your home completes a design, it may be worth finding room in your budget for the splurge. After all, these pieces give your home personality.
Save
Rugs:
Deciding whether to splurge or save on a rug is a hotly contested topic. On one hand, you and your rug will face exposure to items like traffic and spills. On the other hand, you tend to get what you pay for as far as the quality of the piece is concerned. While a more expensive rug may be more durable, if the rug is exposed to a good deal of staining, grime or wear it may not be worth the investment.
If you absolutely fall in love with an expensive rug, find a way to allocate part of your splurge funds toward it. You should, however, keep in mind that you may be able to find another piece with a comparable look at a lower price point. It is important to still aim for quality, though, as rugs do need to withstand a good amount of wear over time.
Lighting:
When you want a light fixture to grab attention or heavily contribute to the overall design of a room, you may want to consider splurging a bit more. However, most general light fixtures can be purchased inexpensively to save you money and help keep you on track with your decorating budget.
Accessories:
This includes everything from the picture frames and trinkets decorating a side table to your favorite throw pillows.
Other good places to save money include end tables, side chairs and other more decorative furniture pieces that will sustain less wear than investment pieces.
Artwork:
Many home decor stores sell a variety of photography, artwork and other types of wall décor that can suit your style for a low price. However, as mentioned before, if you fall in love with a unique piece of art it can become a statement piece in your home décor. You also may consider paying more for a high-quality, artisan work.
Trends:
While a trendy piece of furniture may seem like the perfect new statement piece to splurge on, remember that trends are everchanging. They do not stick around forever, leaving you on the hunt for the next hottest piece to replace an outdated trend. Saving money on the trendier décor in your home will help reduce the overall cost of decorating as your tastes evolve alongside current trends.
Decorating on a budget does not have to be boring. Check out some of the stunning designs featured in Britton Homes’ gallery to help inspire your home décor project!