How to Mindfully Invest in Home Furnishings Without Blowing Your Budget
Faith Led Interior Design Show | Episode 21
The difference between a great interior design and just going out and buying furnishings willy-nilly is the Design Plan. But how do you plan for furnishings? Where should you spend the money, and where can you save it?
The furnishings in your home can either add value to your home investment or diminish it. In today’s episode, I am sharing the 3 ways to strategically invest in your home furnishings. So if you are planning to purchase home furnishings, this episode is a must-listen.
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Be Blessed Verse
Our verse for the week is The Proverbs 31 Woman: She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard.
This is just a portion of the chapter but what I thought was wonderful for this week’s episode is that we are talking about how to mindfully invest in Home Furnishings.
The Proverbs 31 woman mindfully considers a field, and she buys it. I love the mindful work that this woman, a Godly example, sets for us.
As I said earlier, the furnishings in your home can either add value to your home investment or diminish it. So, I pray that your home furnishings decisions add value and enjoyment to your household.
How to Mindfully Invest in Home Furnishings Without Blowing Your Budget
You are excited to work with an interior designer for the first time, but you have questions.
Hiring your first designer can be a bit scary! The most common questions I get are around a project’s budget because most people are unsure of the cost. That’s completely normal. Without guidance, it is hard to determine the cost of your furnishings (especially if you don’t know if you’re paying too much or too little) and you can go over budget quickly.
The last thing you want is this project spiraling out of control financially. Instead, you would love to stay close to your budget and invest in furnishings that will look good and last for years.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
3 Ways to Strategically Invest in Your Home Furnishings
1. Splurge on Your “High-Traffic” Items
A good place to invest is in any weight-bearing, high-traffic, or daily use items.
Also, another thought is “first impressions”. Imagine coming into a home and it is just okay. But as you go through the home you come to a WoW kitchen. That may be enough to make you forget the entry, but what if the entry into the home was WoW too? That is much more effective. The first impression is extremely important.
So, many times it is wise to spend money on the first things you see when you come into your home. To be sure it does not have to be everything, but that special piece of furniture, that awesome sculpture, a great focal point fireplace wall that you see when you first come in, that wonderful entry chandelier.
And then as you walk into the living area. Some items can really be seen first and are important to be wonderful looking. Like the family sofa, these items will be used for years, so choosing high-quality pieces that won’t end up with a warped frame will save you money in the long run. You get what you pay for on these items, so spend wisely!
Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash
2. Spend Extra on Showstopping Details
As an interior designer, it is my job to allocate a substantial portion of the budget to statement elements that pull the whole design together. When specific items are showstoppers, they look expensive, and your guests assume that all of it is expensive and tasteful. However, this isn’t always the case!
Everything does not have to be expensive.
The trick is knowing which showstoppers to splurge on, like first impression items. This might include dining chairs, bar stools, sofas, and area rugs. It could also include beautiful accessories, lighting, kitchen and bath fixtures, artwork, tile accents, etc. It probably won’t be all of these items at the same time, but selecting a few to command attention and bring the design together is always worth the splurge.
3. Save Money on Everything Else
You can save money on practically everything that is not in the above two categories. However, there is a delicate balance because you should still purchase fixtures and finishes that will last without needing to buy top-of-the-line items.
Designers (like me!) are well-versed in what is available on the market (which is constantly changing). We are in tune with the market daily. We also know who has the best designer looks, best quality items, and the best prices.
My process for establishing a budget for your interior design project is simply to ask you what your budget is and approach the project accordingly, balancing here and there to get you the look, feel, and function you need. My goal is to make sure that you spend your money effectively and impressively. For me, it’s all about ensuring that you achieve the dream home you are envisioning!
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The Conclusion
As our verse for this week says, I pray that the Lord is with you, delighting and rejoicing over you with singing this week and I pray for your home purchases to add value to your home.
What’s Next For You?
In the next episode, I will talk about How to Thrive While Living Through A Dusty and Chaotic Home Renovation.
I will have my first guest, Patricia Kennedy, and she will talk about her Lake Tahoe, CA kitchen renovation. You will learn how she and John made it through the storm and how they worked with a local kitchen company to install their beautiful Lake Tahoe Kitchen.
