You have purchased your first home and the atmosphere around you is electric with excitement! Once the initial excitement dies down however, it is time for the real work to begin. Whether or not this is a new construction or a hundred year old fixer-upper, there are always little things that can be done to make this new place a true reflection of your individual style and personality.
The amount of work to be done will depend on what you have to work with but even a brand new construction can always use a personal touch. This can be done very simply by hanging pictures or by painting the walls, but you need to start somewhere.
The first step to making a house a home is deciding what you like and do not like about your new space. Once you have this figured out then starting to plan a consistent design for your new home will become much easier. The trick here is to pick an overall design for your home and to stick with it, while most homes today have a more eclectic feel, they do have one underlying design that the home owner has taken through out their space.
After you have picked your design and either purchased new furniture or brought in your own, it is just a matter of painting the walls in colors that meet your design's guidelines and placing some accessories around the rooms. While this is a very over simplified explanation of decorating your space, the trick is to find things that you like and make the space your own, and not a vision of a designer. Placing personal touches throughout your home gives it a warm and inviting feel where as a professional designer's finishing product can sometimes feel very generic.
It is always a good idea to cover any floor with a few area rugs. They add interest to a mostly forgotten area of the room. Rugs come in an almost unlimited amount of designs, sizes, and prices. The best ways to pick your perfect rug is to first stay within the guidelines of your overall design and then measure your room. If a rug is too big for the area it will look like a failed attempt to carpet the space, and if it is too small it will look out of place. Generally the rule of thumb is to have a rug that is large enough to place a few piece of furniture around the perimeter but still have plenty of space to see the flooring behind some of those pieces.
Making a new house a home is all about showcasing personal items such as pictures, souvenirs, and other things that fit your personality. Your home should be a reflection of you and not a reflection of a professional. While professionals are always a good place to get ideas from, they should be a starting point and not a finishing touch. Make your new space a reflection of you and you will enjoy it for many years to come.
By:Fran Sloan
