Continued from How to decorate a home (Part 1: Inspiration)
Not all that is good is gold.
If you have an idea regarding the kind of materials and colours that appeal to you, it is time to go window shopping. Begin with a search for the largest objects while referring to your mood board. Beds, sofa sets, tables, chairs, and appliances tend to take up the most space – so having an idea of where these larger items should go, and how they could be arranged, will save you some time and effort when deciding on the function and layout of each room.
Larger pieces of furniture – such as the bed, dining table, entertainment console, coffee table, and sofa – take up the most space and should be positioned before accessories and other smaller objects.
Shop Around
You may be drawn to the enigmatic veins of authentic marble, but in addition to requiring skill to install, natural marbled stones are especially sought-after and may present some issues of cost and availability.
There are no unbreakable rules in art – but a balanced assembly of a few materials and colours is generally considered to be in good taste. You could seek out items to strictly match the elements on your mood board, or you could rely on it as a reference and allow yourself some room to deviate from the plan – either way, a little courage and open-mindedness would be helpful in overcoming any unforeseen issues with availability or price.
Calculate Costs
While authenticity may generally be preferred, reproductions of iconic or vintage designs are more accessible – enabling the presentation of treasured forms without breaking the bank. Designed by mrsiraphol / Freepik
It probably goes without saying that any limits on what can be done to your home’s décor would be determined by the available budget – which in turn would depend on whether your purchase decisions are swayed by affordability or authenticity. If authenticity is your priority, you should expect costs to run considerably higher than if you settled for affordable reproductions.
Compare Utility
The unusual side table by the armchair is an example of a piece of furniture filling multiple roles: as a piece of decoration, a lighting fixture, in addition to serving as a table surface. Designed by Kjpargeter / Freepik
A consideration that should go hand-in-hand with cost is the quality and utility of a particular item. Are you looking for something that will last years or decades? If you are assembling the décor of your own home, you may demand only the most durable materials of the highest quality for yourself – but you may also want to consider finding a practical balance between affordability and utility.
Determine Value
Clean lines and a neutral-toned background are two characteristics that make up the most common and versatile of modern decorative styles – a home decorated in such a style appeals to the widest possible range of personalities.
Once you have settled on the furnishings, appliances, and accessories to match your choice of materials and colours, you may want to consider the perceived value of your décor and how that would affect the value of your home. If your home is replete with fuzzy textiles and reflective metals, you’ve assembled a modern classical décor that would likely appeal to mature personalities – and if you’ve filled your home with symbolism that is only meaningful to you, then any improvements in value would only be meaningful to you.
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