By JACLYN JOSLIN
It’s only natural working in a furniture store that you help many people who are moving into a new home.Over the years I have helped young couples furnish their new dwelling. Many real estate agents see first-time homebuyers as a stabilizing element for the market over the years to come, given the number of young people who will be of age to consider buying versus renting.Many of the young clients I have helped will work on their home over time and purchase furniture pieces as their budget allows. They view their furniture as part of the investment in the home and want to decorate with pieces that will last a long time while being stylish, modern and comfortable.
It is quite a treat to help people with this perspective because it falls in line with how I think decorating should be done: thoughtfully, while investing in beautiful, quality pieces instead of cheap quick purchases that only last a year or so and whose style or looks tire quickly. I also have been able to form relationships with clients who shop this way and have witnessed a few of them grow their family.
Although the real estate market still seems a bit unstable, I recently read a report stating that home values have stopped declining. Still, some report that the majority of homes are still not selling above what the seller paid or put into the home.
Regardless of reports and to prove both arguments, there is evidence that people are still buying. I have asked a few clients who happen to be first-time buyers about their experience. Many talk of not budgeting for the things they never needed before in their smaller apartment or loft: yard tools such as lawn mowers, garden hoses and sprinklers as well as the time and money spent on maintaining the home. Cleaning the gutters and maintaining the roof and exterior paint job are other important expenses to consider.
When it comes to the furniture, most people realize they don’t have enough to fill their new home. What they might not realize is how much it will actually cost to do so. One real estate agent advised me that the worst thing you could do to your credit before getting a loan to purchase a home is to open up a line of credit at a big-box retailer. The best approach is to save your money and do your research. Figure out what key pieces you will need and make a spreadsheet of the actual estimated costs. Be realistic and call around to get pricing. I do not recommend buying furniture online unless you have seen a representation of its quality in person.
Prioritize the list: Most people will want living room furniture first and then will work on areas such as a formal dining room or bedrooms and offices.
When it comes to the interior finishes, how much work will you want to put into making it your own? New paint, flooring, countertops, cabinets? In the home pictured, the homeowners wanted to keep the majority of flooring on the first level but replace the old and dated carpet in the hallways and bedrooms. All of the walls and ceilings got a fresh coat of paint.
In the kitchen, new appliances were necessary, which can be a big expense. To save money elsewhere we had a rich, dimensional paint finish applied to the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and replaced the hardware — they look like new. Concrete countertops are reasonably priced and durable, and they can be stained in a variety of colors. They also add a sense of modernity. Another inexpensive trick to updating a kitchen is replacing the backsplash. Here we used a vibrant green subway tile with a subtle crackle finish.
Buying a new home is an exciting endeavor. It can also be stressful and full of lessons. Do your research before buying to avoid big surprises in costs. Save as much money as possible to aid in furnishing the new space, and make your purchases over time. You will appreciate each piece more when you know you waited to buy the right thing. It also will create an eclectic mix of items you love instead of having a home full of lackluster matching sets with which you have no connection.
Although the real estate market still seems a bit unstable, I recently read a report stating that home values have stopped declining. Still, some report that the majority of homes are still not selling above what the seller paid or put into the home.
Regardless of reports and to prove both arguments, there is evidence that people are still buying. I have asked a few clients who happen to be first-time buyers about their experience. Many talk of not budgeting for the things they never needed before in their smaller apartment or loft: yard tools such as lawn mowers, garden hoses and sprinklers as well as the time and money spent on maintaining the home. Cleaning the gutters and maintaining the roof and exterior paint job are other important expenses to consider.
When it comes to the furniture, most people realize they don’t have enough to fill their new home. What they might not realize is how much it will actually cost to do so. One real estate agent advised me that the worst thing you could do to your credit before getting a loan to purchase a home is to open up a line of credit at a big-box retailer. The best approach is to save your money and do your research. Figure out what key pieces you will need and make a spreadsheet of the actual estimated costs. Be realistic and call around to get pricing. I do not recommend buying furniture online unless you have seen a representation of its quality in person.
Prioritize the list: Most people will want living room furniture first and then will work on areas such as a formal dining room or bedrooms and offices.
When it comes to the interior finishes, how much work will you want to put into making it your own? New paint, flooring, countertops, cabinets? In the home pictured, the homeowners wanted to keep the majority of flooring on the first level but replace the old and dated carpet in the hallways and bedrooms. All of the walls and ceilings got a fresh coat of paint.
In the kitchen, new appliances were necessary, which can be a big expense. To save money elsewhere we had a rich, dimensional paint finish applied to the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and replaced the hardware — they look like new. Concrete countertops are reasonably priced and durable, and they can be stained in a variety of colors. They also add a sense of modernity. Another inexpensive trick to updating a kitchen is replacing the backsplash. Here we used a vibrant green subway tile with a subtle crackle finish.
Buying a new home is an exciting endeavor. It can also be stressful and full of lessons. Do your research before buying to avoid big surprises in costs. Save as much money as possible to aid in furnishing the new space, and make your purchases over time. You will appreciate each piece more when you know you waited to buy the right thing. It also will create an eclectic mix of items you love instead of having a home full of lackluster matching sets with which you have no connection.
Reach Jaclyn Joslin, interior designer and owner of Urban Dwellings Design in the River Market, 412 Delaware St., at info@urbandwellingsdesign.com.
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