Most of us want a home that looks great but we have limited funds to make it happen. With so many options for home furnishings available in every price range, it can be difficult to decide exactly where to spend your hard earned money. When I work with design clients I recommend devoting a bigger percent of their budget to the high-priority pieces that will get the most use. Here are three home décor items that are worth the investment. Sofa – For most of us the sofa is where we spend the majority of our waking hours at home. Considering it’s the most-used piece of furniture in the house, it’s worth splurging on the most expensive one you can afford. You get what you pay for with home furnishings, so a pricier couch will be better constructed and made from quality materials that will last. If you have an active family pay attention to fabric content and steer clear of natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or silk. Synthetics like polyester, acrylic, and nylon don’t absorb dirt or stains and will stay looking great longer. If you need serious stain protection, upgrade to an outdoor fabric like Sunbrella. Spending more today on a well-made sofa in a fabric that will wear well ultimately saves you money because you won’t have to replace it as quickly. Mattress – We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping, so a quality mattress that helps you get a good night’s sleep should be top priority. With the explosion of mattress companies online you can now purchase a decent one for a reasonable cost, but it’s still worth doing your research to get the best one you can afford. A good quality mattress will last up to ten years, so even if you paid $2,000 for it today it would only cost you 55 cents per night of use! That’s certainly an amount worth spending to sleep well for the next decade. Something you love – When you’re on a budget, decorative items like original artwork, a gorgeous area rug, or custom window treatments might seem frivolous. But our physical environment has a huge impact on our emotional state, so creating a home that makes you feel good should be high on your list. Surround yourself with things that reflect your personality and make you smile every time you look at them. Spending money on a statement piece for your home that you absolutely love is a worthwhile investment if it adds to your quality of life.
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Make it fab!
Carrie