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Home Decor: Where to Splurge and Where to Save

Unless you have the advantage of working with an interior designer, it’s tough for many people to know what they should splurge on with their home decor, and where it’s safe to cut costs.  We break it down room by room to find out what can be purchased for less, and what you should be spending a little more on. Shower curtains versus faucets, duvets versus throw pillows, lighting versus love seats, read on to find out what to spend on, and where to save:

The Bedroom 
In general, be prepared to spend a lot on your bedroom.  Start with sourcing a good-quality mattress. Sleep is important, and you don’t want to compromise a good night’s rest for the sake of saving a few dollars. Plus you want your mattress to last. You also want to spend on your duvet cover and bedding. After all, your bed is the focal point of the room, so spending on good bedding will help keep the room looking current and polished. You should also spend more on dresser drawers, because they get lots of wear and tear.  You can save on extras like nightstands, reading lamps and decorative pillows. Rather than spending money on artwork, go with a beautiful headboard and stylish bedding instead.

The Kitchen and Dining Room 
There are a few areas to splash out on in the kitchen, but lots of opportunity to opt for more affordable items.   It’s a good idea to think about upgrading to stainless steel appliances, which look great and are a good idea for resale value. You also want to spend on faucets and taps and splurge on a beautiful countertop since that’s usually the first thing you see when you walk into the room. If you can, splurge on a good, functional dining table. It will likely get lots of use, and you want it to last. When it comes to kitchen cabinets, go simple and affordable. The visual impact can come from unique and eye-catching hardware and handles. Visit antique shops and even thrift stores to scout stylish, one-of-a-kind options. Save on chairs since you may want to change them after a few years, plus you need several of them, which can get expensive.

The Living Room 
The living room is where you spend a lot of time, between relaxing at home and entertaining. Larger items are worth splurging on here. Buying note: Fabric, foam and construction are what determine the quality. When you sit down, it shouldn’t feel like you are sinking endlessly into it. The sofa should have a little bit of give, but the shape should hold.  You definitely need to splurge on your sofa. It gets enough use that opting for quality will save you money in the end. There’s no point purchasing something just because it’s cheap and then having to replace it two years later. A good-quality sofa should last about 10 years. Spend a bit more on good lighting, which can do wonders to make a space look beautiful. We also suggest splurging on art, which will help tie the room together. You don’t need a lot- one nice piece of original art is often enough to make a statement.  Save on accents (pillows, rugs, carpet) and on carpets. Carpeting acts as more of a decorative item and is something you should feel you are free to change if the mood strikes.

The Bathroom 
It’s easy to create a chic, on-trend bathroom look by only spending on a few key items…and saving on everything else.  Spend on faucets and taps. Think of them as the accents of your wardrobe, like enhancing a simple black dress with great accessories (belt, beautiful necklace). Even a plain sink and vanity can be dressed up with stylish faucet and ultra-modern taps. Also invest in a nice showerhead that will last. Not only will your morning showers improve (big bonus), a quality showerhead is good for resale value. If you’re thinking of renovating your bathroom, a shower stall with beautiful tiling makes for a relaxing and spa-like setting.  Save on towels, shower curtains, toothbrush holders and other accessories you’re going to switch up more often.

The Foyer
The foyer or entrance way is the first impression people have of your home, which means you want it spend more to make sure it looks good. But that doesn’t mean spending a fortune all around.   A good place to start is to splurge on lighting. Think about pendant lighting, which hangs from the ceiling and adds both ambiance and architectural influence. You can also spend on one focal piece, such as bench seating that also works as storage or a beautiful antique side table.  An area you can save is with accessories such as mirrors, vases or small tables that can be purchased with less regard for cost.

Patio Perfection

Now that summer is in full swing, there’s no better way to enjoy it than by spending time outdoors with friends and family. Add good food and drinks to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a party! Since everyone wants to be outside, put some thought and effort into creating the perfect outdoor entertaining space for summer. And for Southern Californians, you’ll likely be able to enjoy it through October! Whether you’re working with acres or a small patio, some well-placed potted plants, an outdoor rug and matching patio furniture can make all the difference. The sooner you can get your yard in prime shape, the more likely you are to take advantage of the weather. If your patio looks warm and inviting all the time, then you’re ready to host friends without much notice. Simply opening a bottle of wine and turning on some music can make for an instant party. Here are our top tips for making your backyard bashes a success:

Pick the Perfect Spot 
Before you start purchasing new patio furniture, or arranging what you’ve already got, it’s important to be mindful of the type of space you’re working with. Look at your yard as a whole and determine the area that you’re more likely to do your entertaining in, then plan the rest of your yard around it. The spot you choose should be the area most conducive to entertaining. It’s important that the space be comfortable for guests, so you’ll want something that has shade, and has a fairly level ground so it’s easy to setup furniture on and easy for guests to walk on. Also make sure it’s not too far from your kitchen to allow for easy access when serving food/drinks. Access to outdoor power is also a plus. And don’t forget to consider the type of parties you want to host and create the spaces to accommodate them. Do you have film buff friends who you’d love to screen outdoor movies for? Or perhaps most of your friends have children, and you want to make sure the layout is kid-friendly. There are many ways to go, so don’t over-think it- just go with what suits you and your lifestyle. It’s that simple!

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Determine Your Layout 
One of the most important aspects of creating the ultimate outdoor entertaining space comes down to how things are arranged. It’s important to figure out the best layout for your parties and then repeat the setup every time you entertain. For example, knowing that your patio can hold one lounge area and a bar and still have a nice flow for guests to move around means that every time you can go back to that setup, regardless of the party style and know it will work well. Another thing to think about when looking at your layout is how to create ample seating for guests. Whether you’re doing a sit-down dinner at one long table, or casual dining with guests open to sit where they’d like, a place to sit makes for happy guests who will ultimately be more comfortable and stay longer. Fire pits are great ways to create fun conversation areas, and the heat the fire provides is always welcome when the night starts to get chilly.

Photo: Architectural Digest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Stay Neutral 
By keeping the overall look neutral you can easily incorporate elements of your party’s theme. Hosting a beach bash? Add pops of bright color with outdoor pillows and accents in fun hues or vases full of shells that can be removed once the party is over. Trends change and so do tastes and favorite colors and patterns, so it’s best to keep overall decor neutral. Since party themes are always changing, avoid decorating the yard in a way that’s too stylized. Stick with neutral colors and design so any party you might throw can easily work with what you already have in place. And if you’re not a theme person, don’t worry. The summer season is all about stylish simplicity and embracing the outdoors as a place to eat, drink and have fun.

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Photo: Pinterest

Eclectic Chic

The days of buying a complete matching furniture set are long gone.  A collected, eclectic look is the all the rage in design today.   Cultivating a personalized space with only pieces that you love is a natural way to express your individuality.  Compiling diverse furnishings, fabrics, finishes, and objects from any number of periods and countries, it’s possible to arrange a totally unique scene. Not bound by any rules, you’re free to include whatever you like.  Of course, in order to be successful, you’ll want to keep all the principles concerning form, scale, composition, and proportion in mind. But, the more original, the better. The only requisite is comfort.  Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re considering this look for your home:

Cover Your Basics
You’ll never appreciate a space if it doesn’t provide basics like comfortable seating and good lighting. Start with some pieces of furniture that you

love, stay away from anything too matchy-matchy, add several lighting sources and build from there.   To make sure the look you’re creating doesn’t lean towards messy, eliminating wallpaper and decorative finishes for a neutral palette is the safest route. Various styles mix peacefully when the background and furniture forms are simple.  If whites and creams don’t excite you, choose a more contemporary color like pale rust, straw, or smoke. Reasonable amounts of color or pattern (at the window, on a chair, etc) will help unite all of the elements.  For windows, stick to natural cottons or natural fibers blended with synthetics for greater durability. Simple roman or rattan shades are timeless and tasteful.

Supporting Cast
Once a comfortable sofa and chairs are in place, choose the supporting furnishings according to character.  A 19th-century Spanish table and a set of American Empire chairs may not be a team anyone would normally think of, but try pairing them together. There’s an old saying that says if you buy only what you love, somehow it will all work, and it’s true!  An eclectic room welcomes everything from the possessions you’ve inherited to vintage pieces you’ve collected. Assigning furnishings new roles is a wonderful way to include pieces you like in a small space. For example,  a pair of leather suitcases, one on top of the other, could double as a coffee table or a bedside table can make a nifty desk when you pull up a chair.

Balancing Act
A balancing, yin and yang approach takes well to a room such as the kitchen where you want the warm, welcoming aura of home with professional-style appliances.  An old farmhouse table would look great with new, modern metal chairs.  An eclectic style also works well in the bath where a vintage medicine cabinet can live in harmony with a modern lighting fixture.  In the bedroom, stand a lucite lamp on an antique desk.  Forget the notion that everything needs to match and have fun experimenting!   Jackie Kennedy’s fashion advice to women was always to remove one thing from an outfit before going out. If you’re worried you’ve gone overboard, do the same with your room.  You might be amazed at the difference.

Repurpose Your Dining Room…For Your Family’s Purposes

If you don’t use a room for its original function, why not consider transforming it to serve a better purpose?  This concept has become more popular than ever with the formal dining room. Think about your own home. When was the last time you used your formal dining room for a dinner?  If you’re a dinner party host or hostess extraordinaire, this idea would not be for you.  For others, it still may take some time getting used to thinking outside the box.  In the end, the builder’s floor plan may designate the room for dining, but it’s up to you to assign a use for the space based on how your family lives.

The most common repurposing of a dining room is as an office, a library or a secondary living space. If you’ve thought to yourself how nice it would be to have one of these spaces, and you don’t really use your formal dining room anyway, here are some steps you can take to ensure the newly repurposed room becomes a showcase and doesn’t look like an afterthought.

Decide on the New Purpose
Carefully consider the way you live in your home and use the current rooms. Do you need a home office or a workspace? Are you lacking a great place to store your extensive collection of books, or have you always wanted a piano but just didn’t have room for it? Now think about that underused dining room. Will that space work for what you have in mind?
 
Consider Structural Changes
As always, the function of the room determines what you need in the space, so think about use and plan ahead accordingly. For example, storage is a big one.  If you’re designing a library or home office, you may want to work with a cabinet maker to build bookcases or a desk storage system.  You also need to think about lighting and electricity.  Consider the layout of the new room and ensure that you have the proper type of lighting and access to power outlets in the right locations. And of course privacy is an important factor.   If you’re creating a home office for your business, do you need doors for additional privacy?
 
Layer Decorative Elements 
This is the part where you get to really have fun and infuse personality into your new space. Furniture, wall treatments (paint or otherwise), decorative lighting and window treatments all come into play to create the perfect environment.  Consider how the look and feel of the room will coordinate with the nearby rooms.  Select fabrics and colors that work with the overall decorative scheme of your home.  Also, make the space functional with the correct layout and furniture plan. For instance, if you’re creating a movie room, how many seats will you need for your family and additional guests?  And lastly, what other decorative elements will complete the look? You might want additional lighting or artwork. Because the room has special meaning to you since you’re creating it from something else, don’t hold back on doing what you want.

Tips for Small Spaces: A Decorating Guide to Help You Live Large Even if Your Space is Small

When you’re dealing with a small space, you’ll undoubtedly have to make some compromises in your decorating, get organized, and make some adjustments to your lifestyle in order to make everything fit and not feel cramped.   There are quite a few can decorating changes that you can apply to make your space look and feel larger without moving any walls! With the right color, furniture arrangement, and lighting, your space won’t feel so cramped.  Here are some things you can do to make a small space feel larger, even if the floor space stays the same:

Clear Out the Clutter
People put too much in their small spaces…leave some air.  I recently saw a house in Lido that was staged and looked great.  The reason why model homes are so appealing to people is that they are staged and not crammed full of unnecessary “stuff.”  There’s nothing that makes a small space feel more cramped than having too much stuff. Work out ways to get collections out of view, organized behind doors or on shelves. Simplify!  With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.

Make Way!
With furniture and accessories blocking the view into a room and out to open spaces, a room will look cramped. By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you’ll open up the space and make it feel larger. You can also choose short pieces of furniture like an ottoman, an armless, open chair, or a low table, and place large, tall pieces along a wall rather than out in the open space. If you can see the floor, the room will look larger.

Storage, storage, storage!
You absolutely must think about how you’re going to store your stuff.  Having a strong organizational aspect in small spaces is crucial.  Think about things that you need access to on a regular basis and figure out ways to tuck them away where they’ll be out of sight, but easily accessible.  Using a large ottoman as a cocktail table that you can also store stuff inside is a great idea.  Pottery Barn has a lot of great tips on this subject if you need some ideas and inspiration.

Use a Monochromatic Color Scheme
Color is sort of like clothing.  If you wear one color on the top and bottom it can make you look taller or thinner.  It’s the same with small spaces.  If you go with a uniform color pallet it will open up a room like magic.  For the strongest effect, choose soft and light hues.  Whereas dark, warm colors make a space feel cozy and intimate, light, cool colors make a space feel open and airy.   If you’re not ready to re-paint, instead of a color change, do textural changes.  Choose colors that are in the same color family and use tone-on-tone woven upholstery fabrics, textured wall finishes and delicate tonal drapery fabrics. Cool colors and delicate warm colors on most surfaces will give the room a more open look.

Let in the Light
Any room will look larger if it’s well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting. Get rid of heavy draperies and open up the windows to let the light of the outdoors into the space. Add more lamps or install track lighting or recessed lighting.

Reflective Surfaces
You might not like the look of a mirrored wall, but you have to admit that it always makes a room look larger. Instead, use a large framed mirror on a wall or stand an over-sized framed mirror against a wall. You’ll get the same room-enlarging effect as a mirrored wall, but with more style. The space and the light will be reflected for a more open feeling.  Top a coffee table or side table with a piece of beveled plate mirror or have a chest of drawers or bureau covered with custom-cut and installed mirrors.

By following some of these simple rules about decorating a small space, your home will feel comfortable, not cramped.