Collaborative Post
When you’re looking for new furniture in your home (or even if you’re just browsing an interiors store) it can be difficult to tear yourself away from stylish pieces that aren’t going to serve the right purpose in your home.
From those gorgeous glass tables that you know will never be clear of kids’ fingerprints to crisp white bedding that you know won’t stay white for long, there are so many interior design pieces that boast plenty of style but zero practicality.
So how do you find pieces for your home that will add to the overall scheme while keeping things functional?
Here’s what I’ve found:
Know What You Need Before You Go Shopping
If you have a clear shopping list in place before you head out of the door, it’ll be more difficult for you to buy things on impulse.
For example, if you know you need some extra storage space in your living room, you’ll be less inclined to buy a sleek piece of furniture that’s going to look good but won’t provide the storage space you need.
It’s also a good idea to get thorough measurements, too, so when you’re visiting furniture stores you can easily measure the pieces to make sure they’re right for the space you have.
Look for Things that Serve More than One Purpose
If you want to be incredibly savvy with your next furniture purchase, consider how you can combine multiple purposes within one piece.
For example, display cabinets are perfect for all those bits and bobs you’ve collected over the years. They offer the perfect storage space that keeps everything on show but out of reach of little fingers, and they provide great surface space for further picture frames, lamps and so on.
Equally, a bookcase may hold all of the family’s books but you can also utilise it as a space for other accessories, storage and so on.
Stuck for ideas?
Then you’ll always find great storage ideas on Pinterest!
Treat Yourself to the Odd Impulse Buy
Now that you’ve been uber-practical with your furniture buying, it’s time to let yourself go with one or two impulse buys. These could be on-trend accessories that’ll bring your room to life or throws and cushions that add a gorgeous twist to the practical sofa bed you’ve just bought.
Ultimately, if you can be practical with those larger items of furniture, you can get creative with smaller items and accessories that allow you to build layers of design within your home. And these pieces will often boast a more timeless quality that sees them withstanding various trends and fashions – trends and fashions you can adhere to with those smaller, impulsive purchases you just can’t resist!
Dominique Jubien-Rickman says
Hello from rainy Hampshire GGGRRR.
Oh yes, crisp white bedding does sound so idyllic and very tempting but with our 2 dogs sleeping on the bed, that’s a big no-no here!
Your advice about measuring before you set off is really vital and I also often have a tape measure in my handbag (… but as I am ‘dyslexic with figures’, it means that whatever measurement I would have written down will be wrong most of the time… and no, I’m not a silly frog, just can’t register figures properly).
I love-love-love Home Interior shops but I also love to be different. Some of my favourite items at home are things I have made including lots of mirrors made of recycled cardboard and even a fab coffee table made with an old small barn door with recesses holding lots of my little ‘treasures’, topped with a pane of glass plus chunky cardboard legs which I have re-painted or re-papered several times when I changed colour scheme.
And, as you rightly say, it’s nice to get creative with smaller items and you’re spot-on to encourage the odd impulse buy. Nice blog (as usual) and it’s made me want to go shopping! xx
Madison Lane says
Incredible tips! This will definitely help next time when I fix things at the house. Thanks!