Five Mistakes People Make Decorating Their First Home

Getting the keys to your new place is a big moment in life. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement but before you dive headfirst into decorating, heed our warnings. These are five mistakes many people make when decorating… and what you should do instead.

Mistake – Not Measuring Everything

Unless you’re moving into a fully furnished place, you’ll likely either have some furniture you want to bring with you, or you’ll need to buy new furniture. Humans are notoriously bad at eyeballing measurements, and you might find you end up with a wardrobe that has only one accessible door or some cube storage that has fewer usable shelves than expected. Measure all the floor space in your rooms and measure any items you’re planning on bringing with you, so you know how it will all fit together. While you’re at it, don’t forget to measure the width and height of all doors (external and internal), as well as the width of any staircases and hallways… you don’t want to end up in a “pivot” situation!

Mistake – Furnishing Before You Finish Painting

Unless you want to invest in a lot of dust sheets, you shouldn’t move your good furniture into a room before you finish plastering and painting. That’s where a folding table comes in. Use it while you’re decorating and you’ll have somewhere to eat that you don’t need to worry about splattering with paint. When you’ve finished decorating, you can move other furniture in and store your folding table for future uses.

Mistake – Buying Storage Too Early

You might find a good deal on a bookcase or a wardrobe but then you find yourself unable to store all your clothes and books! This mistake can be exacerbated when you move in with a partner for the first time. Take stock of all the things you both own and pick storage that fits your belongings. Still moving in? You can hide piles of clutter behind a room divider.

Mistake – Not Considering Your Colour Scheme or Style

If you’ve rented, then there is a good chance you’ll move into your new place with a hodgepodge of mismatched furniture. That’s not a bad thing, but if you want to feel more stylish, you’ll need to start matching. Our cube storage units come in neutral black, white, and wood effect, while our fabric storage boxes are available in a wide range of colours.

Mistake – Rushing the Process

As long as you have somewhere to sleep, and somewhere to eat, everything else will fall into place. It’ll take some time, but you should enjoy the process, and use it as a chance to celebrate your achievements, rather than a project with an urgent deadline. Pop the kettle on and check out our Hartleys range of furniture that can make your plans a reality.