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732-748-1200

Call Us Now! 24/7

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How to Decorate Your New Home Like a Pro

Moving into a new home is exciting. The empty rooms and bare walls hold endless possibilities. Every room is a blank slate, which is exciting if you’re creative and have a flair for design. But the myriad of possibilities of furniture configurations; wall color and artwork; window treatments and home décor can also be overwhelming to say the least.

Some people who move into a new home want to make use of as much furniture and décor from their old home as possible. They search for ways to make old beloved home furnishings, artwork and other decorative items work in their new living space. Others prefer to start anew, selecting new furniture and décor to bring their new home to life. Whichever camp you fall into, if you’re moving into a new house, you want to use decorative flair to make it a place you’re proud to call home. If you’re like most people and are not able to hire a renowned interior designer, don’t fret. Below are some tips to help you decorate your new home like a pro!

Use Your Measuring Tape!

Knowing the dimensions of each room in your new home is important and will influence a lot of decorating decisions. Measurements like ceiling heights, window sizes, wall measurements, counter lengths, and fireplace dimensions can help you decide on everything from curtains to art to furniture. Accurate measurements will inform which furniture and decorative pieces will and will not work in your new living space. Movers at All Jersey Moving & Storage know from experience how important it is to measure entryways, doorways, ceiling heights and more to ensure pieces of furniture can be moved to their intended destinations! The last thing you want is to hire movers to transport a piece of furniture only to discover it won’t even fit through the door.

Get Inspired

A new home is like a blank slate, which can be incredibly exciting. There are plenty of ways to find inspiration, from taking note of what you like (or dislike!) when visiting friends’ homes to creating Pinterest boards and gathering magazine clippings from lifestyle magazines. The next step is to review the images and ideas that inspired you and begin to narrow down your choices. Nix ideas that you don’t absolutely love, can’t afford or simply aren’t suitable for your new living space.  

Familiarize Yourself with Decorative Styles

Before you dive into decorating your new home, learn about different decorative styles. Doing so will help give you clarity and direction as you pull different decorative elements together to create a cohesive look. Those who are attracted to functionality and a minimalist approach to styling may opt for modern décor, while those who appreciate the latest trends may be drawn to more contemporary décor. There are countless styles to choose from.

Create a Cohesive Plan

Once you’ve gotten inspired, it’s time to put a cohesive plan in place. Consider how long it will take to decorate. Will you be living in the home as you decorate or decorating before you move in? Some tasks will need to be completed before moving in, such as major paint jobs and floor renovations. Which rooms will you tackle first? If you’re ordering new furniture and other decorative items, how long will it take for them to arrive? Having a concrete step-by-step plan and time frame in place will help keep the decorating process from becoming overwhelming and unmanageable.

Find the Focal Point of Each Room

Think about what catches your eye when you enter a room for the first time. The focal point of a room may be a fireplace, a large window or an accent wall. These architectural elements are the star of the room and draw your attention when you walk through the door. Use these elements as an anchor around which you build the rest of your design. In rooms without a focal point, consider how you can use a beautiful mirror, striking piece of art, or contrasting paint color to act as a focal starting point for your décor scheme.

Work from Big to Small

Similar to how architectural focal points work, large pieces of furniture are most likely to be the key decorative pieces in each room in your new home. These pieces will be the items that influence the other design elements in the room. Whether you’re purchasing new furnishings or bringing furniture from your old home along with you, having these items in place will pull the room together as you add other decorative features and finishing touches to the design.

You Don’t Have to Replace All Your Furniture!

If budget permits, replacing your home furnishings is certainly an option. But it is possible to decorate your home beautifully and even shift to a different décor aesthetic from your previous home without purchasing all new furniture. Blending old and new furniture and decorative pieces will allow you to create an attractive look without breaking the bank. You can utilize classic furniture pieces that you don’t wish to or you can’t afford to replace, and blend them with new pieces that appeal to you.

Go Neutral!

Neutral colors are the perfect foundation for a multitude of accent colors and different styles. Using greys and beiges throughout the home will create continuity, minimize jarring transitions and, perhaps most importantly, make small rooms appear and feel larger. Using neutral colors will also give you the flexibility to switch out furnishings and accessories more easily in the future when you wish to update your décor.

Begin by Creating a Floor Plan

One of the most critical steps of decorating your new home is creating a floor plan. You need to select furniture that fits the space. It’s important to measure the dimensions of each room. Carefully measure your furniture and consider if each piece comfortably fits the space. Professional decorators use software to map out the layout of each room, but even rudimentary sketches detailing measurements are important tools that will guide your decorating choices. Use your floorplan to experiment with the placement of furniture. Doing so will allow you to make the most effective use of space and make smaller rooms feel more spacious.

Pay Attention to Lighting

Lighting plays an important role and can alter the appearance of a room. Consider what ambiance different types of light provide and how to utilize lighting to highlight each room’s best features. Most rooms require illumination from ceiling fixtures, task lighting in some areas, and decorative lighting such as lamps or wall lights. It’s also important to capitalize on natural lighting in rooms with windows by strategically placing your furniture and selecting appropriate window treatments.

Accessorize!

Use decorative accessories like artwork, rugs, pillows, lamps and more to infuse each room with personality. Accessories are a great opportunity to play with colors and textures that may be too bold for larger areas and staple pieces of furniture. The beauty of accessories is that you can continue to add them over time and swap them out when you tire of them.

Personalize Your Living Spaces

One of the ways to add warmth to a room is to integrate personal items that hold sentimental value. Photos of family and friends are an excellent way to personalize your living space. You can also add character to your living space by displaying keepsakes from your travels. Use your walls and shelves to tell your story and reflect who you are, and visitors will be drawn in.

Tips for Designing Each Room in Your New Home

Each room in your new home has a different function. Once you’ve chosen your style inspiration, the next step is to consider how to use different pieces of furniture and decorative items in each room to bring your desired style to life.

Bedroom

Because beds are a natural focal point, consider utilizing large or ornate headboards to make an impact. You can also add drama to your bedroom by painting an accent wall using a contrasting color or using decorative pieces made of natural materials such as stone or wood. Add vibrance and visual impact to your room with eye catching artwork. Once you’ve established the focal point of the room, use a variety of accessories such as lamps, pillows, throws, art, etc. to complete the look.

Kitchen

While creating a functional workspace in your kitchen is important, that doesn’t mean your kitchen can’t be beautiful. Don’t shy away from hanging art in your kitchen and using other decorating items such as a bowl of lemons or small plants. If an expensive kitchen renovation isn’t in the cards, consider small DIY projects that can enhance your kitchen’s appearance, such as changing a light fixture and replacing worn out bar stools. When possible, invest in storage solutions to maximize your storage so you can keep countertops clear of clutter.

Living Room

Living rooms are generally a major focal point of the home and set the tone for the remainder of the home. True to its name, the living room is a place you should want to be! Draw on the style you’ve chosen for inspiration and let it inform your decorative choices. While neutrals can give the feel of a larger more open space, don’t be afraid to be bold. You can play with color and texture in a variety of ways, from area rugs and window treatments to decorative pieces and wall art.  

Bathroom

While bathrooms are amongst the smaller rooms in most homes, they get a lot of traffic. Invest time in creating bathrooms that are not only functional, but attractive as well. Today, bathrooms are more luxurious and inviting than ever before. Add decorative elements to your bathroom that will match the style you’ve chosen for the rest of your home. Using light colors and mirrors will help small bathrooms appear more spacious.

Dining Room

Your dining room should be a space where you and your loved ones are drawn to gather and relax. Whereas a kitchen’s design is driven by efficiency because it is a workspace; a dining room is a gathering place that should be visually interesting and dynamic. One way to create visual appeal in your dining room is to find a great rug in an interesting pattern or bold color for under the dining room table. A beautiful light fixture, artwork, and other decorative items can be used to complete a cohesive look in the room.

Moving to a New Home?

If you are moving to a new home, you deserve peace of mind that the moving process will not result in damage to your furniture, belongings or your home itself. Professional movers at All Jersey Moving & Storage have the equipment and extensive experience necessary to ensure your belongings are well protected during the move. Additionally, they move with care to ensure damage is not sustained to your walls, floors, stairwells, or entryways on moving day. Knowing that your move is being executed by a team of seasoned professionals will allow you to focus on unpacking, decorating and getting settled in your beautiful new home.

All Jersey Moving & Storage also has a secure containerized storage facility in New Jersey which you can utilize if you require temporary (or longer term) storage while renovating and decorating your new home.

Call All Jersey Moving & Storage today for a complimentary moving quote.