Condo Decor

Buying your first home is an exciting time. Your thoughts in the early stages of the move are occupied with getting your things safely moved into your new place and equipping it with the things you need to get by, such as a microwave or a television. But once the dust has settled, your thoughts will turn to decorating. You want your new place to impress friends and reflect your personality. So where do you start? This article should help give you some ideas.

Whenever you have a blank canvas to work with, the first thing you should do is brainstorm what to put on it. Figure out what your preferences are. Do you like urban art or Chinese Imperial like that found on an Online Museum? Polynesian or cottage? Pastel colors or bright ones? Figure out which style will suit your budget, your living space, and your lifestyle. Remember: not all of your rooms have to be decorated in the same style, so you can take this opportunity to experiment with a few different things that you like.

Before jumping straight into the buying process, use a computer program, paint swatches, or magazine clippings to envision what pieces of furniture you will buy, what colors you will paint your walls, and whether you will go with framed art or lithographs for your walls. Imagine the room as it will be when it is completed and then envision yourself living in it on a daily basis. Is it easy or difficult? Soothing or annoying? If there are issues, adjust your plan accordingly. Many business offices will choose art that invokes a special feeling or to portray a belief they want to convey. See a perfect example here.

Once you've planned out what you want to do, it's time to get out there and start buying pieces. Comparison shopping will help you to save money on the project and there are plenty of websites out there that offer discounts on everything from prefabricated furniture to framed posters. If retail stores aren't giving you what you need, start visiting second hand stores and auctions - you never know what you might find. Sothebys.com is a very popular auction many buy art pieces from.

Anne Geddes pictures, for example, are easy enough to get home, but for larger pieces such as sofas, dining tables, beds, and major appliances, you will have to consider whether you will be able to get them into your condo or up a flight of stairs. Store delivery services may want extra money to deliver to a walkup and some pieces may be too large to fit in the elevator in your building, so try to aim for smaller, more flexible, or modular pieces that will be easier to get home.