Decor Shopping 101

August 6, 2015

Blog

hey there, I'm BRITTNEY!

Categories

As the Owner & Chief Celebrations Officer at Warrenwood Manor, I'm here to tell love stories, drop wedding planning tips & share my journey as an entrepreneur and historic preservationist.

Wedding Inspiration

Wedding Planning

HAPPENINGS

Popular Posts

50+ Swoon-Worthy Mood Boards

The Perfect Guest List

30 Questions for Your Bartender

Decor Shopping

At Warrenwood Manor we are trying to find the balance between old southern charm and modern functionality.  The goal is to create a home where visitors feel comfortable.  To accomplish this look we shop all over the place for the perfect decor at a reasonable price.  We are still a work in progress; doing a little bit at a time, unless, of course, we happen to win the lottery.  In upcoming posts we will share with you some of our favorite places for furniture and decor shopping, but first here are some basic decorating and shopping tips.

  • First and foremost, set a budget.  Even if you have all the money in the world, there is no need to be extravagant.  A budget for the entire project as well as separate budgets for each section of the project is best so you can prioritize spending on key items that matter most to you.  Having an idea of what you plan to spend will help to determine where you should shop.
    We are starting to collect ideas on Pinterest for the renovation of our tiny cottage.

    We are starting to collect ideas on Pinterest for the renovation of our tiny cottage.

  • Use Pinterest to gather inspiring ideas, but be realistic and practical.  Yes, that $7,000 dining room table is gorgeous, but wouldn’t you rather have health insurance for the year.  Yes, a hanging bed in the center of the room looks cool, but just imagine your three-year-old demolishing the rest of your bedroom with just one swing.  Not practical.
  • Be able to describe the feel you want the room to have.  Do you want the room to feel comfortable or formal, feminine or masculine, calm or energetic.  Cater your colors, materials, style and texture accordingly.
  • To pull our Bridal Suite look together we brought in a rug from a different room in the house and recovered the settee.

    Try to work with what you already have before purchasing something new.  Consider painting, recovering and other alterations that update the look of old items.  This doesn’t always save money or time, but reworking a family heirloom or quality piece is usually worth it.  If you don’t want to keep what you have, try selling it so you can use the cash to buy new.  A yard sale is always an option, as well as selling online through Craigslist or one of these nine websites.

  • Make a list of everything you need.  The key word here is NEED.  I don’t know about you, but without a list I usually leave the store with a bunch of extra stuff, not what I really needed and no money.  OR I spend a ton of time shopping an get absolutely nothing other than frustrated.  Plus, I get lost and sidetracked easily, so I write a list to give myself direction.
  • The measuring tape is your friend.  Be sure to take the appropriate measurements before you leave home so you know what you’re looking for and while in the store so you don’t buy something that won’t work.  It may also help to take photos and sketch out the room and specific spaces you are shopping for so that you can visualize new items in their place.
  • Do your research in advance.  To save time and money, call ahead to stores to see what sales they are running.  Also, visit store websites prior to your visit to make a list of items that you want so that you can ask about them if you don’t see them.
  • Take your time.  Take snacks.  Decor shopping is hard.  You aren’t going to be able to get everything you want, in the exact shape, style, size and color at the first store.  You’re vision may change as you shop and that is okay.

Check back tomorrow for a post about decor and furniture shops in Central Kentucky.

Explore more categories:  HAPPENINGS

share this post:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hey there, I'm BRITTNEY!

Categories

As the Owner & Chief Celebrations Officer at Warrenwood Manor, I'm here to tell love stories, drop wedding planning tips & share my journey as an entrepreneur and historic preservationist.

Wedding Inspiration

Wedding Planning

HAPPENINGS

Popular Posts

50+ Swoon-Worthy Mood Boards

The Perfect Guest List

30 Questions for Your Bartender