With the holidays fast approaching, now is a good time to do a room-by-room furniture inventory to find where a little sprucing up would make a big difference. It’s a novel way to experience your home as a guest.
Here’s how to start: Grab a notepad and pencil. Walk out of your front door. Now walk back in, pretending you’re a stranger, seeing each room for the first time. Go from room-to-room and do a complete scan — furniture, walls, windows, floors and ceilings. Take notes! You might come to the conclusion that the time has come to switch out the sofa or add a fresh new accent chair.
Furniture shopping can be a huge inspiration. Most furniture stores feature room galleries that help you understand how a designer-inspired seating area works. And many offer complimentary design consultations.
Don’t get discouraged! Even if you can’t redo an entire room, you can make a wish list and that alone is a good start.
I’m always amazed at how much pleasure I get from adding a new piece of art, moving furniture around or bringing something from one room to another. Recently, I replaced an worn old sofa in a sitting area of my home with a new L-shaped sofa. The new sofa has transformed that space into a place where many more people can gather comfortably. The previously under-used room is now a favorite spot to hang out.
Need some confidence to get started? SpaceWise’s 20 Tips for Buying New Furniture is a great resource. Starting with the importance of measuring space and doing a room mock-up, this handy article provides lots of furniture-buying and design advice that will make you feel like a pro.
On a tight budget? You can change things up by adding a fresh splash of color with a few new throw pillows on your sofa.
Beyond aesthetics, if you care what’s inside the products you bring into your home, consider whether your upholstered furniture (and mattresses) need replacing because they were made before many of today’s home furnishing certifications were available. Foam cushioning materials certified through the nonprofit CertiPUR-US® certification program, for instance, are your assurance that the foam inside is made without ozone depleters; formaldehyde; lead or heavy metals; PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP “Tris” flame retardants and other chemicals of concern. CertiPUR-US certified foam is also low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million).
Are you ready to do a furniture inventory in your home? Kick off the holiday season with a plan to refresh, repaint or replace for renewed pride in your living space.
