Top Tips for First Time Buyers

Buying your first house can be as exciting as it is daunting, but none the less one of the most momentous events in anyone’s life! We know that half the battle can be figuring out what you even need for your home, never mind how much it will cost! So, we have put together some advice to help figure out the necessities for making your house a home.

Before you begin shopping have a browse to see what style and colour scheme you like; also think what will suit your property. If you spend time finetuning the best design for your home then you are less likely to change it soon after. Take the time to consider if you want your whole house to flow with one design concept or if you want to tackle each room separately. Ultimately deciding this early will make shopping much easier!

Styles Advice: Here are some styles for you to investigate, Minimalism, Mid-Century Modern, Maximalism, Scandinavian, Japandi, Industial, Art Deco, Country, Traditional, Bohemian, there are many many more. Once you’ve look though them see what best aligns with your style and start building an idea of colours, silhouettes and materials used to achieve these looks.

Having decided on your colour scheme focus your attention to the walls and decide on paper and paint options. It is sensible to do this before furnishing as it can be a messy process, and you do not want to stain or tarnish any new flooring or furniture you invest in!

Style Advice: When choosing wallpaper remember to keep in mind your paper choice will need to co-ordinate with the style of décor you desire. For instance, if you are choosing paper for a feature wall you must consider if the pattern/motif will be visible if you have a bed with a large head board, it is worth envisioning this before hanging it!

When you move in take a look at the flooring, more often than not the current floor covering is not what you would choose or has seen better days. If you have the budget to replace the carpets or flooring, we recommend this as it is likely that you will do it at some point anyway and what better time than when the house is empty! It costs more money to have fitters come in and move your furniture in order to fit your new flooring, which is time consuming and costly. So, while you may think it unnecessary to install your dream flooring when you initially move in, it can save you money in the long run.

Style Advice: Hardwood and Vinyl flooring are great for halls, kitchens and bathrooms where there are large amounts of traffic and are sleek and easier to keep clean. Whereas, carpets are ideal for bedrooms and living spaces where you can appreciate soft and luxurious floor coverings that give a warm and homely feel.

The fun part! If like us here at Gillies you appreciate all things interior design, choosing the furniture you want in your home is definitely the best part. For selecting furniture, it is wise to choose with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. Consider the wear and tear that your furniture will have to withstand and decide accordingly; If you have children or animals it is best to look for furniture that is stain-resistant or easy-to-clean. This does not mean you have to compromise on style, just that you may need to select an alternative material or colourway.

Style Advice: If you do have family in mind when shopping look for sofas, stool and dining chairs in leather or PU leather finished as these are easy clean and quick to wipe down. If you prefer the soft and cosy look but have to opt for more practical materials such as leather then add soft furnishings like textured cushions, blankets and fur throws, this will help create a homely ambiance.

When shopping for furniture we often recommend to our customers that laying newspapers down in the shape and dimensions of their chosen items will show them accurately how much space It will occupy. Rather than just measuring your space and jumping straight in to buying a sofa that you discover on delivery is too big or too small. Laying paper in the space will allow you to envision what other space you have around the items for other furniture e.g. side/coffee tables. This saves you having to search afterwards for awkward sizes of furniture to fit your around your suite as you didn’t anticipate the space it requires.

The final touches can make all the difference in transforming your house and creating the ambiance you want. Although we recommend you wait until you have the bigger items in place first, the smaller finishing touches are not always necessarily cheaper! It is easy to buy things as you see them but they may not actually fit or look right in your space. Moreover, moving in to your first house is an event to be celebrated and you might be lucky enough to receive house warming gifts. Wait until you’ve had a little bit of living in your home and see what you really need instead of impulsively going on a spending spree.

If you are seeking advice for furnishing your first house then a big congratulations and we hope that these tips help your furnishing process.

Oh, and a golden piece of advice, don’t forget to make sure your furniture fits in your house – as in through the doors! Seek advice from our staff if you are purchasing an item that you are worried about fitting in your new home, some items come in several sizes or break down smaller for delivery!