It happens more often that you can imagine; homeowners who make a huge investment into purchasing a home and then skimp on furnishing it. Well let me back up. They are spending money on furnishings however; they are spending money without a real plan, and they are usually not very happy with the results. Their home tends to feel unfinished and lack cohesiveness.
What is the reason behind this? I’m sure most people know what they like and usually end up buying those things.
However, I think the key issue in understanding this is that most homeowners don’t consider the difference between spending money versus investing in your home.
Spending
Spending means that you are typically just “shopping” without any real plan. No space planning, no color scheme or style direction has been determined, no budget has been developed. You are simply impulse buying based on what you see while you are out, or shopping online on any given day. Typically these are items that retailers are showcasing based on the fact that they appeal to the masses, and obviously no thought is given to your unique needs.
This type of spending is “catalog decorating” which is buying trendy items that are just filling your space with no real thought or purpose.
Sure, the little knick knacks in Homegoods seem inexpensive, until you have a whole bunch of them sitting in a closet somewhere and you are unsure where and how to place them. Or that inexpensive chair may have seemed like a great buy until it starts to show age after only a year of use.
Spending money on items in the moment may make you feel as if you’re making progress. However; doing this often leads to a space that frustrates you and makes you unhappy. You’re really moving backwards in reality. You will quickly find that you have spent money on things that don't move you any closer to your goal of a beautiful and functional home.
Investing
Investing, on the other hand usually means that the items selected for your home are meant to bring value. The value can simply be that you get to enjoy the items as part of a well appointed space, or it could be the actual financial value because of the quality of the items.
Investing usually means that you or a decorating professional you are working with have carefully planned the space and curated all the items to fit just right. So the space feels great and functions well, and of course looks beautiful! Thought is given to scale, harmony, color, textures, balance, functionality, lifestyle needs and more.
Hiring a decorator seems like an expensive proposition initially. But working with a professional means you receive an entire, well-laid out plan upfront; including all the layers to make it beautiful and all the costs involved. You cannot compare that with buying in bits and pieces. Because buying in bits and pieces feels like you’re not spending a lot of money. However; when you add everything up over time, you soon realize you’ve spent more than you thought AND you’re not any closer to the look you truly desire.
With a decorator’s involvement in your investment; you can see the big picture from the start and you can even request revisions to the plan. Additionally, if you choose to execute that plan on your own, you can then purchase items as budget allows over time; but you have a plan. That is a much smarter investment into your home!
Another benefit to investing in your home is being able to enjoy things that are familiar to you everyday. No overuse of trends. Trends have a place, but only in small doses. A decorating professional will think way beyond the here and now, and truly take into account how you plan to live in the future.
At Decor By Demi, my goal is to curate a home that is authentic to you and tells YOUR story. One of my first goals is to start with things you already own. I love mixing antiques with new pieces. I also love incorporating bold color and patterns; I’m not afraid to take your space outside of the status quo of what everyone else is doing. Your home is for you and not everyone else; curating your idea of livable luxury is what I do best!
So before you think it is too expensive to hire a decorator, think about how you plan to spend whatever budget you have set aside for your project. Think about whether this is something you can afford to make a mistake on. Think about what it really costs to get a decorator involved versus going it alone.
If you are confident in your skills, go for it. If you are hesitant or feeling overwhelmed, contact me and let’s get started!
