Maximize Your Budget With A High/Low Mix

There is a lot to be said for furnishing an entire room at once. A well-designed space comes together organically as you add layers, but thinking through the entire space before jumping into purchasing anything will always get you the ultimate end result. Designing an entire room at once also costs money, so let’s talk about where to splurge and save on any fresh furnishing projects throughout your home.

The Ultimate Splurge And Save Mix

A solid high/low mix is critical when it comes to furnishing an established feeling space. It is key to splurge on the more heavily visible and functional items throughout your home. Every splurge allows you to offset it with more opportunities to save. A single splurge can ramp up your space to the point that anywhere you save feels elevated by adjacency [kind of like surrounding yourself with people who make you a better you!].

Spending more than you may be totally used to spending on upholstered furnishings will ALWAYS pay for itself ten-fold with the longevity and comfort of the piece [think cushion fill and fabric when it comes to spending more for quality].

Scoring side tables at an estate sale, vintage shop, or even garage sale in the right scale to sit adjacent to your upholstered “splurge” is the perfect “save”! Occasional tables can always be layered with books, coasters, a lamp, or a tray to hide imperfections or even a finish that may not feel as perfect as it would have with another splurge.

The Key is To Get Creative With Your Saves

Textiles and larger furnishing pieces are always a place to splurge, especially if they will be heavily used in your room. The more visible and functional pieces, the more you will want to dedicate your budget, even if that means phasing in your final selections of furnishings, accessories, and artwork over time.

Smaller occasional pieces that are 1. less visible, 2. can be layered onto through styling, and 3. don’t get heavy traffic on the daily, are the perfect items to save on. If you are absolutely in love with a side table that you know would ramp up the aesthetic and function of your space, go for it, and save on something else to offset it where helpful [don’t forget about repurposing items you already have and you may not be giving enough attention to for this freshly designed space!].

The goal of any successful home project is to plan ahead with inspiration, planning, budgeting, and sourcing BEFORE you dive head-first first into purchasing. [If you need a FREE kick-start to motivate this thoughtful design process, join our MMDH Mood Board Method masterclass today!].

My TOP 3 Furnishing Splurges And Saves

Here is a quick bonus list of items to SPLURGE on when designing a full room:

1. Upholstered Pieces – performance fabrics on larger heavily used pieces [they’re softer + prettier than ever]; down-wrapped foam cushion fill instead of high-density foam only; solid frame warrantee.
2. The Larger Items – beyond your sofas 👆, dining tables, coffee tables, artwork, and open and closed storage pieces are worth the extra spend. These are the most visible furnishings that make the most impact on your overall design.
3. Window Treatments – any window treatment addition to a space is great; textiles add a next-level touch and will always make a room feel more complete. More window treatment tips HERE.

…and a quick, but major, list of items to SAVE on in your space:

1. Smaller Support Pieces – side tables, lamps, benches, ottomans, and accent chairs are the perfect pieces to hold tight on to help make your larger splurges possible.
2. Accessories & Styling Items – artwork prints, books, candlesticks/tapered candles, pillow covers [add a down fill insert and they are immediately elevated], throw blankets [fringe, texture, and tone on tone pattern ramp these up, even at the lowest price point!], and oversized baskets [again, an easy textural add that works towards aesthetic and function in ANY space!].
3. Rugs – I love a good one of a kind hand knotted Turkish rug, but we have a lot of floors to cover throughout a home. This is one larger item that I would rather you save on than any eye level piece of furniture. Chunky natural weave rugs can be purchased in any standard to oversized scale to ground your space, without the higher cost of a wool alternate. Flat weaves can also be a great way to add color, pattern, texture to your space, without the higher cost of a thick pile [I could go on for days on this topic… keep your eyes peeled for a future splurge and save rug specific post 😉].

NEED A KICK-START TO YOUR HOME DESIGN PROJECTS? 

If you are feeling inspired to get YOUR home design underway, be sure to check out our design guides. We currently have 3 freebie offers to meet you where you’re at. When you sign up for our freebies you will also be added to our weekly newsletter! I’m dishing all of my home design tips and tricks directly to your inbox to brighten up your week and inspire your home design journey.

xo,

If you‘re looking for more tips for your home design projects, check out these posts:

What Are The Key Factors To Consider When Buying Furniture?

4 Ways To Get Creative With Your Home Design Budget

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