Personalising your first home can be both exciting and daunting. How do you know where to start? We sat down with interior design expert Steve Hird from Edward Thomas Interiors to seek his advice on scrolling socials, styling and shopping…
- Before moving in, what do you recommend first time buyers do from an interior design perspective? Start scrolling social media. Instagram and TikTok are great resources for trends, and you can find plenty of home bloggers documenting their interior design journeys. Similarly, start following designers and companies with products you admire so you can start collating a mood board of furniture, fabrics and accessories – you can do this on Pinterest or in a scrapbook!
- Conversely, is there anything you would recommend first time buyers shouldn’t do before moving? Don’t panic buy! Just because there’s a sofa sale or half price piece of furniture doesn’t mean you should go for it. Take your time, if you have the chance of a walkthrough at the property then take measurements, otherwise wait until you’ve moved in and can get a feel for the space and how you use it. Start by gathering essentials like utensils, crockery, cutlery, bed linen and towels.
- When it comes to interior design, what should be first on the list after moving in? Focus on the key rooms, places you’ll spend the most time like your bedroom and living room. Knowing you have sanctuaries for sleeping and relaxing will help take the pressure off. Begin with flooring and window dressings (curtains, blinds, etc), these will immediately make a blank space more homely. Furniture and lighting should be considered next, followed by accessories and wall decorations.
- Do you have any tips for measuring up or planning room layouts? Start by drawing or sketching out the footprint. Separately draw out pieces of furniture that you’re considering and move them around within the footprint to see how they might fit. Do this for any room where you’re unsure of the sizing. Apps like Room Planner and Floorplanner can help with this too.
- In your opinion, what are the absolute basic essentials each room should have? Window dressings; carpets or floorcoverings; light fittings and furniture. So, if it’s a living room, a sofa and side or coffee table, a bedroom obviously needs a bed and bedside tables, kitchen/diner needs table and chairs. Accessories can all be added later.
- How does a first time buyer know what their style is? The average age of a first time buyer is early 30s, so I would expect most people to have a good idea of their likes and dislikes even if they’re not sure how this translates to a home environment. My advice is to look everywhere, not just in other people’s homes but in hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. You’ll soon find yourself naturally gravitating towards a style.
- Should one style be adopted throughout the home, or is mixing and matching OK? This is really a question of personal taste. The mixed up, maximalist, eclectic look can be really striking but you do have to work at it otherwise it can look inconsistent. For first time buyers new to home styling, I advise keeping a consistent base colour theme and injecting complementary accents, fabrics and materials into each room for individuality.
- How is it best to use lighting around the home? Lighting is important and often overlooked. Good lighting helps a space feel bright and inviting, especially in rooms with fewer windows. Don’t just focus on ceiling light fittings, consider uplighters, floor or wall lamps, table lamps, recessed or cabinet lighting. They also don’t have to be expensive, there are online and high street retailers with great options.
- What about wallcoverings? Are feature walls still popular? When you first move in, it’s often easier to keep walls a neutral colour until you’ve finished furnishing. Feature walls are here to stay, in fact they are being expressed more creatively than ever. Think wallpapering, panelling, colour block panels, half-height painting, or a combination! These make a great focal point for living rooms and bedrooms, but if you’re new to decorating, start with somewhere small like a downstairs cloakroom. Feature walls can add drama to smaller spaces but are simpler to redecorate if you change your mind at a later date.
- In terms of furniture, what should first time buyers splurge and save on? Going back to my earlier point about focusing on the rooms where you’ll likely spend the most time, it’s wise to invest in a good quality sofa and bed, you want these to last and be comfortable. For the rest of your furniture, divide into “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves”. You want pieces that are functional to start off with that can then be upgraded or replaced in time.
- Finally, where would you recommend first time buyers shop for bargains? Check out TK Maxx, H&M, Dunelm, Matalan, Next Home or Zara Home as well as department stores like IKEA and John Lewis that have ranges to suit different budgets. Online retailers such as Wayfair and Etsy have excellent pieces too. Don’t forget supermarket homeware departments either!
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First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.
