Whether it’s your first flat, your dream house or your retirement cottage, furnishing a home is something we all go through at various stages of our lives. Of course, we seldom get the chance to start with a completely clean sheet.

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When we’re starting out, we often inherit pieces from parents or other relatives. As we move we may choose to hang on to bits of furniture that we love whilst replacing others and developing our own personal style.

Adapting to Different Homes

On average we’ll move house three times before we’re 45, but people in the north are more likely to stay put than those in the south. Few of us are in a position to completely change our furnishings each time we move, so we have to adapt.

How we furnish is partly down to the style of the property. What suits a modern flat or a modernist bungalow may be out of place in a period property. On the other hand, a classic piece of reproduction designer furniture may be at home anywhere and can become a centrepiece around which to build the rest of a room. It is also possible to change the feeling of your property interior buy changing to column radiators as these are designed differently to your standard radiator. You can visit Apollo for a selection of column radiators to see how they would work in your chosen rooms.

There are companies that can offer stylish pieces that will not only grace your home but provide a talking point for guests. A good classic item will last you for many years and should see you through several house moves.

Size Matters

Of course, the size of your rooms makes a big difference to how you furnish and to what works in a particular setting. The furniture that worked well in your one-bedroom apartment may well look out of place in a larger setting.

On the other hand, if you’re downsizing, you may well have larger pieces that simply don’t fit in the space you have available. Choosing furniture carefully can help you make better use of your space, however.

Using the corners of the room with carefully designed shelves or units, for example, can help you make the best use of otherwise wasted areas. You can also take a tip from the people who furnish show homes and choose slightly smaller furniture to make a room appear larger. The converse is also true because in a house with large rooms or high ceilings, small furniture may look lost. You need to select something that makes a bold statement and fits well in the space available.

Decor Tips

Decoration and furnishing go hand in hand, so don’t only consider the space. Think about colour. Do you want items to match or contrast with each other? If the walls and carpet are in light colours, you may want to choose darker furnishings.

You can also visually separate areas of an open-plan space by having different-coloured furniture or carpets or a feature wall in a different colour. It’s important not to neglect lighting too, as this can make a big difference to how a room looks.

At the end of the day, you have to live with your choices. Furnishing a home is a very personal choice, and it’s worth taking the time to get it to your taste.