Designing a single room can be challenging, and when it comes time to furnish your entire home it can be downright daunting. If you’re moving into a new home, take a deep breath before panic-purchasing anything. Take it slow. “Don’t feel like your home needs to be finished and perfect upon move-in,” says Wendy Labrum of Wendy Labrum Interiors in Chicago. “Enjoy the process of learning how you live in the space.” Keeping this advice in mind, we spoke with design pros around the country about how to furnish each room, with tips on what to buy first and how to stay on budget.
Organize your measurements and inspo
“The first step in furnishing an empty house is getting existing measurements of each space,” says Los Angeles–based interior designer Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs. “Don’t just get room length and width—know the placement of windows and how high they are off of the ground.” You’ll also want to consider how tall your ceilings are for bookcases or shelving, and how thick your baseboards are to understand how furniture will line up against the wall.
At the top of your to-do list is deciding on an overall design approach. “Creating a concept board is as easy as scrolling through your phone on Pinterest, Google Images, Instagram, and your favorite furniture store websites,” says Boston-based interior designer Taniya Nayak of Taniya Nayak Design. “Screenshot your favorite images and throw them all onto a document to see how everything looks together.” This will help you stay on track with your design style, which will save you the hassle (and cost) of having to return or rebuy furniture.
Be strategic about where you spend
Stefanie Mullen, a San Diego–based interior designer and co-founder of JJ and Stefanie, is a proponent of mixing bespoke pieces with accessible decor options. Her approach is to invest in a few highly personalized elements, then accessorize with more sleek and minimalist pieces from places like IKEA. “If you’re decorating your entryway, for example, hang a more expensive mirror or piece of art to catch people’s eye, then put a [simple] bench beneath it,” she says.
Tackle each room thoughtfully
Each space in your home presents unique challenges and opportunities. Below, we dive into how you should approach each room.
A full kitchen reno with custom cabinetry might not be in the cards, but New York–based designer Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors notes that you can still make your mark without hiring a contractor. “Appliances, faucets, lighting, and cabinet hardware are all items that will have a big visual impact and should be purchased first,” she says. “Runner rugs, window treatments, and decor can wait.”
When it comes to the appliances, Hayslett says to first focus on your fridge and wait to buy small appliances that sit on countertops, such as a stand mixer, rice cooker, or blender. “Those are easy to get at any time and frequently go on sale, so you can purchase them whenever needed,” she says.
“I always start with the sofa because it’s the largest piece in the room and the main gathering point,” Mullen says. And because it’s such an important piece, you’ll want to get plenty of mileage out of it—easily 10 years if you get a good slipcover that can be washed, she says. “And don’t get a trendy color, like this year’s magenta. Do something classic and timeless.” If you must have your magenta, accent it with throw pillows that can easily be swapped in and out.
But before you also buy a coffee table in one fell swoop, Hayslett suggests taking a beat. “It’s best to wait and see how you, friends, and family use the sofa and the space. Maybe an ottoman is best because everyone puts their feet up, or perhaps you go with a glass table because it’s more of a formal space in the house,” she says. Also worth waiting on until you understand what you need most: accent chairs, side tables, wall art, and rugs.
While the kitchen and living room are about function foremost, the primary bedroom is where Mullen likes to set the tone first. “Here’s where I’d build around a great piece of art or a vintage piece of furniture,” she says. “Of course a good mattress is important, but this is your sanctuary, so try to find something that brings you joy or settles you the moment you enter.” For her, it’s a Montana landscape hung above the bed, but it could be an antique headboard or an oversized textile hanging.
For the bathroom, says Mullen, decide if you’re looking for a design-focused space with bright pops of color, or if you want “a spa-like environment that’s all white.” The shower curtain is a great place to start because that’s typically the largest item in a bathroom, and then you can get towels that complement it.
Beyond the textiles, “a good shower head with nice pressure is a must,” Hayslett says. “But wait on the shower bench. Freestanding shower benches can be fun and cute in photos, but most people don’t really use them.”
Though kids’ tastes can change radically from year to year, Labrum says an antique wardrobe or dresser can stand the test of time. “It’s both functional for storage and can bring sophisticated personality and patina to a kid’s bedroom,” she says. “While their color and theme preferences change over the years, this piece can work in any scheme.”
Mullen says to think long-term about all the major pieces of furniture in a child’s room (so you may have to nix that race car bed). “Once we’re out of the nursery phase, I’m all about furniture that will extend through the teen years, so from about 4 to 18,” she says. “All the furniture stays the same, then you can change the paint colors, bedding, and other decorative elements.” She recommends getting a queen-size bed right off the bat, and a desk might be used for crafts in the early years, but will be a homework zone as kids get older.
“Find a desk—new or antique—that you love and take your time building the space around it,” Labrum says. And if your dream desk doesn’t come with a matching chair, Mullen recommends embracing the design opportunity. “My desk is a beautiful slab of black marble and my chair is bright pink,” she says. “If you get to work from home, don’t make the space feel like you went into a corporate office.”
She also suggests giving the wall you face extra attention by adding wainscoting or hanging artwork. “It’s about creating a space that makes you feel empowered, confident, and calm. So absolutely design it!”
