I’ve hacked the “decorating-a-condo-on-budget-but-still-looking-luxury” system.
Bring your A-Game because we’re 2 months out— and I think I have finally found the formula to successfully sticking to my budget and furnishing our entire condo A-Z within CAD $10,000.
The sticky part is… our appliances don’t come with the place, so remove $3,000 from that initial budget and we’re left with $7,000 to furnish a 2-bed 2-bath living space. Phewf.
Stick to a design…but not really
As a rule of thumb, you should kind of have an idea about what your style is. This might take a few weeks to figure out and put a name to, but start your journey doing a LOT of research and make Pinterest your BFF. The problem is, once you over-do it on buying everything within your same “look” it might start looking bland and hotel-like, so one way to counter that challenge is to buy your bigger pieces (couch, dining table, lighting, TV stand) within your style, and then spice up the accessories (coffee table, bar stools, rug) with some more personality. Once you put a name to your style of preference, it will be easier to know what items will match effortlessly while matching your taste, personality, and budget.
As for us, we decided on the following styles: barnyard chic meets french country with some Mediterranean and Hamptons accents. What I think looks super luxurious is having woods and metallics blended together seamlessly, as well as adding a lot of “neutral tones meets black” to a space to give it that expensive ‘french’ look. The subtle tones of navy, sea blue, and flora (from your plants) will heighten the Miami/Hamptons vibe and give it some more classy elements to a simple space.
Think of it like planning an outfit. The colours need to compliment one another, it can’t be ill-fitting (too loose or too tight) and it still has to represent you. Same thing for your decor, but unlike outfits, you can’t change it everyday, so give it some good thought. Make sure the pieces will suit the style and size of your space. Don’t crowd in large furniture in a small space, and don’t go too minimal in an open space. (duh)
Measure EVERYTHING
There’s nothing worse than planning a whole space and realizing the couches don’t fit and your TV stand is blocking off an entire window. Measure your space and document the little nooks to have an idea BEFORE purchasing any items. This will help you maximize your space and ensure you don’t overspend on items that won’t end up fitting in the room anyways.
To make a space luxurious, just like a perfect outfit, it needs to fit properly. Nothing says luxury like an impeccably tailored suit, ammiright? So measure your space and ensure that everything you buy will look custom-to-size.
Long term meets short term
Maybe you’re having an eclectic and modern-deco phase, but you’re more comfortable in a traditional and cozy environment. Rule of thumb: Even though you’re on budget try to play safe on bigger items such as a couch and bedroom set, because chances are, you’re going to be stuck with it for the next few years. You can experiment with art pieces and smaller items like a coffee table or chandelier, which you can switch up if “you’re over it”. While thinking short term on accessories, think long term on those bigger pieces because when/if the time comes where you want to upgrade them, their value will remain consistent. If you buy a cheap couch, chances are no one will buy it off you after use. Stick to companies like IKEA that offer good re-sale value for a used item in good condition. We are opting for the VIMLE L-couch in Gunnared Beige. (I pray nothing stains it because it’s a really light off-white/grey colour.)
Create a spreadsheet
Given that I am that annoying person who time-stamps every hour in my travel itinerary; all research done for where to stay, what to eat, what to see, including pre-planned outfits to suit the spot, (and yes, pee-breaks are logged in) I decided another one of my delightful spreadsheets were in order.
With this spreadsheet, I knew what each item SHOULD cost on budget, so when I go out to shop, or shop online, I have an idea about the price range I will have to respect. The other day, I thought $200 for a bar stool on Wayfair was a great deal, until I found the SAME ones at Structube for $99. There really isn’t a bigger tip I can give than this:
- DO YOUR RESEARCH
- DOCUMENT YOUR RESEARCH!!!!
Once you know how much you are willing to spend for each item to meet your budget, shopping becomes a lot more fun! Sometimes I will even allocate a maximum for a room, so if I overspend on a piece that I REALLY adore (you got to spoil yourself time to time, no?) I know that I will have to decrease my budget for the other pieces in a room to meet my budget. This way you can mix some more ‘expensive’ statement pieces with more simple side accents, and have the space look more luxurious.
Where to buy What
Every store has its pros and cons. Here’s what I have gathered so far.
Wayfair: Best prices for beautiful rugs and chandeliers. I haven’t seen anywhere else with such nice options within a great budget. We got a huge 8x10 rug for under $300, a gorgeous island light for $250, and a living room chandelier for $199. Plus, you can read reviews and get real-life pictures to give you a better idea. The customer service is also amazing because if you realize you don’t like the piece, the return process is so simple and they are very helpful.
Structube: The beds here are great quality and the cheapest on the market. We’re purchasing the Carme for $399!
Homescence: Buy ALL your accessories from here. Especially items you can catch on liquidation. Amazing quality (most of the time), super unique, and often imported from Europe or India. We got a lamp, lanterns, buddha flower pot, and many other accessories from here for a great price.
IKEA: We’re purchasing the VIMLE couch from IKEA as previously mentioned: it is an L-couch for $1600. Yes, that affordable. And it is very very comfortable.
Amazon: TV ;)
(MORE TO COME SOON)
