For those of us who aren’t design professionals, furnishing a new home or rental can be a daunting task. Those rooms won't fill themselves, after all. But with so many things to acquire, it's helpful to have some guidelines about where to splurge and where to pull back strategically.
When it comes to splurge-worthy areas, consider these seven options. Get these pieces right and the rest will take care of itself.
Read more: Here’s how to keep these expenses on track with Ally Bank Spending Account buckets
A centerpiece couch
Contrary to one of our favorite pieces of Hollywood wisdom, it’s not the rug that really ties the room together—it’s the couch. A couch is the biggest piece of furniture in the living room, and arguably the most important. Nail the couch, and everything else will fall into place around it. The size of the room, the amount of natural light it receives and accompanying furniture will all factor into your couch decision, but generally speaking, you want something both firm and comfortable, inviting yet refined.
And make sure it’s the right size for the room. You don’t want the couch to dominate the space, but you do want it to draw the eye with stylish appeal. And for super-precise dimensions, consider a custom order.
Bedding spree
Between sleeping, lounging or watching a late-night movie, humans spend more than a third of their lives either between or on their sheets. So it makes sense to buy a high-quality mattress and a few sets of exceptional sheets. (The place to save is on the duvet and blankets.)
For sheets, long-staple Egyptian cotton is the best option. It's versatile, cozy and durable. For hot sleepers, linen is the way to go. Silk is the most luxurious, but also the most difficult to maintain. Get a set for the guest room, too. Your company will thank you.
Curtain call
Big windows are wonderful. Big windows framed by elegant, lovely and light-blocking curtains? Now that's a vibe. Quality curtains will last forever, blanketing your room from the harsh outside world when necessary, gloriously parting when you want that natural light. Keep in mind they might not be a day-one upgrade—it pays to get a sense of the space first—but they should be high on the list. Consider a new curtain rod, too. Little details can make a big difference.
Energy efficiency
This is a broad category with a wide swath of options and opportunities, but trust us, it’s worth your while to spend a little extra for the long-term savings of energy efficient products. Perhaps it means switching to an induction stove, ditching natural gas for electricity or installing energy-efficient insulation. Maybe it's investing in a heat pump to heat and cool your home. You could go solar, or switch to wind energy.
There are small measures and large ones, and they all come with upfront costs—but they get cheaper every year due to the savings they create. There are government incentives, too.
Splashing for paint (and pro painters)
You typically want to avoid all things splash-related when it comes to paint. Except when budgeting for it. The cheap stuff will eventually fade or show scratches or stains, or just look, well, cheap. It's worth an extra 30 or 50 percent to get that thick, luscious coat. Plus, you might need fewer coats, which will save time and money. While you’re splashing cash on the paint, consider hiring a professional painting crew. They'll paint where they are supposed to and avoid all splashes, spatters and spills.
A modular and expandable sound system
There are a number of companies out there that make smart sound equipment. Maybe you start out simply with a soundbar for the television and a couple of surround-sound speakers. Over time, you could add a subwoofer, speakers in the kitchen and so on. Before long, your entire home is filled with high-quality sound, controlled through an app on your phone.
Something uniquely you
We won't pretend to know what this is. Maybe it's a set of Japanese knives, an espresso maker, the perfect ottoman for your feet or a painting from a favorite local up-and-coming artist. It's your home, so make it yours. If something feels worth the splurge, it probably is. Trust yourself, pay the money and enjoy. Life is too short to always say no to things you love.
