by Natalia Jones

Created on: June 17, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2009

Furnishing an entire house for the first time can be exciting, but it is also often overwhelming, not to mention expensive. In a perfect world we would be able to get everything our hearts desire, but the reality is that the budget is a limiting factor for almost all first time home buyers. It is easy to become frustrated by the need to fill the empty spaces and if you are not careful you may end up spending your budget for the whole house in a single room.

It is therefore important to be methodical in your approach to the items you need. An easy way of compiling a list of needs and wants is to sit on the floor of your new room and write down everything that you would like to have in the room. All things large and small will make the initial list. After you have done this for every room of the house, the next step is to highlight the things you need immediately, or those things that can be covered in the budget. The rest will form your wish list for the future and you can knock items off the list bit by bit as the money becomes available.

The following is a list of furniture items that will most likely make the first draft.

1. A bed. We all need a place to lay our heads, but the question is should you spring for the best bed you can afford now, or get one that you can live with until you can afford the bed of your dreams? This is a personal preference but generally it is better to buy a bed frame that will last than to spend on a bed that will need to be replaced in a short while. You can even buy the frame and summon your creative juices to build a custom bed head. If a top quality bed frame is not in the current budget you can buy a bed that will serve the purpose and then move it into the guest room later on when you get the king size that haunts your dreams.

2. A chest of drawers. This multi-purpose piece of furniture can be moved from room to room and not look out of place. Chest of drawers come in all styles and shapes, so they can be short and wide or tall and slim. They are used traditionally in the bedroom to store clothes but they can be put in the bathroom for linen storage, or even in the living room to stash away craft supplies, books and odds and ends. The top surface is the perfect spot for adding an array of framed photos or to display small collections.

3. An armoire. Yet another versatile piece of furniture. The armoire can be a chic addition to a sophisticated boudoir or sit confidently in the living room to house the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>