Guest Blogger: Realistic First Home Design Tips for Newlyweds

Guest Blogger #491, Entry #1128, April 25, 2012

So the big day has come and gone and you’re now ready to move into your new home together. Along with this level of adult prestige you’ve also developed a responsible attitude towards finance; you managed to save up enough money to cover both your wedding expenses and the down payment on your brand new dream home. Well, maybe it’s not brand new, and it might not exactly be the multi-million dollar mansion you dreamed of. In truth, your first home could only kindly be described as a fixer-upper opportunity. But the price was right and you’ve made the wise decision of investing in an asset that will gain value over time, so you’re definitely off to a good start. And as long as the foundation is solid, the roof doesn’t leak, and your structure is termite-free, you can pretty much handle the little issues that are bound to pop up here and there. But if you’d like to do a few cosmetic upgrades to make the space match your aesthetic sensibilities, here are a few home design tips that will work on even a newlywed budget.

How will you decorate your first home together?

Image via: Random.Pinterest

What are priorities in your new home?

The first thing to do is determine what you can live with and what you simply can’t. For example, you may have decided that the faded hardwood floors aren’t really worth repairing since they give the house a rustic feel (and replacing the flooring is way too expensive, anyway). But the avocado tile in the master bath has got to go! Luckily, you can tackle most cosmetic upgrades with nothing more than a few tools, a basic home repair guide, and a DIY attitude. Of course, a class down at your local Home Depot couldn’t hurt, either, so ask about their schedule for instruction. Then head to your nearest discount tile store (or shop online) for some low-priced replacement tiles in a modern and appealing shade. And don’t forget to update the hardware – check out reclaimed fixture outlets or simply peruse Craigslist and local garage sales to find perfectly usable items for less.

Add decor to reflect both of your styles:

Of course, not every aspect of home design will require you to wear coveralls, gloves, and safety goggles. Once you’ve fixed the leaks, painted the walls, and really started to move in you can get to the fun part of interior design: adding the décor. Again, you may be limited in your budget, but there are several ways to take your home to the next level through design. For starters, consider downloading some free apps like Houzz Interior Design Ideas or iHome HD to give you inspiration (remember, you don’t have to buy the brand names pictured, you can simply use designer homes to get ideas for looks that you can recreate for less). From there you can go crazy and blow $1.99 on Home Design Interior Space Planning Tool (or Mark on Call, by designer Mark Lewison), which will help you to create the perfect layout for any interior space (complete with dimensions). It’s easier than a do it yourself divorce BC to NYC (not that you want to start thinking that way).

Ensure both of your styles are reflected in your new home

Image via: Apartment Therapy

Unfortunately, there is no app that will actually select your furnishings and accessories for you and physically arrange them in your home. But you can save some time and money here by shopping and ordering online (items are delivered to your door and sometimes even set up by technicians). Or if you fancy a good project you could seek out cheap items with potential at garage sales and fix them up on the weekends for some custom décor at far less cost.

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