Hi there (again)!
We are PorchLight Home Staging popping on to welcome you back to our blog. The way this blog thing works is that on the first Friday of every month, we will celebrate the much needed weekend by releasing our monthly blog. In these short but sweet articles, we will mesh the world of home staging (our forte) with current events and fashion trends. As you can probably guess from the title, we are going to discuss purchases that are worth splurging on when decroating your home and purchases that you can save on. This blog topic is going to be a 2-part series! The first part (this month) will focus on home decor and comparing costs with all things interior design. Next month, look out for the second part, which will be all about splurging and saving with fashion. For now, read up on what we think you should splurge on vs. what we think you can save on!
Bedding:
There is no other way to say this: splurge on bedding. Because you are in your bed every night for long periods of time (hopefully), this is an easy decision to put bedding in the splurge category. Although style, pattern, and affordability usually comes to mind when picking your bedding… It is luxury bed linen that can actually impact your night’s sleep. I won’t bore you with the benefits of sleep, because I’m sure we’ve heard them, and even been effected by them before. But, I will speak on some things that may be unknown about the cheap bedding you’re buying. Most inexpensive bedding is made from contaminated cotton which is grown in fields full of pesticides and fertilizers. When purchasing sheets, you want to look for organic cotton or linen. According to HGTV, Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set were named the best luxury sheets in 2022. As for a linen option, Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set has been at the forefront of linen bedding for the last couple years. I have tried bedding on both ends of the scale, and I can confidently say there is no worse feeling than a constricting, scratchy sheet. This element of your home is definitely a splurge.
Images: Brooklinen, Boll & Branch
Sofa/Couch
This item is another one of those must splurge things. Unfortunately, I don’t trust an inexpensive couch unless it is from a trusty facebook marketplace vendor. My college roommates and I learned this lesson the hard way when our beloved $400 couch’s back fell completely off. A good couches will primarily range from $900 - $3000. According to New York Mag., West Elm & Article Sven battle for the “best couch of 2022” award. There are 3 main characteristics when judging a couch: Fill, upholstery, and size. While leather costs more, it will age gracefully into an attractive patina; cotton or linen weaves don’t have the drama of leather or velvet, but they hold up for many years.
Couches: Article Sven, West Elm, Anthropology
Art Work — It’s a tie
This one could be an unpopular opinion, but what is life without some disagreements. Art work is one of those things that can go both ways. Some people would argue that having an expensive piece hanging on your wall really makes the space pop, while others would say a $30.00 canvas from TJ Maxx does the trick. What we will say on artwork is that it is very worth it to invest in a good quality frame. Inexpensive frames are inexpensive for a reason: they will break and they will bring the bring down the aesthetic of your art. So chose what price point you want for your art, but choose even wiser on your framing.
Accessories
Now, I know what you’re thinking, this article is just telling me to splurge on everything. Don’t worry — we’ve got some things worth saving on. Accessories never fail to amaze me with how expensive they can be. The price range for a bookend can go from $15 - to $315. Please, please, please save on your accessories. They are nothing but a bunch of elevated knick knacks. Don’t get me wrong, we love elevated knick knacks… but they are knick knacks none the less. Should I say knick knacks one more time? More often than not, an accessory that you place on your nightstand or bookshelf will probably get knocked off and break. Secondly, if you are looking to decorate with books around the house or in some shelving units, go to a half-priced book store. I doubt you’ll ever open half of them. There are plenty of warehouses and stores full of affordable accessories. No one will know the difference. Here are some comparisons below.
Images courtesy of: Pottery Barn, Grandin Road, etc.
Accent chairs & Tables
The last element of design that we will talk about are accent chairs and tables. I think you can guess what we are going to say about these just based off their name, “accent.” Accent = save. You can find really stylish and versatile furniture without breaking the bank. Because these pieces aren’t getting as much everyday use, they won’t need to combat common wear and tear from some of the objects mentioned in the splurge category. Here are some ideas on where to look if you’re balling on a budget.
Images: Wayfair, Amazon