Moving into your first home together is a huge milestone. Choosing your new home furnishings can make it feel real and truly yours. Every room you design becomes a backdrop for your new life, so it’s important to pick pieces you both love.
This process is about more than just filling a space. It’s about creating a comfortable, practical home that reflects both of your personalities.
A recent survey actually found that about one in three couples disagree on decor when moving in. But it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. With the right approach, choosing furniture like a new sofa to your Perth new home becomes a fun and creative part of your journey together.
Key Takeaways
Communicate & Visualize: Avoid decor disputes by discussing preferences early and creating a shared mood board to find common ground between your styles.
Prioritize Shared Spaces: Start with the living and dining areas, focusing on flexible, “right-sized” furniture like modular sofas and extendable tables.
Invest in Sleep: Treat the bedroom as a sanctuary by prioritizing a high-quality mattress with motion isolation and a supportive bed frame.
Balance Form and Function: Choose durable “performance fabrics” and solid woods to ensure your furniture stays stylish and functional for the long term.
Master the Mood: Use the 60-30-10 color rule for a harmonious look and layer your lighting with warm temperatures (2700K) to create a cozy atmosphere.
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How to Choose New Home Furnishings That Suit Both of You
The first step is to talk openly about what each of you wants in a room. Does one of you value plush comfort for movie nights, while the other prefers firm, upright seating? Do you lean towards calm, natural colors, or do you love a bold, energetic space?
Understanding these preferences early makes every other decision easier. A great way to visualize your combined style is by creating a shared mood board.
- Use a tool you both like. Apps like Pinterest or Canva are perfect for gathering images of furniture, colors, and textures you both find appealing.
- Look for common ground. You might discover you both love the clean lines of Scandinavian design or the cozy, minimalist feel of Japandi, a popular style that blends Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics.
- Define your priorities. A comfortable bed for good rest or a large dining table for hosting friends often become shared goals that set the tone for your home.
Once you have a shared vision for the big items, choosing smaller decor pieces becomes much simpler.
Start With the Shared Spaces First
The rooms you use together every day, like the living room and dining area, are the best places to begin. These spaces are the heart of your home where you’ll relax, talk, and welcome guests.
For the living room, focus on seating that fits both your comfort needs and the room’s layout. Before you buy, take out a tape measure. A common mistake is buying a sofa that’s too large, which can make a room feel cramped. Make sure to measure not just the space, but also your doorways and hallways to ensure it will fit.
Modular or sectional sofas are often a great choice for couples. They offer flexibility in arrangement and plenty of space to relax together or with friends.
In the dining area, an extendable table is a fantastic investment. It works perfectly for just the two of you for daily meals but can easily accommodate guests, making your home feel instantly ready for entertaining.
Focus on Comfort in the Bedroom
Your bedroom is your personal sanctuary, so comfort is the top priority. A quality mattress is the most important investment for this room.
If one of you is a light sleeper, look for a mattress with excellent motion isolation. Memory foam and hybrid models from brands like Casper or Nectar are known for minimizing disturbances when one person moves.
Pro-Tip: When you’re testing mattresses in a store, don’t just sit on the edge. Lie down in your typical sleeping positions for at least 10 to 15 minutes to get a real feel for its comfort and support.
Once you’ve chosen a supportive king bed frame for the Perth bedroom, the rest of the room is easier to arrange. Choose bedside tables that fit your individual needs, whether that means drawers for storage or a simple surface for a book and a lamp.
Balance Style With Practical Needs
When you’re decorating as a couple, thinking long-term will save you both time and money. Look for furniture that is stylish but also durable and easy to care for.
Performance fabrics, such as those made by Crypton, are a smart choice for sofas and chairs as they are resistant to stains and wear. For tables and storage units, solid wood is a timeless material that holds up for years. These choices keep your home looking great without constant worry or upkeep.
Choose Colours That Work for Both of You
Color sets the entire mood of your home. A simple way to create harmony is to use neutral tones for your largest pieces of furniture, like your sofa, bed frame, and main storage units.
Shades of grey, beige, and soft browns create a calming and versatile base. Versatile paint colors from Benjamin Moore like “Revere Pewter” or “White Dove” are popular choices for walls because they complement almost any style.
A helpful guideline is the 60-30-10 rule used by interior designers.
- 60% of your room should be your dominant, neutral color (like the walls).
- 30% should be a secondary color (often your furniture).
- 10% should be an accent color, where you can both bring in your favorite shades through pillows, throws, art, and plants.
This approach allows both of your personalities to shine without overwhelming the space.
Think About Storage From the Beginning
Clutter is a common source of stress, and studies, including foundational work from UCLA, have shown it can even raise stress hormone levels. Good storage is essential for a peaceful home.
Look for furniture with built-in storage solutions. This could be a coffee table with a lift-top, a TV unit with drawers, or even a cheap bed available at some of the furniture shops in Perth, that includes storage underneath. These pieces work double-duty, keeping your home tidy while looking great.
Don’t forget to think vertically. Tall, narrow bookshelves and wall-mounted shelves can provide a surprising amount of storage without taking up valuable floor space.
Use Lighting to Create Warmth and Mood
The right lighting can completely change the feel of a room. The key is to use layered lighting, combining different types of light for a warm and functional space.
Start with your main overhead light (ambient), then add task lighting like reading lamps by a chair or under-cabinet lights in the kitchen. Finally, add accent lighting, such as a small lamp on a bookshelf, to create a cozy glow.
For lighting temperature, look for bulbs around 2700K on the Kelvin scale. This provides a soft, warm light that’s perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere in the evenings. Installing dimmer switches is another inexpensive upgrade that gives you complete control over the mood.
Wrapping Up
Creating your first home is a meaningful and exciting process. It’s a chance to build a space that truly belongs to both of you.
When you focus on blending your styles, choosing practical new home furnishings, and adding personal touches, you create a balanced and welcoming environment.
Every decision, from the sofa you choose to the lighting you install, is a step in your journey of making a house feel like a shared home.
