This guide will make buying furniture for a new home easier. We’ll list the essentials, help you avoid overspending, and offer practical tips for layout testing.
Essentials by Room
Let’s break down the essentials by room.
Living Room: Choose a Comfortable Sofa, Sectional, or Recliner
The right pieces can create an inviting space that encourages conversation. That’s why the core of the room (the seating choices) can’t be an afterthought.
First, decide whether you want reclining or stationary options. Recliners can be good for relieving ankle pain and reducing swelling. Plus, they can be customized to suit every homeowner’s unique taste and lifestyle.
Next, ask yourself if you’ll likely need to rearrange your seating arrangement sometime in the near future. If your answer is “yes,” you might want to consider modular sectionals. They’re easier to reshape and move around.
Dining Area: Select a Table and Chairs That Fit Your Space
Buffets, bar carts, and china cabinets aren’t exactly the must-have furniture for new homes. Your key items are the dining table itself and the chairs.
That said, you don’t want a set that’s too big for your room. It’ll just make the space seem cluttered. On the other hand, one that’s too small will end up looking out of place.
As a general rule, your dining table should take up around one-third of your dining space. You also want a minimum clearance of 30 inches between the table and the wall.
Bedroom: Prioritize a Quality Bed Frame, Mattress, and Storage
Decorative accents, rugs, and loveseats are all optional here. But one of the top essentials for all new homes is the mattress. You don’t want to skimp here, either. If you can afford it, always splurge on a luxury mattress.
Luxury mattresses tend to have more complex designs compared to budget ones. As a result, you get better bounce, motion isolation, pressure point relief, and ultimately, a better sleep experience.
Just keep in mind that there’s only so much that a good mattress can do for your sleep quality if it’s not supported properly. Choose a sturdy bed frame that improves airflow.
Bonus points if your bed frame design allows for storage without compromising airflow to the mattress.
You should also make sure the size match between the frame and the mattress is just right. Otherwise, your mattress will overhang, and you’ll risk shifting and ruining the interior layers as you turn around at night.
Kitchen and Bathroom: Stock Cooking Tools, Basics, Towels, and Accessories
The kitchen should include a fridge, a stove, and cabinets. Some secondary appliances to consider are the toaster, microwave, coffee maker, and blender.
If you don’t have any cookware or utensils, you’ll need to jot down a list of tools you use daily. For most people, the following are non-negotiables:
- Cutting board
- Knives (chef’s and paring)
- Kitchen scissors
- Pans (frying and sautéing)
- Strainer
- Spatula
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Peeler
- Can openerÂ
- Baking sheets
- Hot pads
- Pots
As for the bathroom, your primary accessories are the bath mat, mirror, shower liner, and toiletry storage units. You’ll also need a minimum of two standard bath towels and two hand towels per person.
Home Office: Set Up a Desk, Chair, and Lighting if You Work From Home
A desk, an ergonomic chair, and good lighting are among the most important furniture to buy first, but only if you study/work from home.
If you’re willing to buy secondary pieces for the home office, consider getting a multi-functional ottoman (doubles as a storage unit).
Budget and Buying Priorities
It’s hard to predict how much you’ll need to spend on furniture for a new house. Because there are so many moving parts (square footage, area, style, and quality), the range is rather wide.
You could spend as little as $16,000. Alternatively, the project costs could total $100,000.
Determine Spending Based on Your Move-in Budget
Budgeting can get messy. It helps to prepare a small note or work on an Excel sheet whenever possible. First, tally up all the move-in costs and other non-negotiable expenses. Think down payment, security deposit, truck rental, and a month’s worth of utility bills.
Now, take a look at the remaining funds. It’s not advisable to allocate it all towards decor and furnishing. Instead, you need to decide how much you can afford to “lose” initially.
Note that the rule of thumb here is to spend anywhere from 10% to 25% of your new home’s value on furniture. And there’s a non-zero chance that what’s left after you subtract your move-in expenses won’t cover the whole 25% cut.
Therefore, you’ll need to split the costs over several months. Don’t worry; we’ll cover some ideas for working around budget constraints and furnishing gradually next.
Focus on Value, Comfort, and Functional Spaces First
We already explained how the mattress is one of those items on which splurging is not just okay but is actually recommended. Take this same mentality as you go through your shopping list. Anything that boosts comfort and is needed for basic day-to-day activities is a priority.
With this in mind, you’ll buy the big-ticket furniture pieces first, then worry about the decor later. By “big-ticket” items here, we mean things like the sofa/sectional, dining table, and quality mattress.
Accent chairs, ambient lighting, area rugs, and artwork, on the other hand, can wait. If you have a patio, give it a second (or even third) priority after the functional spaces. The same applies to guest rooms and basements.
You might also want to put the re-painting task aside for now, and that’s not just for budgeting reasons. It actually helps to wait until you’ve gotten the foundational items. This way, you’ll get a feel of the house first.
Furnish Gradually and Avoid Overspending Early
If there’s one budgeting tip you need to take away from this article, it should be this: Your home doesn’t have to be finished and/or perfect when you move in.
It’s also okay to keep some of your old stuff and replace it as you go. Break down the furnishing project into one or two strategic upgrades every month. If you’re lucky, you’ll time your small upgrades to coincide with clearance sales.
Quality and Style Tips
You can always use a full interior design service or a one-time consultation to create a space that feels uniquely yours. However, even if you DIY the whole furnishing process, you can still get tailored results that suit your taste and needs.
Here’s how:
Choose Well-Made Furniture That Reflects Your Personal Style
Lots of people will advise you to check out charity shops and Facebook Marketplace. And it’s definitely possible to snag great vintage pieces this way. There’s also a chance you’ll find something that suits your vision perfectly.
However, the search itself is not easy. You need to cast a wide net, avoid the scams, and know when (and how) to haggle. Plus, you don’t want to impulse buy a lot of low-quality pieces just because they seem like a good deal.
You shouldn’t let aesthetics or thriftiness take priority over long-term value. And regardless of where you do your furniture shopping, you should never be tempted to buy the cheapest options available. An upfront investment will save you a lot in repairs and replacements down the line.
That’s not to say you should only buy second-hand if it’s a fancy brand. It’s more about the quality and construction. For instance, you can look for solid wood items with dovetailed joints vs. nailed MDF boards.
The quality of the wood matters even in upholstered items. Our Ferndale reclining chair, for instance, features a solid wood base under its premium-grade fabric.
Choosing La-Z-Boy recliners with iClean fabric can help you maintain your living room aesthetic for longer. It’s stain-resistant and designed to handle the wear and tear in high-traffic areas, after all.
Mix Practicality With Creativity for a Cozy, Unique Home
You want your big-ticket items to last for years without requiring major changes. This becomes tricky if you opt for viral looks that could go out of trend soon. You also don’t want to go for an all-vintage look, because it can make your home feel dated.
So, how do you balance between timeless, practical pieces and fun items? One approach is to apply the 80/20 rule. The bulk (about 80%) of your furnishing choices should be timeless. The rest (20%) can be trendy and modern.
Most people allocate the 20% cut to small, easy-to-swap pieces (fixtures, pillows, throws, etc.) and leave the rest for the foundational pieces. However, if you’d rather go bold with “bigger” items, consider pairing a patterned chair with a neutral sectional.
A Few Standout Pieces Make More Impact Than Many Low-Quality Items
Even if you won’t stick by the 80/20 rule, it’s important to note that quality beats quantity. Rather than purchasing a bunch of small, less expensive items and scattering them across the room, it pays to be purposeful.
After all, a room with too many focal points rarely looks comfortable.
So, ask yourself what you want to draw the eye to. Is it interesting enough? You can use muted tones for everything around it and pick a bold color for the piece itself.
Vibrant and energetic colors, like orangeade, are great choices, especially for spring/summer themes.
Measure, Plan, and Get Inspired
By now, you probably know the difference between the furniture you need in a house and the furniture you want. The next step is to develop a clear plan of action.
Check Room and Doorway Dimensions for Proper Fit
Always start by taking measurements of your rooms. And when we say measure the rooms, we don’t just mean the floor dimensions. You also need to check the window placements. Ceiling measurements will also come in handy if you decide to pick bookcases.
Don’t forget to measure your doors, too. Knowing the diagonal clearance, height, and width will save you a lot of trouble when it’s time to bring in your new furniture.
Use Floor Plans or Tape to Visualize Furniture Placement
Homeowners who choose to work with interior designers will likely have the opportunity to see inspirational photos, concept boards, precise floor plans, and 3D renderings.
But don’t worry if you don’t know how to create your own floor plan. You can make do with a measuring tape and a roll of painter’s tape.
Say you see a sofa you like. You’ll check its measurements online and use the painter’s tape to mark its place on the ground. Repeat this with all the major pieces (chairs, coffee table, bookcase, etc.). Then stand back and see if everything fits nicely within your space.
Visit Our La-Z-Boy Vancouver Store for Layout, Fabric, and Style Guidance
Although it’s possible to tackle the whole process on your own, asking a professional designer for help remains the best way to furnish a new home. It’s just a less stressful route to go down.
You can get all the expert guidance you need with La-Z-Boy’s In-Home Design Service.
Why Shop at Lifestyle Meets Comfort
La-Z-Boy is a Canadian-owned and operated company that blends style and comfort in its crafted-to-last furniture.
It doesn’t matter if you pick sectionals, stationary sofas, or full-motion recliners. You can rest assured that every piece in the extensive La-Z-Boy collection has been designed with your comfort and need for value in mind.
Designed to Match Your Vision While Delivering Lasting Comfort
When you choose our In-Home Design Service, you’re not just choosing expert guidance. You’re also making the most of the customization potential of La-Z-Boy’s already impressive collection of sofas, recliners, and sectionals.
From color matching to tailored decor tips, our experts will help you create a space that’s uniquely yours.
Visit Us to Find the Perfect Foundation for Your Newly Furnished Home
Ready to begin furnishing your new home? Visit any of our locations today or schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and discover the endless possibilities!