Whether it’s your first apartment, your starter home, a summer vacation rental, or just one in a long line of stops on your way to your dream house, sometimes you know you won’t be living in your place for long. That doesn’t mean you can’t express your style or start to build the collection for your “real” home.
Some experts advise that you not spend any significant $$ on your early abodes, since your taste may change and develop over time. We say, forget that folks. Of course your taste is going to change over time. That’s why God invented guest bedrooms and FROGs (Family Rooms Over Garage).
Some of your early acquisitions will be your forever loves (just like boyfriends as it happens), some can be re-imagined with a coat of paint or reupholstery for use in said guest room, and some should be sold on a Facebook buy/sell page (just like boyfriends as it happens).
We reached out to a few of our favorite Home stores and asked for their ideas on how to decorate a short term home with long term style. Here are their tips:
ABODE (East Blvd)
1. Art is a great investment piece. Find something that reflects your personal style and you can use it forever. For someone who likes landscapes, this marsh landscape provides a peaceful look to any space.
2. A desk is something you can always use. This desk could be used in a study or bedroom as a vanity piece. The 3D metal sculpted legs add a funky twist to your standard desk.
3. Natural fiber rugs are very durable and can last through the years. This jute area rug is 5 x 8 and goes with just about anything! We can order these natural fiber rugs in many different colors and sizes.
4. This marble top nesting cocktail table is very versatile. You can use the pieces separately as a coffee table and side tables or put them together for more surface area. You can also tuck the side tables under the coffee table to conserve space. Easily adapted to any space.
5. This simple gray-washed dining table is 48″ round. In a smaller space, it can be used as a dining table, but in a bigger home, it can be used as a small breakfast room table in a kitchen. Very simple design so it’s very adaptable.
TRADITIONS (Park Rd Shopping Ctr)
One good investment piece for your short term home that will work in any home down the road is a good quality and comfortable sofa. This Sherrill Furniture “Sofa Your Way” Sofa is only $1,995 and can be used in a small town home or a large great room. The neutral fabric also allows for color schemes to be changed down the road.
Another good investment piece for a short term home would be a chest of drawers. In any future home, a chest could be used in a bedroom, hallway or living room. So if you happen upon a gorgeous chest like this one from Woodbridge for $1,675, it would be worth the investment.
Lamps, art, accessories and pillows are all good inexpensive pieces that can provide long term style to a short term home, but also be transported to a future home. Pretty, classic and neutral lamps that can adapt to many different rooms or color schemes like this one are excellent buys:
A mid-sized piece of art can be switched from wall to wall. Try to find a piece with various colors will allow you to pull out different colors down the road:
Accessories can easily be packed and transported from home to home:
Pillows are an easy way to update or change styles in any room
THEORY DESIGN STUDIO (East Blvd)
Maximize small spaces by showcasing art with a big impact:
Bar carts can be used to serve drinks & double as storage in tight spaces
Decorative trunks can be used as storage & even stacked up and used as an end table
This bookshelf makes a small space more interesting with hexagon shaped cubbies, and can be used to create a mini-room in almost any small corner or space.
