apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you're decorating on a budget, walk into any Restoration Hardware store from November
13th - 16th and request a Friends and Family card. When you do, you'll save 20% on everything in the store. You can also log on for some family love (www.restorationhardware.com). It's the perfect way to enjoy the benefits of family without the baggage!

funny, i got some advice from an interior designer family member that was almost opposite: splurge on lighting, window coverings, floor/rugs, and save on furniture. she talked us out of buying a new couch to replace our craigslist one, insisting that if we got the background right (lighting, windows, floor, wall colour) the furniture barely matters. thoughts?

Shouldn't it be "what to save for" not "on"?

I think depending on your goals/objectives, if you don't hate your existing furniture, you could buy the new rug/lighting/drapes for the cost of a new couch. To me, I'd feel I'd gotten more for my money by upgrading those things. However I happen to like my couch a lot. If I didn't, I'd probably go for the couch and save on the accessories.

abs--

Your designer friend is right - Getting a new sofa won't ever make a room come together the way that lush draperies, large and luxurious woolen rugs and plentiful lighting will.

I also have a problem with changing out accessories, pillows and rugs with the seasons since we all generally have too much stuff, and too little storage & money. If anything, get rugs and pillows that cozy up the space in the fall/winter and simply remove them for cleaning in the spring/summer leaving bare floors and lighter/cooler seating during the warmer months.

My grandmother told me to always spend a little more on a pair of great quality shoes and a handbag because it's those pieces that make an oufit look either pulled together or cheap. I think bepsf and abs's friend are correct in that quality foundations really make or break a room in ways that are sometimes hard to put your finger on.

I think this depends, though, on how low your budget really is. If you only have $200, spending half on great shoes doesn't leave a lot for much else. But those shoes should last many years.

That said, cheap couch for $600 that needs to be replaced sooner is a bigger money sink than $50 drapes (or $30 shoes) that need to be replaced sooner. I think the issue is how do you decide when your budget is REALLY tight and you need some place to sit AND a window covering?

The well-made point that an inexpensive but quality side table can be found at a second-hand store is I think the point here. If you're trying to figure out where to spend more, do it for things that will get a lot of use AND that you can't find used. Good second-hand drapes are nearly impossible to find used, but great used sofas are readily available. In this case, spend more on the drapes, and proportionately less on the sofa.

Completely disagree with BebSf on this one.

No one has pointed out that you dont actually sit on your drapes. Or on your lamp. You sit on your couch. Most living rooms are meant to be used not just looked at.

For your bed, sofa, lounge chairs you should splurge. This is where your body lives. For dining chairs/table you should get something functional and comfy. Most tables are pretty basic as long as the surface material is durable.

Yes, luxurious drapes will make a place look good. But that look accomplishes nothing if you and your guests are comfortable.

My best accessory around the house is my hand me down sewing machine. I've made curtains for every room in the house, sewn pillows, reupholstered chairs, and made seat cushions - all at a fraction of the cost of retail pieces. And when I get tired of a set of curtains I pass them along to families or friends (or Goodwill) and make some new ones.

Splurge on the big pieces. Not the peripheral.

I agree with bepsf. Tiki1, I don't suppose you've bought stock in Restoration Hardware, have you...

I've done a mix of both; where I live, you can find some nice, lasting things at garage sales. What I can't find there, I supplement with what I find retail. I think one of the keys is in spending *wisely*; if you don't love it, don't buy it. If doesn't do exactly what you want, know that another item will come along that does. That's been my experience, anyway.

I disagree about the dining table. For much less than the cost of a quality table, you can buy some fabulous textiles to cover up a so-so one.

And I don't understand the point of cheap rugs. A quality handmade oriental rug will last 50 years. The antique ones are expensive, but many of the new ones cost less than West Elm rugs or Flor tiles that you have to replace every couple of years.

What I mean is that OVER TIME it's cheaper to have a good rug.

I think there are a lot more variables at work than this article indicates: what stage of life are you in? what are your values/what do you value most? how/how often do you entertain? how do you use your home? what does your home mean to you personally? how many others (people and pets) live with you and what are their needs/desires? These and other questions would better dictate a purchasing strategy for a particular person - I don't think there is a one-size fits most approach. The advice that I best appreciate is to simply buy what you love.

I'm not sure I agree completely with the thesis of the article. The bed, sofa, rugs, and dining room table are all high use items that are going to get a lot of wear. Regardless of the quality, the more a piece is used, the faster it will need to be replaced or repaired. Furthermore, the resale return on a pricey sofa or bed won't hold up nearly as well as the resale price on expensive branded accessories and accent pieces. In other words, your Armani Casa side table will hold its value better than that Armani Casa sofa.

I'm not suggesting people buy a junky sofa, but high use items require that the purchaser be very shrewd about finding the best look and functionality for the least amount of money. If you are going to go high end for one of those pieces, ALWAYS buy on sale.

I agree with the above poster. I don't think anyone can definitively say what household items one should indulge themselves in. It's too situation specific.

I just "splurged" last week on a bathroom caddy from simplehuman. It's attractive, fit the space perfectly, stores everything I need, great quality, but was about $25 more than most other similar caddies. Was it more than my sofa? Heck no. One wouldn't expect that it should be, either should drapes, or lighting, but it's ratio of cost compared to other like items was much higher. A splurge on a sofa would have set me back much more than $25. Sometimes having one luxury in a room, can transform the way you feel about it and your time spent in it.

My rules for splurging generally are:
1. I can afford to.
2. I love it. ( I don't spurge that will set me back a good amount of money something unless I have thought about it for a considerable time, and still desire it months/years later. )
3. There are several reasons to justify spending a bit more money than I normally would. (looks, quality, efficiency, perfect for the space ect.)

Abs--I agree. My favorite indulgence is good light fixtures. Nothing detracts more from a room than chintzy, cheap ceiling or pendant lights or lamps. New (or vintage/rewired) lighting can completely change a room.

To Tiki, I would say that even with a 20% discount Restoration Hardware is hardly a bargain. And I have not been consistently impressed with their quality.

Beauty comes in all forms and price tags. Buy what you love only if you can afford it. My first chair was the barcelona chair and I had nothing else but a bed for a few years, I slowly built up with pieces I love and have not bought any furniture in 8 years except bookcases for my home office. I had to get rid of some really nice things just because of space. If you have a good eye you can accessorize without spending a lot of money..but real furniture is real. Back in the days when I was more into fashion I would wear a Channel jacket with Gap jeans and tee shirt..There are no rules only the ones that are suitable for your situation.

I'd agree with the heavy investment in couch, bed, dining table - as long as you know your living situation will remain constant for a while.

I would say that you should float experiments on the cheap. Obtain place holders that will do until you're sure of what you're trying to achieve.

Boring Story:
I've always wanted a leather couch. When I moved, I found that I could only get great quality at over $2800. Everything under that price point was pretty much the same. I bought a leather loveseat from a department store for $600.

The cats used it as a scratching post. One puppy gnawed on it. You couldn't lay on it because of the length. It made fart noises that frightened both dogs.

Two years later I was ready for a bigger investment. It's a daybed. The cloth covers can be washed or changed. The wood frame can be polished or easily refinished. All in, it was a $3100 experiment to get where I wanted to go.

Actually I think you can have a cheap bed, but make sure you get a good mattress. That's what you really sleep on, not the frame. And I agree on the office chair, especially if you are prone to backaches.

Other then that I don't think there are such general rules, because living situations are not all the same.
I would say if you really love something, you can spend some more on it because you will probably hold on to it for a longer time.