Furnishing a new home means innumerable decisions and dilemmas.

How wide can the sofa be? Will our old bookshelf fit into the new kitchen? Does the wall in the hall have to stay that color?

However, if you choose to look at the entire process as an adventure, you’ll enjoy the process more, without a doubt. Accept each new question as a delightful obstacle to be conquered en route to the home of your dreams.

To that end, let’s look at five tips that will help you furnish your new home:

1. Decide on a Mood

Ideally, before you bring a single piece of furniture into your new home, you want to consider how you want each room to feel.

Even if you already have some furniture you are moving from your old place to the new one, give yourself some time to stand in the empty space and consider what you want it to be.

Just because a room used to be a bedroom does not mean you have to use it for the same purpose. Similarly, just because an end table used to live in your living room does not mean that it can’t move into your new dining room.

Determine an overall style and feel you want for each individual room, and only then start matching pieces to that goal.

2. Measure Everything Twice

This is especially important when it comes to your larger pieces (which we’ll get to in a moment). You want to make sure the items you are purchasing (or bringing) can actually fit into the space and that they won’t leave too little room for moving around.

Decide on the size of the mattress you want in your bedroom, and buy the bed accordingly, not vice versa. Figure out if you want a sofa that seats two or three (or more), and only then look at actual pieces.

Measure the space on your walls as well, to ensure the art you have your eye on actually has enough space to shine.

3. Start Big

The first pieces you bring in are ideally the largest ones: your bed, sofa, armchairs, dining table, and so on. Everything else can easily be added later to complement your biggest space-takers.

Depending on your budget, you can go either of two ways. Invest in these large statement pieces, or go for more affordable (second-hand) items but invest more in the decorative items that will give your space more vibrancy.

4. Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once

Ideally, you won’t start decorating and properly furnishing your new space until you have lived in it for a while. You can’t know how you will want to use a specific area until you’ve spent some time in it, so expecting to be able to make all the right calls on moving day is often unrealistic.

However, living in an unfinished home can also feel like living on a constant edge, so finding a compromise between the two can be your best solution.

Bring in what you already own or know you want to have in the home, and leave the details for later. Also, leave yourself plenty of room to move things around if you need to at a later date.

5. Choose Your Colors Wisely

Sure, some homes and homeowners out there can certainly pull off an effortlessly mismatched style. But if you are not that person, you will want to consider your color choices carefully.

Knowing which combinations will work can sometimes be difficult until you see it in person, so try to ask for samples. Ask for samples of paint you plan to put on the walls, and then actually paint a small segment of the wall to see what it looks like). Ask for samples of furniture materials or shades. Ask for samples of wood patterns, and so on. Most companies will be happy to oblige.

You can also snap a lot of images of your space, ensuring they are well lit, and take the photos with you when furniture shopping.

Try not to buy any art, prints, decorations, and similar knick-knacks (pillows, blankets, and rugs included) until you have firmly settled on the color for the walls and main furniture pieces. It will save you some heartache later.

Final Thoughts

With a little bit of forethought and a bit of planning, you can turn your new home into the home of your dreams. Don’t think of furnishing it as a chore and a tedious task. Embrace it as your chance to live in a space you’ve designed to fit your personal tastes.

Enjoy sourcing items that will match your vision perfectly. Even if you’re not a very visual type and you don’t like decorating, it’s important that you live in a space you enjoy. So arm yourself with patience, and tackle this home adventure head-on!