"It's likely you won't have much money after you've bought your first home, but if it's a house that needs work, prioritise updating the bathroom first, says Simon Ribchester, head of design at renovation specialist Beams. When an old bathroom with dodgy plumbing goes wrong it can be a very expensive problem to fix. And however stressful and dusty the rest of the house gets, having a clean place you can retreat to for a glass of wine in the bath is invaluable, he says."
"Use the right white Resist the urge to paint all the walls brilliant white the moment you move in, says interior designer Rebecca Constable. It might seem like a blank slate, but it can make the house feel sterile and cold, she says. A neutral, like Farrow and Ball's Wimborne White, or a colour-matched version of it, will look softer and calmer."
"A classic rookie mistake is to dive headfirst into a trend, says Ribchester, who suggests approaching hard fixtures and finishes which are expensive to change (tiles, taps, flooring) the same way you would if you were getting a tattoo: if it feels like a trend you're likely to get bored with, don't do it. Instead, have fun with the things you can switch out more easily, such as soft furnishings, art and even paint (though bear in mind darker colours are more costly to cover)."
Update the bathroom first in a newly purchased house that needs work because plumbing failures are costly and a clean bathroom provides a valuable retreat. Choose a softer neutral white such as Wimborne White rather than brilliant white to avoid a sterile, cold feel. Avoid committing expensive fixtures and finishes to short-lived trends. Reserve trends for easily changed items like soft furnishings, art and paint, noting darker paints are harder to cover. Mix sources and eras to create interest instead of buying everything from the same stores. Prioritise movable furniture like an antique cupboard over built-in joinery.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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