Ask A Denver Expert: Shopping For Home Decor On A Budget

The Daily Meal Staff|July 22, 2014 6:00 am EST

(credit: lulusfurniture.com)

How you decorate your home speaks volumes about your personality. It is the way to take a cookie cutter layout and turn it into your own personal place in the world but home decor can get expensive when buying it in bulk. While you can find inexpensive decor items, they aren't always guaranteed to be of high quality. Christy Brandt, founder of Lulu's Furniture, shares tips on how to add your personal stamp to your home without breaking the bank.

Christy Brandt
Lulu's Furniture
2050 W. 30th Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 756-2222
www.lulusfurniture.com

Denver native Christy Brandt is the founder of Lulu's Furniture. Coming from a long line of people in the furniture business, Christy understands how decor can transform any space. At the store, she works alongside daughter Caitlin, who is an interior designer, and offers personal consultations to clients who need help with their decor. The shop itself carries furniture and home accessories that are fun and unique. With the guidance of this store's employees, you can transform your home.

Splurge on Larger Items

When deciding how to allocate your budget, Brandt recommends focusing on large items that will be the main focus of the room. "The type of items people should splurge on are the big pieces in a room, the bones, the focal points of the room. In a living/family room, this would probably be the sofa/sectional. This is a piece of furniture that will take a lot of abuse and receive some wear and tear, so buy a quality piece from a reputable brand." If you spend a lot of time in your house lounging, it makes sense to splurge on your favorite couch. Planning this out ahead of time will help you maximize your budget.

Plan Ahead

If you're changing a room in the house, you'll want to make sure that new items can easily be integrated with the old ones. Having a color scheme in mind will help when choosing new wall furnishings, window treatments, etc. If you're not sure how you want your room to look, Brandt recommends seeking professional help. "...It is great to bring in new pieces to spark a room, and there is nothing wrong with trying new things. Sometimes if it is a piece of furniture, something that is a major purchase, it may be best to ask for some design advice before making the leap, but small pieces are fun to just experiment with. We always suggest to clients that they look through magazines and tear out photos of rooms they like, which will give them a good place to start."

Save Money on Accents

Brandt mentions that an easy way for you to change up your decor is through the addition of accessories. "There are several items which people may buy at a lower price, especially some of the 'fluff' in a room, such as pillows and throws, which a lot of people like to change out several times a year with the seasons. Another place we like to cut costs is on rugs. There are some dynamite looking rugs out there now, very fashionable, that add a nice touch to a room, but you don't have to be afraid to walk on it." These items are easy to store, so you can easily change them out for company, holidays, seasons, etc. Accents are a great place to save money.

Related: Top Vintage Stores In Denver

Do Some Pre-Shopping Comparisons

While you're doing your pre-planning, research furniture manufacturers and related information that will help point you in the right direction. Brandt says, "Look for quality furniture lines and the occasional sales [the manufacturer] may offer are a good place to look for a deal. [Lulu's is] a dealer for Rowe Furniture, and we just partnered with them on a two week promotion where customers could upgrade their fabric and pay the same cost as a starter fabric." Call around to different furniture stores to see if there are any promotional specials of which you can take advantage.

Be Mindful of Sales

Good deals are available all over, if you look for them, but make sure you know what you're getting for your money. Brandt advises, "Anytime a store says 50 percent off, customers should realize that usually that means 50 percent off the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing, which is usually three to four times a markup, so 50 percent off takes it down to normal retail. As always, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is." You can also go with vintage furniture, but be sure to check out the piece thoroughly before purchasing. Brandt's advice is true for antiques and estate sales as well. Make sure you do your background research so you don't get ripped off.

Alaina Brandenburger is a freelance writer living in Denver. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.