When you are looking for new living room furniture, try not to fall into the trap of going into R.C. Willey and picking out a "nine-piece set." You know the ones: sofa with matching love seat, two matching lamps, matching side and end tables, and matching pillows–but only two matching pillows so if you want four you have to buy two more. (No offense to those out there that have done this. I know there are many, many of you out there. In fact a few years ago I’m sure I would have done it, if I had the cash on hand. That dang RC Willey is just so enticing!)

You see the problem with this is that anyone can come into your house and see that you felt the need to redecorate, and you did. In one fell swoop. Poof, new front room. And if anything gets broken, or spilled on (stupid rubber cement! yes, mom it was me that spilled it) then you need to throw the whole set out and start over again because, dang it!, it doesn’t match.

The most well put together homes are the ones that look like it has taken a lifetime, where it seems every piece has a story to tell. And thank goodness we have KSL.com and Craigslist so it won’t really take us a lifetime to put together a front room that has some character. I suggest starting with a couch from a store (if you must have something new), and then fill in the rest of the house with finds from the classifieds, thrift stores, or garage sales. It is amazing how nice a home can look on a small budget without buying the "nine-piece set."

Tags: Advice, Home Decorating in Utah--Tips! //