Save VS Splurge: 3 Great Tips To Design Your Living Room For Spring
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Spring is here! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, spring cleaning has begun and project planning is in full swing. If you are contemplating (or have begun) planning a project, then you realize that so many aspects of life have opportunity costs… questions of this piece or that piece or this event or that event can tend to swirl around in our minds as we consider the tender mix of time, investments and aesthetics. For many of these situations, we know that budget is a large factor and how that gets doled out can change a project scope and our sanity in the process. Perhaps you want your project done quickly before summer starts with family travel plans and pool days and therefore are willing to pay more to hire someone instead of attempting a DIY solution. Hiring someone to help could be a lifesaver in giving you back time with your friends and family but likely will eat into your budget, leaving you with the question of how to pull off your original vision without breaking the bank. Or perhaps you found a statement art piece you want to invest in and now are scratching your head wondering how to achieve the vision you started out on without entirely eliminating your vacation fund. Whatever the case, we frequently find ourselves in these tricky scenarios as we weigh the opportunity costs of time, budget and style. If you have found (or currently find!) yourself in this place, as I have many times in the past, I hope that these next three great tips to design your living room for spring in a save vs splurge example will be helpful for you to move forward and work through those opportunity costs.
Tip #1: Layer Rugs
When first analyzing a way to achieve a high end look at various price points, consider layering rugs. Layering rugs not only is a stunning design choice, but it also can become an opportunity for cost savings. Typically, look to use jute, sisal or neutral wool rugs as the largest base rug. They are fabulous to use all year long, but particularly give a fresh spring or summery feeing to the room. In the example below, I have shown two large (9’x12’) jute rugs in light tones. Following the base rug, use a smaller Oushak, geometric or cowhide rug to layer on top. These statement rugs can particularly be investment pieces in which a smaller size will be much more cost effective. That being said, this look can be achieved at a wide variety of price points depending on the style and materials of the rugs you choose, but leaning into this design look is a great way to achieve a large bang for your buck. Both of the accent rugs I have used over the sisal are wool (which is extremely durable and wears nicely over time), however the brand, designer and slight color tone differences displayed throughout can provide very different price points.
Laura Roebuck Sea Sky In Verdigris Art | Winslow 2 Seat Sofa In Celadon Performance Velvet | Brandyss Natural Burl End Table | Cream Table Lamp Set Of 2 | Antwan Gold Coffee Table | Off White Jute Braided Area Rug | Handmade Woven Wool Gray & Ivory Oushak Rug | Brynn Ivory Feather Swivel Chair | Colefax & Fowler Rose & Hydrangea Throw Pillow Cover
Suzanne Kasler Bayonne Art | Fabienne Sofa In Moss | Chloe End Table With Honey Burl | Gourd Form Table Lamp In Tea Stain Crackle | Crosby Gold Leaf Coffee Table | Nuha Jute Rug | Concord Handmade Wool Beige & Blue Oushak Rug | Auburn Club Chair In Ivory Crypton | Schumacher Pyne Hollyhock Floral Pillow
Tip #2: Don’t Be Afraid To Mix & Match
When I meet with clients, I frequently tell them to not be afraid to mix and match. It’s true that some pieces are the star of the show and really wouldn’t work with something from another scheme, but frequently you can pull various elements together and they work beautifully to accomplish your personalized vision! For this spring look, many of the elements that you could mix and match do vary on budget, but some on slight style or color tones as well. For instance, if you were looking to blend these two schemes, you could easily use the jute rug from the “save” option and the Oushak rug from the “splurge” option or vise versa.
Similarly, don’t be afraid to mix and match styles. If you want an updated style that leans a tad traditional but with a modern twist, then mixing the turned feet of the sofa in the “splurge” option with the more angular forms of the burl wood side tables beside it gives a fresh but balanced perspective.
Finally, don’t be afraid to play with color and pattern for the season! Both of the sofas shown are in a lovely spring green that when paired with floral pillows, provide a timeless yet cheerful spring aesthetic. Come fall, you easily could lean into deeper neutrals or jewel tones that will take this design from light and cheerful to moody and dramatic.
Tip #3: Consider Materials
When considering pieces that are a save vs a splurge, materials and finishes play a really big part in investment. Yes, it’s true that sometimes something is only more expensive because of the brand, but other times the material or finish does really influence price.
Mindful Substitution
When selecting items, particularly budget friendly pieces, choose high end appearing materials. While wood pieces can vary in investment, many that are more budget friendly can come across as cheap. To eliminate this, select a gold and glass table, burl wood, rattan, concrete or stone surface that might have a better bang for its buck. Choosing a material that has a different texture or interest can sometimes display better than a cost effective wood piece that might look too plastic. Burl wood is typically quite expensive, so if you can find quality pieces that are a good discount, they will provide a very high end aesthetic as shown here.
Performance Ability
Similarly, even though you might be able to find comparable materials in an aesthetics sense, sometimes they still have their differences as far as properties and longevity go. For example, in these two spring living rooms, both schemes showcase similarly styled soft neutral chairs, however the first chair displays a generic performance fabric while the second is upholstered in a Crypton upholstery. Any performance finish added to upholstery is better than nothing, however Crypton fabrics are known for their performance qualities that are embedded within the fabric itself (as described in the picture to the right!).
That being said, the Crypton upholstered Auburn Club Chair is 3 times the price of the Brynn Feather Swivel Chair and the upholstery fabric plays a large part in that price adjustment. Purchasing the Brynn Chair with a performance upholstery is much better than purchasing a different option without any performance qualities (as far as longevity is concerned), but likely, the Auburn Chair upholstery would surpass the Brynn Chair in performance ability over time.
These considerations can be very helpful at determining the need that you have, the investment you are wanting to spend and the longevity you are hoping to achieve in regards to materials for your spring look.
Final Thoughts
At this current stage of my life, time and budget seem to play largely into my design considerations but at other times it has been the finishes or materials or skills or so many other factors! Just remember, as you design for spring, you can establish a basis that is transferrable to every time of year to eliminate future opportunity cost dilemmas. So, do you have a favorite way that you lean into the season while debating a save vs splurge or a particular part of these designs you hope to implement? If so, I would love to know your thoughts and comments in the section below!
Happy designing!
