Throw back to my first home and what I learned.

Hello everyone! I just wanted to do a little reminiscing here and throwback to my first home. I bought a new build flat on the outskirts of the city centre of Manchester a few years ago.  This was an investment. Emotionally and financially. You never really forget your first home and I was happy for it to be brand spanking new and all mine! There is something super exciting about your very first home. The carpets have never been walked on, the microwave never used. The Oven, oh my god I was obsessed with how clean this oven was, obviously as it was brand new - I swore to never let it down. It was my first proper nest. 

My living room in my flat

The evening view from the bedroom

So how does one get around to designing and sorting out a new build flat. I was very aware that it was never going to be a home I stay in for too long. So I wanted to keep it as re-saleable as possible. So here I went on my adventure, designing a new home.  I was on the tightest of budgets so as you can imagine I had to be creative with flat pack and vintage furniture. Now I look back on it, I wish I was more creative!

Buy the best your money can afford, as some of the pieces I took onto my next home and there is never any point throwing good money after bad. I basically furnished most of the flat from Ikea, end of season sales and vintage stores. No joke here. The value for money available for someone on a tight budget is incredible. But I did check the quality and make a balanced decision on certain items.

• Art you can take with you, it doesn't wear much at all - so enjoy it and invest with your heart.
• Bedding - we spend so much time here, make it comfy.
• Plants - Unless you are a serial plant killer these can last for years. I have had an orchid for 9 years and my kumquat tree a strong 5 years!

My guest room full of flat pack furniture

Layout is important. Its no  fiction that the Brits live in some of the smallest homes in the EU. So be wise with your layouts and really think on how you want to use your space. My flat was only 700sq ft., which for a two bed two bath was actually sufficient.  But I had to plan my space properly. Some of my top space saving tricks:

• I got a gateleg table which I tucked under the breakfast bar, as I didn't want to eat on a stool for every meal. It came out into the living room when I was making dinner for 6 (which wasn't too often) and also gave my parents something to do while I was making dinner.
• I had some folding chairs which tucked neatly away into the utility for when I didn't need them.
• A comfy sofa bed! As big as your space allows.
• Ottoman beds are great for storage.
• Go up - wall suspended furniture is great for freeing up that valuable floor space. Think about shelves above doorways and even suspending things from the ceiling. 

A good example of a gate leg table

Introduce character - I needed some soul in my place. A new build has no history, no-one inhabited this space 20 stories up in the air at any time before me. So there I was the pioneer, needing to inject some humanity into this man-made space. I went vintage. This was a cheap and environmentally sustainable way of decorating my home. I trawled the vintage markets around Manchester for anything from vintage frames to ottomans and serving plates. Things that caught my eye came home with me. That reflected some of my soul back into my space. I still do this from time to time. 

Combining vintage and new pieces in your home can introduce much needed character in a new build

Command 3m Hooks are great! I had most of my art work up on these babies, and they rock! They don't destroy your walls and  are super easy to move about. Winner!

If I was giving advice now to myself a few years ago , I would say: Don't be too precious with those brilliant white walls. Enjoy it a little, go for colour. If you really do not think that your property will sell with that colour on the walls, you (or the new owners) can re-paint it when it comes to selling. Also buy once and better, I had some purchases that after 3 years of life, looked very worn, and that s fine, but there is no point in wasting your hard earned cash on something that isn't going to last you any significant period of time. 

The view from my balcony

I totally sobbed when I locked the front door of my flat for the very last time. The movers were beside themselves. And even though I love my current home, there is always a little special place in my heart for my first nest.