New Homes: First five buys for a new home (and what can wait)

Shopping ideas to get new homeowners started

It is important to invest in a good kitchen from the outset.

Congratulations. You’ve turned the key on your new front door. But as you stretch out, settle in and make the property your own, you’ll want to know how to maximise your spend.

While this snazzy super space may boost your feelgood factor to the skies, spare a thought for lifting your bank balance's wellbeing once more too. Yes, you want a timeless home you will enjoy for years to come that will reflect your and your family’s personality and lifestyle; but first things first – it has to be functional and comfortable as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Don’t worry – we’re not buzzkills, here to put the brakes on the freewheeling fun factor. We’re just trying to help future-proof your budget and optimise timelines as you kit each room out.

Cork interior designer Maura Mackey (mauramackeydesign.ie) agrees. “Sometimes people can be eager to finish every space at once – but we don’t have to do that. Finish one space at a time,” she says.

This is also in keeping with the sustainable practices of salvage and upcycling. “Bring something from your mam’s house or a friend’s, whether it’s a chair or another piece of furniture,” adds Maura.

Interior designer Maura Mackey. Picture: Anna Groniecka

The Ballinhassig-based interior designer is fascinated by how things have changed in the past decade or more when it comes to priorities. “Years ago, when I bought my own house, I waited a year and a half before I got the proper kitchen – I literally couldn’t afford it — but you don’t have to do that,” she says.

In fact, the kitchen is the first ingredient in Maura’s tasty recipe for a successful smart-spend once you move in.

To make it easy, we’ve prioritised the essentials to consider right away versus the “deferred buys” you can take your time choosing – sometimes over years – as you save up for more, and also as you get to know your home. “You have to live in a space until you feel it,” says Maura.

What to spend on first 

Kitchen 

This is the big-spend area for Maura. “It’s the hub of the home,” she says. “I believe you should put time and energy into this space from the start.” Poring over luscious pictures in glossy magazines is all good and well, adds the interior designer, but think long and hard about real-life practicalities: “Who will be using the space, who will be living in the space?

“We could be talking about whole families using a kitchen, perhaps you have teenagers coming in from GAA, or young kids bouncing in after school. It has to be a workable kitchen and space.

“This means giving good consideration to the materials that you put into it.” 

It is worth investing in flooring from the outset, says Maura Mackey of Maura Mackey Design; interior design scheme by Maura pictured.

 Flooring 

 Flooring, tiles and carpets need to be the most hardwearing surfaces in your home and will put up with a lot of heavy traffic over the years. You want quality, long-lasting solutions.

Invest in your flooring from the outset, advises Maura: “I find that flooring is something you’re not going to change in a hurry.” Once it’s down and all your other furniture is placed on top of it, it is a lot of hassle to change.

Lighting 

Lighting is often overlooked, but it is essential to your home’s mood and functionality. “We spend thousands on paint, but the vibe of your house won’t flow and will not be as you want it if the lighting isn’t right.

“Many of us want ‘the cosy vibes’, and no matter how much you spend after, you’re not going to be chasing walls, so you should get the ambient lighting sorted beforehand.” Get a visual idea of how your lighting plan will look beforehand, if possible, she says. “If you know what the whole house will look like, from ambient lighting to task lighting and the different light sources during the day,” she says.

A cosy vibe complete with layered lighting, is essential to our comfort at home, according to interior designer Maura Mackey.

“I was at [tradeshow] Design Source last week, and a company showcased how a room or a whole house would be lit throughout the day. Who doesn’t want to see what their house is going to look like and feel like?

“Lighting needs to be layered, and I think it’s something worth putting money into from the start to have the right fit.” Furniture The same goes for furniture. First things first — spend on the basic, everyday pieces needed for the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. We’re talking kitchen table, chairs, sofa, and beds.

A sofa is among the 'smart spends' when we move into a new home, according to interior designer Maura Mackey (interior design by Maura pictured).

Curtains and blinds add texture and balance to every room.

Window dressings 

Window dressings (curtains and blinds) add texture and balance to every room, says Maura. “At the moment, I’m working on a home where we have installed recessed blinds into the ceiling,” adds the designer. “Recessed blinds give privacy without ruining the lovely garden vibe they have going on.

“In a bathroom that needs it, a textured fabric can lift a space or create a mood.” 

What you can defer 

Bespoke pieces of furniture 

The interior designer follows this advice in her own home. “I have been looking for a new hall table and mirror for a year and a half now, and I’m not going to purchase until I find the exact pieces I want,” she says.

Art you love 

“Art can wait,” says Maura. “I love art – it can really bring a whole space together. But it’s something I’d prefer to spend money on when I can do so."

Ornaments and accessories 

Again, these can be incremental additions, says Maura: “As I said, you have to live in a space until you feel it. Not everything needs to be finished.”