A few weeks ago, someone asked me,

“Once I finally find my sofa... what should I buy next?”

I loved that question because the answer isn’t always what people expect.

Most of us get excited about finally finding that one big piece.

The sofa.

The dining table.

The bed.

And then we immediately start shopping for whatever catches our eye next.

A coffee table.

A lamp.

Some pillows.

Maybe a piece of art.

But after designing hundreds of homes, I’ve learned something...

The order you make decisions can completely change how a room comes together.

It isn’t about buying everything at once.

It’s about knowing what the room needs next.

Here’s how I usually think through it.

Start by grounding the room.

By: @ramsaynye

Once the main furniture piece is in place, I almost always ask,

“What’s going to anchor everything around it?”

Most of the time, that’s the rug.

The rug defines the space, adds warmth, and helps every other piece feel connected.

A lot of people wait until the very end to choose one.

I actually like thinking about it much earlier.

It makes every decision after that so much easier.

Think about how the room will actually be lived in.

By: @kelseyleighdesignco

Before I add another piece of furniture, I’m already thinking about how people will move through the space.

Can you comfortably walk through the room?

Can chairs pull out easily?

Is there a place to set down your coffee from every seat?

Beautiful rooms should also be easy to live in.

Those two things should always go together.

Add height before you add more little things.

By: @emma__ainscough

This is one of the biggest things I notice.

When a room feels unfinished, our first instinct is usually to buy more accessories.

Another candle.

Another bowl.

Another stack of books.

But a lot of the time...

The room isn’t asking for more little things.

It’s asking for height.

A beautiful lamp.

A larger piece of art.

Curtains hung higher.

A floor lamp.

A tree in the corner.

Those pieces help your eye move around the room and instantly make it feel more complete.

Choose your lighting sooner than you think.

By: @megmade

Lighting isn’t the finishing touch.

It’s part of the foundation.

A lamp isn’t just there to help you read.

It adds texture.

Warmth.

Personality.

The right chandelier can completely change a dining room.

The right table lamp can make an entire corner feel finished.

Lighting has a way of making everything around it look even better.

Don’t worry about matching everything.

By: @laurenreynoldsdesign

One of my favorite rooms is almost never the one where everything matches perfectly.

I love mixing vintage with new.

Different wood tones.

Natural stone.

Linen.

Leather.

Pieces collected over time.

Instead of asking,

“Does this match?”

I like asking,

“Does this belong?”

Those are two very different questions.

Then comes my favorite part...

By: @ge.gasparini

Once the big decisions are made...

That’s when I start layering in personality.

The books you’ve collected.

The pottery you found while traveling.

Family photos.

A vintage piece that made you stop in your tracks.

Those are the things that make a house feel like your home.

One last thought...

The biggest mistake usually isn’t the first piece you bought.

It’s making the next decision without thinking about what the room still needs.

A home doesn’t come together because every piece is beautiful on its own.

It comes together because every piece supports the one before it.

And when that happens...

Your home starts to feel effortless.

Not sure where to start?

By: @megmade

That’s exactly why we created MegMade Design Services.

Whether you’re decorating one room or your entire home, we’ll help you create a plan, choose the right pieces in the right order, and take the guesswork out of the process.

The best part? Your design deposit goes toward your furniture and décor purchases.

Ready to get started? Click here!

Xoxo,

Meg