Discover the True Expenses of Your Decor Choices
Did you know when it comes to buying home decor, the initial price you pay isn’t the only cost you’ll be incurring? You might be oblivious to the long list of expenses that will pile up as time goes on.
However, ignorance is not bliss, and you should educate yourself on these hidden costs for making informed and budget-friendly decisions.
Delivery Fees
When it comes to placing orders for furniture and decor items, you will have to pay for a delivery fee besides the product cost. This delivery fee can be pretty high especially if the order is placed for a bulky decor item or a furniture piece.
While some retailers will add the cost to the total prices, the norm is to charge the delivery fees separately.
Assembling Fees
There are times when you need to assemble a table or complicated furniture piece and this can’t be done without professional help. When placing an order you need to confirm whether the assembling fees are included in the price or it’ll be charged independently.
Getting expert help isn’t always bad because getting it done professionally makes sure everything is assembled accurately.
Fabric Care
If you’ve invested in high-end fabrics throughout your home, you’ll suffer from hidden costs related to their constant upkeep and maintenance. Luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk, and linen need to be taken care of frequently and they’ll require professional attention every once in a while.
Spending on dry cleaning, periodic treatments, and detergents will be the ongoing costs as long as you own the fabric piece.
Customization Charges
Even though there’s nothing quite like a customized piece of decor, it comes with a premium tag. The more changes you ask your supplier to make, the higher the costs get.
Custom pieces come with intricate designs, a complex theme, and high-quality materials hence the high cost. Changes in size, any additional unique features, and special finishes will lead to higher customization charges.
Shipping Delays
One of the unforeseen costs of placing a home delivery order for home decor is shipping delays. This can usually happen when the items are back-ordered or out of stock.
If you’re unable to receive your order in due time, you might have to pay additional costs. Some suppliers ask for payments to have the order delivered faster which will add to your total expenses.
Return Shipping Costs
Even though one doesn’t plan on returning an order, it can happen and when it does, you’ll be paying for the return costs. Again, the fees will depend upon the size and weight of an item along with the retailer’s return policy.
Therefore, before placing a final order, find out about the return policy including information on who will bear the cost of return shipping.
Taxes
When it comes to budgeting your home decor purchases, prepare yourself for any surprise tax costs. At times you’ll be paying more at the doorstep when your order is received as opposed to what was agreed before while placing the order.
This is how taxes work. Therefore, it’s smart to do your research beforehand to manage your overall expenditure and stay prepared for any financial surprises.
Warranty Costs
Even though these costs prove to be beneficial in the long run, warranty costs will impact your home decor budget. Warranties will typically cover defects and accidental damages.
These will prove to be beneficial for high-end or frequently used items such as furniture and electronic equipment. It’s important to carefully review the terms of the warranty to learn about everything included and excluded.
Energy Costs
Spending on money aesthetically pleasing LED lights and wall scones feels good but the bill the energy bill that comes afterwards might not. Large lighting fixtures like pendant lights or chandeliers will lead to high energy costs.
Especially with the rise in utility costs, it isn’t a smart move to spend on appliances that will incur ongoing costs. Therefore, whenever you’re browsing for lighting options look out for those with energy-efficient features.
Seasonal Decor Changes
Nobody likes using the same decor all year round. You’ll have to switch up the accent pieces according to the weather outside.
If it’s fall, the pumpkin-themed decor will have to be bought and when summer rolls around you’ll have to replace it with vibrant pieces. Hence, don’t forget the fact that you’ll probably be paying for decor all year long even though it might not seem like it.
Storage Cost
With decor items, you’ll have to ultimately suffer from storage costs in terms of space and money especially if you’ve got limited space. Sometimes, there might be a need to rent an extra storage space, and this usually arises due to heavy furniture or appliances like refrigerators, etc.
Then there’s the added problem of accessing these stored items leading to potential inconveniences.
Unexpected Repairs
Items that are experiencing daily use or are set in a high-traffic area might suffer from damage. Furniture, upholstery, and rugs are particularly more sensitive to wear and tear time.
In such cases, you’ll be paying for repairs or, arranging a full-on replacement. Similarly, your flooring might need touch-ups and fixes over time.
Protective Treatments
Protective treatments are an overlooked expense in making your decor pieces functional for a long time. These treatments have a list of benefits including improving the durability and appearance of your decor items.
Protective treatments for rugs and upholstery will protect them against stains and spills. Ultimately, you’ll be paying for these unplanned additional costs.
Home Improvement Permits
When you want to make structural alterations to your home, you might need to get home improvement permits which might involve additional fees. So whether you’re planning on renovating your home for the upcoming fall season or installing a new floor plan, you will need to incur permit costs.
If you need some inspiration regarding living room layouts for fall, take a look at these Fall-Ready Living Room Layouts That Just Work.
Trends
Trends tend to go out of style in a matter of months. If you’re someone who follows trends for your home decor, you will end up paying for frequent replacements.
To avoid the problem of hidden costs, you should invest in timeless decor pieces. When it comes to buying your home decor, always keep the bigger picture in mind.
For a timeless home look, check out our article Exploring Timeless Iconic Design Styles.