The One Decor David Bromstad Always Splurges On

If given the choice between splurging on an expensive couch or on another big-ticket decor item, HGTV's David Bromstad goes with the sofa every time. The rationale behind this decision is simple. It's the centerpiece for family gatherings. It's the place he gravitates toward at the top of every morning. "It's where I live," he explains in an HGTV interview. 

For Bromstad, the living room couch is an investment that's worth spending a bit more on. It, like a bed, counts among the most important pieces you can choose in a home. As such, the purchase deserves to be researched. He'll often advise his clients to start their search for the perfect couch, not at the store, but in their favorite hotel lobbies or bars. The color guru is also big on sofa shoppers creating a decorating mood board on Pinterest and flipping through their favorite design magazines. The idea is to get a feel for the kind of space that home decorators want to create, and more importantly, the kind of sofa that might evoke the mood they're trying to emulate.

And if applicable, Bromstad advises shoppers to talk with their partners about the purchase. The pair can mutually decide on the couch they both want. If they each want a say in an individual purchase for the shared space, they can take turns deciding on individual accessories for the couch and other parts of the room. This ensures that everyone's tastes are honored and reflected in the space, while still getting a couch that both can agree on.

Despite David Bromstad's advice to go with a more expensive couch, he does also suggest that people create a decorating budget ahead of their sofa purchase to save time and money. And within the confines of the budget, the role that the sofa will play in the overall scheme of the room needs consideration. For example, are you buying a couch for a small space like a studio? If that's the case, you should decide if it needs to be a futon that you can also sleep on. Or will the couch provide additional seating for the dining table when you have friends over?

Another important factor to think about is whether or not the couches you have your eyes on will even fit into the space. To that end, you'll want to measure the space to ensure that the sofa not only fits through the door, but that it'll fit into the room once you buy it. One easy way to determine if you have enough floor space for it is to actually measure a spot on the floor and then mark it with tape. If the couch you're looking at fits inside the borders of the tape, you're golden. If not, you may need to think of another configuration for the room, or in the worst case scenarios, go with another couch all together.

For HGTV designer and color aficionado, David Bromstad, the couch needs to be a place where friends and family can bond. As such, comfort should be a factor when spending a lot of money on this decor item. In light of that, if you can go to the store and buy the sofa, as opposed to buying it online, that's ideal. This store trek gives you the opportunity to squeeze the sofa's cushions. You get to see how it feels when you bounce a little on it — and how its shape bounces back (or not) if you do give it a good test. However, if you have to purchase it online, contact the seller and ask about getting fabric or wood samples if that's possible. These'll give you an idea of the couch you'll end up with.

It should also go without saying that you may not want to buy the couch the first time you're in the store. Rather, it's good to take the time to get to know the salesperson, who'll ideally let you know when the piece might be going on sale or who'll alert you of any sofa design trends that are outdated. The salesperson is a fount of knowledge as to the availability of the sofa, any other pieces that might go with it, and other critical info. Finally, don't be afraid to shop around a bit. You may find a couch or salesperson or price (or all of the above) that you like better. Essentially, when it comes to following David Bromstad's tips for creating your dream home, it's always better to be savvy about the process. And your sofa purchase plays a big role in that.