Decorating on less
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
(Ecclesiastes 6:9)
If you have visited a thrift store (charity/second-hand store) lately you would have notice the amount of stuff they have in these stores. Our local charity stores have asked for no more donations in the short term because they received so much following Christmas. We are a throw-away society wanting to replace old with new at an ever increasing rate. We are never content with what we have and strive for the latest on the market.
Sadly we have passed this trait onto our children who also like to have lots of news things rather than enjoying what they. When young people marry they tend to want to buy new, rather than doing what previous generations have done— enjoy the hand-me-downs until they can afford to upgrade.
I am amazed at people who replace their kitchens every 5 or so years to make sure it is "up-to-date" with the latest trends. Kitchen today can cost tens of thousands of dollars, it is a big investment, but for some it seems to be something that can be tossed aside when considered out of date. Or when a young couple buy a their first home, they look at an out-of-date kitchen and think it must be replaced — why, because it doesn't have the latest appliances. If it still works and its clean, why rush to get granite tops and stain-a-steel, why follow the trends of this world and get new just because every one else does.
When revitalising your home (which we all love to do from time to time), look around to see what you have already. What can be recycled and used in a different room, or used in a different way, re-covered or repainted? Not only will it save you stacks of money — it can be fun trying to give a room a new look on a small budget.
The purpose of revitalising your rooms is not to impress your neighbours with the latest trends and show off how much you are willing to spend — rather to create a cosy room that others will feel at home in and want to stay. Its about the atmosphere in the room, not the new furniture.
Remember what I wrote about in regards to the Danish concept of HYGGE — Enjoy what you have: Most people struggle with this concept — we always want more and we always want what others have. A Hygge home is the greenest to the owner. Sure, they may love to have the latest kitchen or a newest sofa, but you better believe what they do have is cared for and they’re still entertaining family and friends whether the sofa is perfect or not. A sense of contentment is important. (LINK)
Why not visit the local charity store and see what they have. I often buy china and glassware from mine, my large mirror came from a second-hand store, so to my kitchen dresser — I have some lovely plates and bowls that I use often that are second-hand. A pretty second-hand bowl on the table full of sea-shells can look lovely, or fruit, flowers etc..
Do you want your home to have character or look like a photo in a design magazine. As an artist you don't want to copy everyone else — you want to make your own personal statement which is full of character and individuality — then second-hand is perfect and often it doesn't cost much for repaint and make more secure with a few nails.
Another place for in-expesnive items is the dollar $$ stores. I am often amazed at what I can find for a few dollars that can add a new look to a room.
Perhaps you don't need more furniture rather a change of colour in the room. Painting a room can make such a differences to how one feels about the space — gloomy rooms make us feel depressed, upbeat colours are uplifting and inviting. Painting isn't overly expensive and most people can do it themselves — why not jazz up a space with some new paint!
If you share you love of second-hand and recycling with your children — hopefully you will pass this onto your children so when they have their own homes, they won't want to spend big dollars on new, but will be as happy and content to buy pre-owned things and make them theirs.
We don't always have to buy new, nor do we need to follow the trends of the world. There is nothing wrong with buying pre-loved and why not do something different to everyone else!! Your home is yours -— show your creative flair and not something from a magazine.
Sadly we have passed this trait onto our children who also like to have lots of news things rather than enjoying what they. When young people marry they tend to want to buy new, rather than doing what previous generations have done— enjoy the hand-me-downs until they can afford to upgrade.
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When revitalising your home (which we all love to do from time to time), look around to see what you have already. What can be recycled and used in a different room, or used in a different way, re-covered or repainted? Not only will it save you stacks of money — it can be fun trying to give a room a new look on a small budget.
The purpose of revitalising your rooms is not to impress your neighbours with the latest trends and show off how much you are willing to spend — rather to create a cosy room that others will feel at home in and want to stay. Its about the atmosphere in the room, not the new furniture.
Remember what I wrote about in regards to the Danish concept of HYGGE — Enjoy what you have: Most people struggle with this concept — we always want more and we always want what others have. A Hygge home is the greenest to the owner. Sure, they may love to have the latest kitchen or a newest sofa, but you better believe what they do have is cared for and they’re still entertaining family and friends whether the sofa is perfect or not. A sense of contentment is important. (LINK)
Why not visit the local charity store and see what they have. I often buy china and glassware from mine, my large mirror came from a second-hand store, so to my kitchen dresser — I have some lovely plates and bowls that I use often that are second-hand. A pretty second-hand bowl on the table full of sea-shells can look lovely, or fruit, flowers etc..
Homes are like gigantic treasure chests to be filled with our own personal artifacts of life —d ishes, art work for the walls, books and magazines, music, movies, and so much more. There are endless ways to create life in a home and we get to become the artists who leave our special imprint in our home. (quote by Sally Clarkson)
Do you want your home to have character or look like a photo in a design magazine. As an artist you don't want to copy everyone else — you want to make your own personal statement which is full of character and individuality — then second-hand is perfect and often it doesn't cost much for repaint and make more secure with a few nails.
Another place for in-expesnive items is the dollar $$ stores. I am often amazed at what I can find for a few dollars that can add a new look to a room.
Perhaps you don't need more furniture rather a change of colour in the room. Painting a room can make such a differences to how one feels about the space — gloomy rooms make us feel depressed, upbeat colours are uplifting and inviting. Painting isn't overly expensive and most people can do it themselves — why not jazz up a space with some new paint!
If you share you love of second-hand and recycling with your children — hopefully you will pass this onto your children so when they have their own homes, they won't want to spend big dollars on new, but will be as happy and content to buy pre-owned things and make them theirs.
We don't always have to buy new, nor do we need to follow the trends of the world. There is nothing wrong with buying pre-loved and why not do something different to everyone else!! Your home is yours -— show your creative flair and not something from a magazine.
I learned the word Hygge from you and I appreciate this philosophy and try to achieve this daily.
ReplyDeletei agree with you, our homes are treasure chests.
Our home is full of heirlooms, thrift finds and homemade treasures.
I sometimes look at realestate websites and look at the photos - so many modern houses lack any atmosphere with all the beige colours and new furniture - in fact many look so much the same. The thing about using old piece/pre-loved is that it makes our homes stand out and have such a different feeling to them - and I think it really does give the rooms warmth and a story that new furniture never can do :)
DeleteI really liked the little red and blue hand-painted table in the first picture. It made me happy just looking at it.
ReplyDeleteI am the opposite of many people because I actually dislike getting new furniture. The living room chairs that my husband and I use all of the time need to be replaced every several years because they wear out, not just the upholstery, but the structure. Our couch is about 30 years old and still in good condition. I have found the length of time between chair replacements gets shorter each time. The quality of much of the new furniture is not
what it used to be. One must be wary of shoddy construction and materials. We bought a new recliner last year that had to be returned to the store because the upholstery had a
horrible, asthma inducing, chemical odor to it. This was not an inexpensive chair, but nonetheless, the upholstery fabric was low quality.
I've noticed that a lot of the media is talking about de-cluttering, and minimizing furnishings and decor. Makes me wonder if once everyone has had plenty of time to get rid of everything, then there will be a push to buy more to replace what had been disposed of.
I'm with you - pre-loved and old just feels nicer to modern furniture - a bit like your favourite jumper!!! Considering the number of furniture stores around (certainly where I live) - I don't think there is any shortage of people buying new things (all the time).
DeleteThis is a good reminder to value the things we have and take care of them. Often the newer stuff is cheaper quality anyway. Sometimes when I feel dissatisfied with my home, a good cleaning, and some rearranging makes everything look better.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree - new furniture can be very poor quality and just doesn't last as long. I bought a second-hand dresser (war time era) and I think it has far more character and interesting compared to anything new. I even like the worn paint and the few bumps it has!! I do love rearranging things, it really does makes a space feel new!
DeleteCouldn't agree more with you Jo, as well as the ladies who commented. We are soon to be moving into an old cottage built 1896. It is our plan to continue to buy "pre-loved" to decorate the extra rooms we will have. I am for instance, "over the moon" with the recent purchase of a dining room set made in the 1940's. We bought it from a site called "Gumtree" and paid really very little for it. It isn't in perfect shape, but it's solid and beautiful, and any marks on it seem only to add character.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to think of the things we will find as we search in charity shops, EBay, and other places, to decorate our new/old home!
Christine x
Isn't it so exciting to find a bargain that is beautiful and old :)) I was so excited when I found my 1940s dresser after looking for months at all the new dressers around - I not only found a bargain but just what I wanted . Your cottage sounds wonderful and it will certainly be fun to decorate it with pre-loved things. Have fun :)))
DeleteI think I like of mix of old vs. new and character vs magazine when it comes to my home.
ReplyDeleteI do have new because at times it is easier when you are looking for a particular item.
DeleteWhat lovely pieces ... the painted table with the red legs in my favorite. Our home, too, is filled with found treasures and recycled items. They bring me a great deal of joy whether inside or in my garden. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI do like that table too - sadly not mine, found on Pinterest :) Isn't it fun to hunt for treasures, especially those that don't cost much!!
DeleteYou're so right. I want to freshen things up a bit around here come spring.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to do some freshening up at the start of the new season.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. What a wonderful post! I get tired of seeing the same things rehearsed in magazines and on reality TV. I mean really, what's 'new' about feature tiles and granite bench tops?? Show me someone who has decorated their home on a shoestring with ingenuity and imagination and I'll be far more impressed! Mimi x
ReplyDeleteI am in Australia but watch some of your home real estate programmes on Netflix and the one thing that I heard over and over again when couples in search of a home said when they looked at kitchens "we much have granite bench tops and stainless steel appliances" so I assume that is the in thing and nothing else is good enough. I love seeing kitchens done cheaply but with imagination, they are often wonderful kitchens.
DeleteRecently when I was going through some boxes we hadn't unpacked after moving here, I found a couple things from when I was a child that I thought my children would like. I found one thing for each of them. They were more delighted to be given these old things from probably 25 years ago than they are when given brand new things. I was so pleased! :)
ReplyDeleteMost kids (mine anyway) love old things that are about you or your past. My eldest has some old books that belonged to my mother and he loves them because of the history. They are special. I went through my mothers old jewellery the day and took some things, they may not have any $$ value but they are my mothers and that is where the value and importances lies.
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