Although many are doing good to have a house, let alone a summer house (which is the category we fall into) others have been blessed with inherited property or the ability to afford such luxuries. No matter if you own it or if you're renting one for the summer and want to add some personal touches, outfitting the space doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Here's 5 ways to score your decor for less!
1.K.I.S.S.: Which stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. Although the phrase can feel slightly offensive, remember that your summer home is usually in a location that is surrounded by nature of close proximity to things you want to enjoy. You don't need to pack the place full of stuff just to make it feel homey, enjoy the roomy-openness that the process of not filling every nook and cranny brings you. Look for larger items that give you more bang for your buck that will feel like art instead of clutter.
2. Repurpose Repaint & Refinish: Although it's tempting to tear open those catalogs and start shopping away for summer home finds, try keeping things local and giving used items a makeover instead. They'll have 100 times more personality, will keep your eco-footprint more green and give you the most bang for your buck!
3. Use What You Have: Even though the point of a vacation home is to leave everything else behind, there's no real reason to buy separate sheets when you already own a set for your other home. Yes, you'll have to take them with you, but it does mean you can keep your spending down and reserved for other items that can't be toted back and forth with you.
4. Garage Sales: Doing the garage sale thing can be tricky. You spend loads of time digging through other people's stuff and although you can often find some things at a steal, you'll want to check the paper or even Craigslist for big ticket items before heading out. Although there's the opportunity to find a diamond in the rough, if you know you're specifically after a dining room set, driving around hoping to come across one seems silly. Make sure to attend sales in the area of your summer home to help give it the feel of the area, instead of the one you're trying to leave behind for the time being!
5. Auctions: If you're a long time reader, you'll know that we're a big supporter of location auctioneers. Although there's a note of sadness in an auction, you're able to score AMAZING finds at rock bottom prices. Head to an auction prepared to do battle, put your game face on and know when to call it quits on bidding. Some collectors and antique dealers think the sky is the limit, just remember, there will always be another one next week, or even tomorrow!
Do you have a thrifty tip for furnishing a double space? Let us know below!
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I feel like apartment therapy has been slowly but surely been changing their post topics and product highlights to appeal to the wealthy. I'm concerned that AT is going the way of Dwell - anyone else noticed this, or am I just being paranoid? Cause last time I check, 99% of the country does NOT own a summer house.
hurly03, I too have noticed a move toward the $2,000 outdoor chair. Which is a little freaky for AT. However, in the case of this post, the author did stipulate that a summer house is an unusual luxury and that the tips were good for renters too.
My bigger problem with this post is the total "DUH"-ness of the so-called tips. "How to stay in a budget: keep it simple, use what you have, go to garage sales and auctions." That's not a post. That's a regurtitation of the obvious. And none of those suggestions are summer home specific, either. I know AT is under great pressure to keep the posts coming fast and furiious, but remeber the saying about when you have nothing to say...
Actually Hurly, I was thinking the same thing. "Summer house?? Are you kidding me? What's with AT lately?"
But I think they're just trying to cover the whole spectrum.
In the words of Tracy Jordan, "Superman does good; you're doing well. You need to study your grammar, son."
I figure they wanted to use that picture, which I love. Love the industrial lamp on the wall, the pillows, the daybed, the shingled walls, and the glorious view. Needs a book on that daybed.
I think they're just trying to cover all of their bases. And some people have been lucky enough to inherit a summer cottage, like my brother-in-law, and now I'm benefiting from it because I get to vacation there. They've kept their place simple by only having what's necessary, repainting it, refurbishing antique beds our family had in the barn for years, and actually using a couple hand me downs from me, a small buffet/cabinet and kitchen table. I gave them an old chippy window I found in the basement of an old apartment, too. They haven't spent a ton of money, but the place looks adorable as is. The ocean breeze and the views are enough.
I agree that AT has been talking about some pretty pricey things lately, but in MN where I live - it's pretty common to have a cabin 'up north'. My parents, in-laws, and brother-in-law all have cabins. Granted, I don't, and probably won't for quite some time!!
I don't think we need to take these kinds of posts so seriously. AT, and design blogs in general, are about inspiration and ideas. I don't have a summer home but I sure would love my everyday-home to feel like a vacation spot. So why not apply ideas like these to whatever your real life is? I don't think these are meant to be so literal. Be inspired!
does anyone else find the words "budget" and "summer home" in the same sentence awkward? who here on a real budget can afford their own home, let alone a second or third? I agree- $2000 chair, summer homes, $550 cocktail trolley? i think my twice a week Starbucks run is lavish!
to defend the article, some of us from canada can actually (barely) afford a summer cottage.
this also means that suggestions for 2K chairs are unnecessary and definitely not useful in any way.
i also disagree with point #2 about using what you already have. new bedding is a great way to lift up an old house and give it some air. as are new curtains. god is in the details.
Does anybody know where a day bed similar to this can be found? It would be perfect for our guest room/office!
I'm always an advocate of re-arranging. Rotate the decorative things you don't have space to have out all at once, to freshen things up, move the furniture into a different configuration - it might be that you then need less than you thought. I love that day-bed... looks so wishfully summery on a winter Sydney day!
i'm with you ephemereciel....i clicked on that post for more info on the daybed =)
Yeah, I'm sort of confused about who would need to read this post to learn about garage sales, auctions, and using what you already have. I'd be more interested, I think, in a post that suggests ways to bring the summer cottage look into an existing apartment (colors, patterns, textures, objects, etc.), specific sources or ideas for summer cottage-style decor (either in the form of more gorgeous inspiration photos or specific finds), or ideas about specific places to shop for great, affordable summer house decor (a cute little antique shop in Cape Cod, a great flea market in northern Michigan, etc.).
oneformybaby......yes...i got all cringy-like....;) but it IS how I try to keep my permanent rental...year round!