Rachel writes:
I've never really developed 'my style' in the place I'm living. Living arrangements, financial constraints, and a total lack of patience have been major hindrances, but now I've got the opportunity to start all over! Having moved in with a family member, my things are in storage and it seems like the perfect time to start discarding what I don't need or isn't 'me' and start amassing the things I will need for when I head out on my own...again. So I'm wandering, what are the essential pieces that I need to start looking for first (or keeping from my current belongings)? I want to make sure that when I do move out again I have all the things needed to feel like a settled adult instead a (wo)man child with all hand-me-downs but still have the room to grow into my style.
Personally we think you should live with as little possible for now as you're in a transition period, setting aside a savings particularly for future purchases. Instead of buying things now when you don't really need them during this transitional period, create an idea/inspiration book or board where you start forming an idea of what particular space and decor you want to live in. Many people make the mistake of trying to force a circular peg into a square hole when it comes to decor, partially because they carry over decorative and furnishing pieces from one place to another without carefully deliberating how the space works with each piece. If anything, patience is definitely a virtue when it comes to decorating a space with style...and style should be something formed over time, not purchased all at once.
When we moved into our first apartment as a couple, we didn't purchase a single piece of furniture for several months. We allowed ourselves to become acquainted with the light, space and movement of our new home. Do that first before purchasing anything major. For now, one thing you can purchase without worry about decor is a good mattress. That's definitely a "grown up" purchase we highly recommend (and can cost you a good deal of change).
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Comments (9)
Context is everything - it is probably not a good idea to buy furniture before you choose your space. That said, if I were you I would look into buying
One iconic piece of furniture you absolutely love, that is also easy to move (I would go for a chair).
One piece of art.
One beatiful lamp.
What Gregory said.
I don't have any great tips that those above have offered, but I completely understand what you mean... I'm right there in it. Best of luck (to both of us)!
Emily
great advice here. if you want to get rid of things that you don't need or which don't express who you are, nobody else is going to tell you what those particular objects are. likewise, nobody can tell you what those "essential" things to obtain are unless they know you really well. this is not a big deal; in the grand scheme of things it's not even important. best to collect catalog clippings and web photos before you make any major purchases.
While I agree with Gregory, I don't think that everyone can refurnish their lives every time they move... at some point, you have to commit to things, to who you are, to things that are meaningful to you, and to your lifestyle.
For example, when I was 9 years old, two sets of family friends got Ligne Roset's Togo series for their living rooms. I fell in love with it! I vowed that it would be my first sofa in my first home, and so it was! I was a graduate student, and together with my-then boyfriend could only scrape together enough for a 3 seater and pouf, but we loved it. Nineteen years later, we are on our second set of Togo -- this time in alcantara and with all the missing pieces which we couldn't afford the last time. We still love it, as do our children, who cuddle and jump on it just as I had first envisioned when I was 9.
So if you find you DO fall in love with something, don't be afraid of making a commitment.
And don't limit yourself to new things -- the most interesting things can be found in flea markets and junk stores. Spend a lot of times with magazines such as Living Etc., and the French edition of Elle Decoration, Marie Claire Maison, the Scandinavian design magazines to develop your eye.
Check out Home is Where the Heart is by Ilse Crawford, and these books too:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-French-Interiors-Inspiration-Antique/dp/2080300547/ref=pd_sim_b_20
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flea-Market-Style-Emily-Chalmers/dp/184172937X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227785220&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-House-Book-Twenty-First-Century/dp/1840914688/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227785242&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Old-New-Katherine-Sorrell/dp/1845975464/ref=pd_sim_b_4
In addition to developing a home style, "settled" adults also need:
* a real frying pan with plenty of useful life--throw away the one with the peeling teflon
* matching plates, bowls, and silverware for 4
* thick towels in your favorite color, not the threadbare stuff from college
* whatever glassware is appropriate for whatever you drink. No more serving red wine in plastic cups!
As your home style matures, these can be regulated to other areas of the home (except for the frying pan, obviously.) Plates, glasses, and silverware can be used for overflow or picnic utensils if you decide to upgrade to a nicer set (or china, cut glass, etc.) The towels can go into a guest bathroom.
1. A comfortable bed. (Since this can be a lifetime quest, maybe I am saying "your FIRST comfortable bed"! At least the mattress, not necessarily the bed frame itself...)
2. Things that you LOVE. Not "like", not "kinda love" but really LOVE. For me it was original art from artists in a coop I was part of, and other decorative pieces. When I moved cross country, I could manage the big paintings, but none of the old furniture. As you start to accumulate relatively portable (but not tiny, mind) objects that make your heart sing, you will probably discover trends and your style will begin to emerge. (It's amazing how a nice painting on the wall makes temporary plastic chairs seem almost like real furniture!)
3. Treasures. This is the category for things that might be permanent furnishings that you maybe don't actually need in your current situation but are just TOO perfect to pass up. Probably because they are outstanding bargains AND something you love! I might include investment pieces that you can later sell to subsidize things you like more. Like the two mid-century upholstered barrel chairs I once got at Goodwill for $20 each... I like them, we use them, but as I get a little tired of them I know I could sell them for more than the piddly amount I paid and use the proceeds for something fresh. (I wouldln't put ordinary "make-do" second-hand things in this category -- those can wait until you have your own place and have needs to fill...)
I agree with enmnm ....I would go for the things you use everyday... really good quality towels, flatware, glassware etc. Big pieces can wait until you are in your own space.
Don't start hoarding or buying things just because you have space to fill.
I would first start by looking at the things you have and figure out what should go and then get rid of it. What have you grown tired off? What's kinda broken or too worn for your tastes? Some people might say that you should wait until you find a replacement, I'm kind of impatient, so I think you should get rid of those things as soon as you can let go of them. For me, it's hard to see clearly sometimes if there are things I've outgrown clouding my vision. But if they don't bother you in the same way, then it is certainly more practical to keep them until you replace them.
Once you've sorted through your stuff, I would make a list of the things you think you need. Include what's obviously missing (a bed, a table, chairs, a sofa, dishes, etc.), then prioritize it, and be prepared to add or subtract things as you get new stuff. Look at magazines, at your friends' and families' places, on the internet, on TV, outside, wherever - you can find ideas and inspiration everywhere - this helps to calibrate your list a little and also you should start thinking about what you tend to like in terms of styles, colors, and design. Ultimately, it's your space so you should fill it with things that will make it a home for you. If you are uncertain about your tastes then ask your friends/family/anyone for advice. Be prepared, though, to get just as many different opinions. It's okay to make mistakes (wrong colors, textures, design), just fix them when you realize they were mistakes. Also, maybe they weren't mistakes maybe you've just changed your mind about it. It will happen.
Finally, start by buying one thing at a time. Get the best piece you can afford and that you really like, that you can see keeping for some years and work your way through your list. They don't have to be expensive; shop around. It's good to think about how it will look against your other pieces so that there is some coordination at the end but I think you'll be surprized at how your style starts to come together and gets reflected across pieces anyway.
I think it is a fun process and I hope you take your time with it because if you rush into it, you may not like how it all turns out and then you'll have to replace everything. It's much better to take your time with it and to enjoy it, too. You'll get to know yourself better in the process.