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It’s easy to get excited and want to go out and furnish your whole new home right away, especially if you don’t have much furniture. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t give us time to set our intentions, get a feel for our new space, and make our homes as inviting, relaxing, and stimulating in the ways we would like. The other problem with running out and buying everything new in one go is that it can be expensive and difficult to find exactly what you want if you’re on a budget. Luckily, there’s a decorating technique known as “slow decorating” that can satisfy both your inner sense of peace and your wallet.
Slow decorating, like slow fashion, is about choosing better-made, longer-lasting furnishings rather than picking out something that will be on your doorstep by tomorrow. The focus on quality over quantity allows you to zero in on what you really like and choose things that will fit your tastes and lifestyle. While you might decide to invest in more expensive and more durable pieces, you can also take the time to hunt down the perfect thrifted bargain that hits your sweet spot.
Ask yourself these four questions
There are lots of expanded guides with prompts that can help you to narrow down your particular taste and design style, but to decorate mindfully, you can boil down the questions you should ask yourself to these four:
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How will this space be used?
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How do I want this space to feel?
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What furnishings do I have that I want to keep?
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What are my budget priorities?
Once you have answered these for yourself, you can continue to narrow down your preferences by selecting more specific things like size, color, material, and function.
Find joy in the discovery
Embracing slow decorating means enjoying the process. If you don’t feel at all inspired by design or by crafting an environment that feels like it belongs to you, you might not like this method of decorating. However, if you can savor the hunt for just the right bookcase for a reading nook, just the right texture for your drapes, and just the right set of lamps for your living room, then slow decorating is for you. The idea is not to necessarily keep yourself from taking home the exact right thing but to curate what you think of as the right thing so that it’s functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing to you.
Measure first for success
If you’ve ever gone to a thrift store and brought home the cutest side table only to discover that it doesn’t quite fit your room, you already know the importance of measuring your space before you shop. If you already have some pieces you want to keep and are thinking of rearranging, you can measure the furniture you already have to help figure out how else it might fit in your space. Also, keep in mind things like the distance to outlets for lamps or other places you might need to plug in so you don’t end up with cords running in odd places.
Remake existing furniture
If you need a change, but your existing table top is all wrong, you can refinish it or use stencils or other paint techniques to reimagine it. You can also use spray paint to change the color of metal on light fixtures and lamps. The important thing is to consider existing furnishings that don’t quite fit in, but are well made and durable and how you might be able to repurpose them before you toss them.
Look for durable and sustainable materials
A lot of furniture these days is made from fiberboard, MDF, or particle board. These materials are cheap and although they are definitely serviceable in a pinch, they also won’t last as long as furniture made from real wood, metal, or rattan might. While furniture made from these materials can be more expensive to buy new, you can consider thrifted and vintage options or buying unfinished wood furniture and finishing it yourself.
Spend money on handmade furnishings
If you have the budget for a special piece or two, choose handmade items for quality furnishings that are unique to your home. Hand-crafted items are often more durable than mass-produced furniture, and that means you won’t be replacing your piece anytime soon. The added benefit to shopping for something via local craftspeople is that you can often get something custom-built for your space.
