The Appeal Of A ‘Finished’ Home: Myth Or Reality?
For many the idea of moving in and ‘doing’ their home in a few months is appealing, the idea being that then you can just enjoy living and it’s not on the mental to-do list anymore. But the idea that a home is finished is a bit of a misnomer, our homes continually evolve whether through adding accessories or items that we collect along the way that we happen to like or from our changing needs at various stages of our lives. Some changes are small and others big, but they are there and we should embrace our home as a constantly evolving space.
The Impact Of Consumerism On Our Homes
That being said a bit like fast fashion there is an element of the market that promotes fast interiors, for instance, the trend to have all-new Christmas decorations every year or new season lamps, table decorations, cushions and so on. Many high street brands promote cheap and on-trend items which there is nothing wrong with, except when items are thrown away at a higher level than normal and most of them aren’t recyclable.
Guidelines For Making Long-Term Home Decor Choices
So as consumers, we have an obligation to make sure what we buy for our homes is something we really like, something that will stand the test of time both in terms of our own changing tastes and usability. How do you go about deciding on these things? There are some simple guidelines you can follow for this.
- Buy as best quality that you can afford.
- Think about how the item will work with what you already have.
- Don’t panic purchase or buy something just because it’s on sale.
- If it’s a big item like a sofa or bed pick something you can see yourself liking in 10 years not just because it’s fashionable right now.
Creating Spaces That Stand The Test Of Time
As interior designers, our role is to ensure that any building work we suggest, as well as the colours, furniture, fabrics, and items, are a reflection of the client’s lifestyle and personal preferences, rather than just following the latest trend, and are designed to work well for the long term. We look at what clients already own, what can be repositioned, given a new lease of life and what they need to buy new. We scour antique centres, eBay, Facebook marketplace, and local vintage fairs for items that need a new home and the best part is no one else is likely to have them. We strongly recommend living in a house for a period before making any changes. This will help you understand how you use the space and how it feels, as preconceptions often don’t match reality. Sacrificing a ‘done’ home for a while is worth it to avoid costly mistakes.
So when you start your next project or renovation take the time to think about how it will change and evolve before jumping in and except that your home will grow over time and never be fully finished.
