There was an article in the 10/25/09 edition of Parade Magazine called “Why Shopping is Good Again.” The article is talking about shopping for consumer products, not necessarily those that are interior design related. However, I took away three points from it that I think can be applied to interior design:
1) “No longer is bigger synonymous with better.”
Make your current house more beautiful and functional, and the size will be immaterial. “Trading up” doesn’t have to mean buying a larger house. If you like your neighborhood, your neighbors, and (if applicable) the school system your kids are in, this housing/economic mess could be a blessing in disguise. Sometimes, a larger home means nothing more than larger utility bills and more empty rooms.
2) “A $200 dress you’ll wear 20 times holds far greater value than a $50 dress you’ll wear twice.”
There is no shortage of big box furniture stores. There are plenty of places to go to purchase a $500 sofa. However, how long will that sofa last? How durable is the fabric? How many fabric options do you have? Can you double the wear by flipping over the cushions? When it starts to fall apart, will it end up in a landfill? In the long run, you’re much better off purchasing higher end furniture. It is repairable, recoverable, will hold it’s value and functionality longer. You can donate it, sell it or hand it down. That $500 sofa may feel like a bargain now, but 2 or 3 years from now where will it be? Remember, a bargain is not necessarily a good value.
3) “Think about how it feels when something you’ve become attached to is lost…The item wasn’t all that expensive…but it mattered a great deal to you.”
I’ve had clients tell me “we don’t have to use that (piece of art, plant stand, Grandma’s chair, etc.) in the room—after all, I only paid $25 for it (or it was inherited, or whatever).” But if you love it, or feel sentimental about it, or it tells an important story about your life, please keep it. We can reframe it, or refinish it or repurpose it. Sometimes, those odd pieces of art or accessories or that little cabinet are the pieces that great family stories are made of. Good interior design doesn’t ignore those stories—it supports and solidifies them.