to spend or not to spend
Spend, scavenge, save: a flexible lens for shopping
As a community of design enthusiasts, perhaps it’s a tale as old as time to find ourselves overcome with the urge to have a “finished” home that reflects a strong sense of personal style. Looking at polished pictures online all day has a tendency to fill us with desire. At varying stages of life - busy schedules, kids, caretaking, figuring out your combined style with a partner, and for various reasons - money, transient lifestyles, etc. we have to learn to temper the flame.
I loved this perspective from fashion tiktoker Pigmami, who argues that style isn’t something you buy, it’s a muscle to build like going to the gym consistently. Want to learn to dress better? Get dressed every day. Want to create a thoughtfully designed home? Start experimenting. Want to have a refined personal style? View it as a lifelong exploration. -Linny
We’re all taunted daily to buy, buy, buy, it’s an oh-so-tempting way to create style, but aside from spending, what other resources do we have available to alchemize our visual aspirations? Let’s discuss:
Perhaps you’ve heard of the saying ‘good, fast, or cheap, pick 2.’ It perfectly encapsulates our options when it comes to design, and really so much in life. We believe that at different times and for specific pieces, you might employ different strategies based on your priorities at the moment. You don’t have to live solely in one world, we switch between these ourselves.
Let’s break it down:
Good, Fast, Cheap. Choose 2
good + fast = expensive
We may not always get to live in this world, but it could apply to a specific piece like the perfect sectional or your forever dining table.
This could be a great opportunity to work with a custom furniture maker, upholsterer or other artisan
see our highlight or “furniture makers” highlight on ig for a few favorites
Always look for high-quality materials and third-party certifications. Check out our summary here.
if you have the budget but want vintage fast, check out Chairish, 1st Dibs, Kaiyo, or, curated vintage shops online or local to you
fast + cheap = a “for now” solution
Sometimes in life, you’re in a phase where you need fast and cheap. Maybe you’re moving somewhere temporarily and it’s not the season to make big commitments to decor
Follow local vintage dealers whose prices are within your range
Find a thrift store near you that has a decent selection of what you’re looking for (furniture, art, home decor, etc.) and visit consistently. Even if it’s for 15 minutes a week. That consistency will lead you somewhere interesting.
When we have to go fast, cheap and new, we go Ikea.
They’re not perfect, but they’re the only affordable big-box furniture manufacturer with big climate goals. If we are giving money to someone who makes cheap furniture, we want it to go to a company making big strides toward a better future.
They have a huge line of raw pine furniture that’s a great starting point - it’s usually inexpensive and offers the ability to paint or stain with products you’re comfortable with.
good + cheap = slow
We love to focus on the slow articulation of personal style that can happen over time. It’s most accessible to everyone as it can be done on any budget and with whatever time you have. In this sweet spot, you can tune into the creative process of creating a home vs. just checking it off the list.
shop often and consistently. whether online or in person, always keep an eye out and search for pieces that wow you.
we’ve got a slew of workshops available for paid subscribers/member including Everything You Need To Know About Facebook Marketplace and Thrifting Your Dream Home
All of this thinking and writing about consumerism has led us to develop some shopping parameters for ourselves:
second-hand first whenever possible
save for artisan pieces and invest in art we love
put in cart and leave it there for a while to give myself time to consider it and avoid the instant gratification - Claire
canceling amazon (I was resistant) has helped me so much to break from instant gratification - Linny
When Linny did away with hers, it triggered me to use mine differently. I have a toddler, so I try to limit it to things for him (stainless steel dinnerware) and household items (dish soap) - Claire
run it by friends - this is why we started house friends...sometimes we all need to just bounce ideas off of someone other than our partner
create a moodboard or pinterest board to gather our vision together before making a big purchase (check out our moodboard workshop on the portal)
if it needs to be new, I try to aim for natural materials within my means...this is a new one for me since starting house friends - Claire
Check out our design services here, we love working with people to refine their vision and get organized and excited to create their dream space over time.
NEXT UP IN OCTOBER:
It’s been a little heady around here and we love a good palette cleanser. We’ll be exploring pattern mixing this month! Wallpaper, curtains, rugs, pillows, upholstery fabric, etc. we’ll investigate how to layer a room with intention.