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I live in a rather small condo that's roughly 1200sqft 1bed/2bath and find myself getting bored easily with decor. GoodWill just loves me! LOL

There are certain items I have no problem letting go of such as accessories as I have no room for storage (another issue of mine), so if I buy something new, nine times out of ten, something has to go. Then there are times that I want to change a bigger item such as my chandelier and two pendant lights I have over my island and the guilt sinks in which in effect causes me to get stuck. Just when I think I'm ready to move forward I'm finding it difficult to get past the guilt that my chandelier is only 5 years old and at the time a bit pricey.

Does guilt effect you when decorating or redecorating?

I have gone thru many CL buys that I have replaced several times...dining room tables and a couple coffee tables. Athough each purchase wasn't expensive, if you add it all up...I have wasted alot of money. I usually resell what I buy on CL, but I am sure I am in the red overall with the purchases.

Probably 2 of more expensive purchases would be 2 area rugs I've bought at Overstock. The first one I gave to my SIL and she has it in her DR, the 2nd one I did sell on CL...I am definately in the red with those 2 purchases!!

I totally understand what you're saying. And the answer is yes. I tend to make rash decisions without putting a lot of thought into what I really want to accomplish and then end up not liking what I've done or bought, or I simply change my mind.

Or I just get bored with, or I see something better and wish I had bought/done that instead.

Why can't I just hit the lottery so I can have more than one house to decorate?

And, to add to that, I try to get out of things cheaply and tend to 'settle' on items that are not really what I want. Mostly this happens with window treatments.

Good thread!

The older I get, the less guilt I feel over stuff. And, yes, I have bought, sold, given away stuff I got tired of after a few years. Anyway, life is too short to live with stuff you don't like.

Right now, I am thinking of replacing some beautiful and expensive art glass light sconces and chandelier we bought two years, maybe three years ago. I want a different look in the house. DH just shakes his head, but he trusts my judgement -- usually. If I can find a buyer for them, great.

I learned long ago to be patient until I could afford what I really wanted. Making do is not something I enjoy, so I would rather do without. That meant sitting on my mother's old sofa for the first 8 years of my marriage until we could afford the one we both really wanted. I am happy to report that we still own our dream couch 20 years later. It was reupholstered a few years ago and the springs retied so I expect we will own it for another 20 years or more.

We often buy second hand but even then we look
for antiques or quality vintage furniture. We both like traditional which is never really in or out of style. I feel fortunate to have found my style at a very early age and don't expect that will ever change.

I learned a long time ago that shopping is not decorating. So, the trading out is not something I do unless I bought the cheaper item as a 'place holder' till I could afford something better for that spot.

Upgrading is something that can be done when let's say I have an old piece of luggage on display but have my eye out for a leather upgrade, then I would sell the original place holder.

Once you have some things upgraded in your room, you have your eye trained to look for something more special for just 'that' spot!

When I buy, I have not lost too much, I usually remember what I paid and try and sell for same or higher.

I didn't recover the price for my dining set and sofa in Virginia, but we had it in the house for over 5 yrs and got good use out of it, so with depreciation and the price I sold it for, I was happy with that.

Sunny, I totally agree and have similar problems. I love so many styles and still don't know what I'd do if I could start over completely. You also have space constraints-you need a bigger condo minus the bigger payments . I have let go of guilt over switching out accessories. But I paid alot of money 2 yrs ago for 2 chairs I really dislike and are so uncomfortable

There is a mirror "hiding" in the trunk of my car. DH is going to flip....

Having said that, I do feel guilt, but we have been trying to furnish our first home (together) and have been living with the college cast offs for sooooooooooo long that I feel fortunate that I can replace items.

Guilt? No Way.

I don't spend money I don't have. I always budget and plan for my purchases. I am not an impulse buyer, so I think things through and make lots of plans ahead of time. I sell or donate the unwanted items. Everything is above board - I never hide my plans from my husband. What on earth would I have to feel guilty about?

I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting a change now and then.

I just don't buy anything that would cause me to feel guilty, because that would ruin the enjoyment. If I can't afford it, I don't buy it. I find, too, that guilt is less of an issue period if my purchases are not impulsive. Even when I do find decorative items that I fall in love with, I usually intentionally wait to see if this feeling subsides and go back to the store frequently before I reassess my feelings. If it does, I'll know it was merely a temporary infatuation.

~Lady50

I'm happy to read I am not alone!

Mamaspoon - Maybe I do need a bigger condo - hmmmmm - LOL! Our space constraints is a bit frustrating, but living on the water is worth it, so worth it.

I'll keep you posted!

Personally I only get bored of things when I settle. Whenever I am too impatient to wait to save the $ for the thing I really want. I always wanted to use an antique sleigh bed as a sofa. Finally we put the $ aside for the bed as well as the custom mattress to fit the 170 year old French frame size. It cost us even more to have a custom mattress cover and huge oversized bolsters. It was totally worth the $ and I've completely forgotten about the time I had to wait.I totally love it, and I'll never get rid of it. Other pieces that are not my absolute first choice will eventually go.

Gilt, not guilt!

Interesting comments.

For me, the paramount issue is getting the bones of the house right. I waited a year after moving into our present home before embarking on a major reno. Some walls were blown out, kitchen cabinets modified and customized.
We put in new counters, new flooring, molding trim on all ceilings, wall coverings, among other things. All were carefully planned. I figured I was going to have to live with the results of this major investment for a l-o-o-n-g time.

As for furnishings, well, that is where I give myself a lot of latitude to replace, relocate or remove as my needs and wants change. So, no guilt over that, fer sure.

No guilt here. We wait and think very hard before we spend. If we settle for less than what we really want than we are just wasting money. I've never waited a long time and saved to buy something and then tired of it or changed my mind.

The only time we get rid of a piece is when it is too worn or broken.

Hi Sunny,

No guilt. I do take my time and save up for those things. Sometimes I change my mind and go for something different. Just not a settler either simply to have it done. It took 3 1/2 years to finally order a DR set that I wanted. It still makes me smile.

No guilt here. I call guilt a "personal spanking". Who needs that?

Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Charles D:
Gilt, not guilt!

I find the biggest mistake homeowners make is not having a plan. If you know the direction you are taking your home, you can make wise purchases. Whether you buy everything at once or the rooms are done in stages, you still need to know what you want the completed rooms to look like. Impulse purchases almost always result in disappointment.

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Ruth:
I learned a long time ago that shopping is not decorating. So, the trading out is not something I do unless I bought the cheaper item as a 'place holder' till I could afford something better for that spot.

Upgrading is something that can be done when let's say I have an old piece of luggage on display but have my eye out for a leather upgrade, then I would sell the original place holder.

Once you have some things upgraded in your room, you have your eye trained to look for something more special for just 'that' spot!

Ditto, although I could never have said what I was thinking so articulately.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cavin:

..If you know the direction you are taking your home, you can make wise purchases....../QUOTE]

I think that's it in a nutshell. Most people are not sure of what style they want. I find things I like years apart (or even decades) and they still look as if I planned it all along.

quote:

QUOTE]Originally posted by Cavin:

..If you know the direction you are taking your home, you can make wise purchases....../QUOTE]

I very much agree! You won't get tempted with sales of items you do not need.

Guilt? No, self pity maybe! LOL. My home is furnished with inexpensive and found and yard sale, & auction items. Very few things have been purchased new and they are always from a cheap source for furniture.

My d.r. chairs were bought over 40 years ago at a yard sale for $24. The chairs I use in our blue room (where we eat) were free at the town swap shop. They surround an oval table bought at a consignment shop that cost $100 (and always has to be covered a/c the veneered top is buckling.)

If you can afford to and want to, buy the new version of whatever you are tired of. After awhile you will find that everything gets boring (life itself) That's what I am finding lately. The same old same old get boring. . . the routine of things. Forget the furnishings that support it!

This round table is just the right size and something I always wanted but the top has a deep scratch in it. bought it at auction for too much and it always has to be covered as I can't figure out how to repair such a deep scratch. Maybe I should ask DH?

quote:

If you know the direction you are taking your home, you can make wise purchases.

Since I have only owned one home, but this is true even of apartments. Anyway it seems to me that the style and size of the rooms in the house you own, kind of dictate the furnishings.

In other words you are receiving a big nudge after making the initial big decision of what house.

I agree LOS, the style of home starts you in a direction, and the longer you live in it, the more you can collect, especially with an attic and basement!

I find it when my accessories are all of similar size I get bored with them. That is why people also collect. When a collector upgrades, he/she can sell the upstart items. I think when finding things (such as your treasure hunt at the swap shop might become more 'I can't leave that here it is so nice' type of mentality instead of taking what you love. But then you can always rotate your items, by bringing some back to the swap shop instead of just bringing home. Or have swap parties with your family and friends.

Interesting items can always spark interest and creativity, arrange some for photos to show us for example, that vignette is pretty you showed. Judith (judithva) got me into photographing vignettes and got me on a whole new way of looking at accessories.

Just need a new way to look at your treasures! Actually move some out that are things you just like and are not your favs... then you will have empty spots to fill, that can spark more interest.

In other words to change the 'mood' you have to 'do' something different. No matter what you choose to do, you have an interesting house and have some beautiful things to play with!

Mary ruth, I'm not bored with my furnishings. I get bored with the daily routine of life! Pulling the shades up, turning the bed down, cooking, sitting to watch t.v., etc etc.

OH I get it now... sorry, senior moment! lol
I hear ya, sometimes I think if I have to wash DH's breakfast dishes one more time I am going to buy paper plates! lol... just the mundane-ness of the chores. I think after a certain age, a woman ought to stop being a slave for the rest of the house... I am retired... period! LOL at least that is how I feel when I leave the dishes in the sink for a while!

That is the Artist in us I think... we feel that time is robbed from our creative time.