Add interest to décor with ‘historical’ pieces
“Nothing can be so perfect while we possess it as it will seem when remembered.” Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) American physician, professor, lecturer and author, “The Poet at The Breakfast Table” (1872)
You may remember that I recently wrote about not having everything in a room match and that the prettiest and most interesting rooms look like they have “evolved” over the years, even though you may have just recently purchased everything. I have a couple of suggestions to help in your exploration when furnishing your space. These tips will work for the basics of a room or occasional pieces you may wish to add.
One of my all time favorite places to shop for furniture and accessories is a consignment store. There are several here in Las Vegas and I hope you have at least strolled through them. It can be so much fun.
New furniture has never been a “have to have” for me – if a piece is in good condition, i.e., sturdy, clean and can be used “as is” or with very little effort, I’m interested. And think about the history. These pieces have a past and it’s fun to find out why they were special in their former lives.
There was a time when I wasn’t excited about having somebody else’s furniture in my house, but my thinking changed when I realized what wonderful things you can find for very little money. Consider this: We all clamor to acquire things from our mothers and grandmas. So it’s kind of the same – it’s just things from somebody else’s mother or grandma.
Furniture and accessories have to have a lot going for them when you buy at consignment stores; they have to be in good shape and priced right. Most consignment stores will not accept upholstery with stains, rips or tears, so if the piece would fit your needs, and is sturdy and strong, you can always have it reupholstered. Wooden pieces may have minimal scratches, but these are usually easy fixes.
Consignment store prices are also flexible at times. The price will often go down the longer the piece is in the store and the store may even call the consignee if shoppers put in a low offer.
Other than shopping for interesting bargains in consignment shops, another exciting decorating tact is repurposing. You will be surprised at how many uses one piece of furniture can have.
For instance, a small round or square table, 2½-3 feet in diameter, can be used for a small kitchen eating nook, a bedside table, an end table next to a sofa or in an entry corner. Small upholstered stools can work great as “tables” in front of a sofa, seating at the foot of a bed or as a footstool.
A dresser works in the bedroom but is also comfortable in the dining room as a buffet or in the family room holding a flat-screen TV.
Once you have established your style when decorating your home, you will be drawn to pieces similar in style and are interchangeable in your spaces. This gives you great flexibility and prevents boredom with your stuff. Let’s face it, we do get tired of our things and having the ability to switch them out is like getting two or three pieces of furniture for one price. How cool is that?
So, in reality, you don’t have to buy an entire roomful of furniture in a set. Make your decorating more of a process by adding pieces from different sources that can be used in multiple ways. And do check out consignment stores. Adding treasures that once graced someone else’s home will add interest to yours.
Carolyn Muse Grant is a design consultant, expert home stager and creator of beautiful spaces. Questions can be sent to her at creativemuse@cox.net.
