When to Work with Furniture & Elements You Already Own
How to know when to work with furniture & elements you already own!
I hear this from my clients so often that they don’t have money for a full re-design, or you like some of your things and furniture but have no clue how to make everything work together, or what to do!
Well have no fear people! No matter the budget or what you want to work with, you can create a cohesive space that speaks to you! You just need a few pointers to get you started in the right creative direction, which I will outline for you below. These are great interior design tips for beginners. Whether you are furnishing an apartment or re-designing your living room, feel free to use these tips as your “Interior Design: How to Start” cheat sheet!
First off I love found and heirloom pieces and I think that they often become the centerpiece of a beautifully designed room. I want you to feel confident incorporating pieces that you love and already own into a new environment for yourself!
It’s really easy to get stuck on some specific details when thinking about re-doing a space. I want to introduce you to some steps I have my design clients take when deciding if working around existing pieces is right for your and right for the space too.
I obsessed with a good thrift shop or second hand store. One of my favorite pastimes is thinking creatively regarding the usage of pieces that I’ve found over time that really make me happy. These pieces are the things that truly reflect my aesthetic and personality, however I make sure that they support the lifestyle I’m aiming towards as well.
I’m here to challenge some design norms. Most designers will tell you to start over when designing a space, and in all honesty that is the easier and often more functional route. However I personally believe that your home should truly reflect who you are as a person, and often this includes pieces that you have collected over time!
Re-designing and working around existing pieces and furniture can be tricky, and even though you may love the piece you must be willing to think outside the box and also be willing to let go if they don’t fit into the parameters I will share below. Design is a holistic process that involves you thinking about how you want to use the space, what objects will help you best achieve these tasks, as well as functionally fitting into your physical space and finally expressing your aesthetic! There are many things to consider here.
However when you think creatively in regards to pieces you own and understand how they may be used to best serve your needs you can have the satisfaction of saving money and using a piece that brings you joy.
If you follow the following tips when deciding whether or not to re-use or donating a piece you can’t lose. If you think you must start over because your designer told you so (even though you went through the steps below), follow your heart instead, it always knows best.
Here is my guide on deciding whether or not an object or
furniture piece deserves to share your environment with you:
Step #1: Purge
Decluttering and removing what doesn’t serve you is the most important step. Whether or not you have just moved into a new space, or are re-working in some within an existing space, you must take time to really analyze what you choose to surround yourself with. Dig deep here people, you cannot skip this step. Ideally you should touch every single object that you own and decide whether or not this object or furniture piece can serve you in the life you are trying to create for yourself. If not you must be strong enough to let this go, it is getting in your way trust me.
Step #2: Ok I love it. Now what?
Ok so you did your purge and many objects and furniture made it through your value system. You are set on an interior design vintage feel. Now its time to change focus and think about the specific space you are trying to re-work.
• How ideally will you be using this space?
• Who will be joining you in this space?
• How do you want this space to feel?
Think idealistically, a rooms function exists in the empty space around the objects, it’s how you use it.
Step #3: How can I use this to serve my needs?
Now back to your favorite furniture piece or object. Does this piece help you to engage with those activities that you outlined in Step #2. Maybe you love this piece but it can’t be used in a way that supports the activities and the feeling you wish to invoke in the space in question.
Don’t worry too much about this, this is still ok, we will pick this back up in Step #6!
Be honest with yourself please! A piece jammed awkwardly into a space with no true value or purpose will not create a functional, or enjoyable space for you!
Step #4: Does this piece reflect my aesthetic?
In Step #2 when you mused about how you want the space to feel, does this object or piece of furniture make you feel the same way? Does this piece reflect the good feelings within you? Think about what these feelings are. Often when true good feelings arise when thinking about an object the piece fits naturally within your aesthetic. The beauty of collected or found pieces are that you often picked the piece out yourself just by admiring it. These are often great things to start when thinking about interior design.
Step #5: Does it actually fit in this space?
Often when designers wish to start with a blank space it is because either the client isn’t willing to do the work to decide whether or not they truly love a piece. Other times the piece literally cannot fit within the space plan layout of the other pieces necessary to create the environment that you truly want. Designers are there to create the best environment for you, and you must hire one that you trust. Sometimes pieces do not physically or emotionally work in a space, you must be prepared to understand this too. Don’t sacrifice your Feng Sui for a forced placement of a furniture piece! If you need help with understanding the functionality of your space, seek out a professional!
*A fair warning here, if you are looking to re-use pieces that you already own be prepared to be honest with yourself. If your only goal is to save money you cannot expect a designer to make you fall in love with pieces that don’t really speak to you, or fit pieces in that don’t fit the room!
Step #6: Would it work better somewhere else?
See I told you there was a saving grace! Would this piece that you love serve you better in another room or space? Is it better suited to the activities you wish to engage in elsewhere? If so you should consider moving the piece! It’s better to keep a special piece in an area where it will actually be used often.
Step #7: Are you keeping it out of guilt?… Here is a huge trap! Often people keep things in their home out of bad feelings, and you need to be able to be honest with yourself. The most common modalities of this at work would be either: the guilt of spending money, or someone gave it to you and you feel as though you need to keep it out of respect for them.
Remember this is your home, you deserve to have things that make you happy.
Maybe if it is money that you are worried about (which is more than understandable), and you are forced to work with things you don’t love, you should think about re-working your space on your own. Again minimizing your things can help you to reclaim the space for yourself. Or if you still want to work with a designer, understand that they will do their best to create a space that works for you. But be clear that if you insist on a designer working with pieces that you already own that there are limitations!
When you are honest with yourself and your situation you can make informed choices for the things you build you life with! No matter your budget or your circumstances when you choose things with your intuition and intentions, you cannot go wrong!
I know for me I have many objects that I love, and a few that don’t light me up in particular, however based on my own budget and the activities that I wish to engage with in my environment, these things too support my ultimate goals.
Let me know if you guys found any of these tips helpful. I would also love to hear how you all choose what stays in your environments, as well as what some of your favorite objects are!
When tackling your own design projects, remember the wise words of Mr.Berkus…
“Be a ruthless editor of what you allow in your home, ask yourselves what does this object mean to me?”
Thank you so much for reading!
• If you are looking for some gorgeous bath inspiration, follow my Vintage Aesthetic Pinterest Board!
Hi I’m Catherine,
“I balance authentic interior design with intuitive insight to help my clients connect to their deeper selves by empowering their own creative self expression.
I create space for them to follow their desires and depth of feeling, into a new environment that supports them, mind, body, & soul”
Love,
Catherine Rose
• If you would like to read some of my own random journal entries go to •Musings•
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