Use the Slow Decorating Technique to Create an Interior Design You Really Love
It’s easy to get excited and want to immediately go out and furnish your entire new home, especially if you don’t have much furniture. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t give us time to set our intentions, get a feel for our new space, and make our homes as inviting, relaxing, and stimulating as we’d like. Another problem with running out of everything new and buying everything new at once is that it can be expensive and difficult to find exactly what you want if you’re on a budget. Luckily, there is a decorating technique known as “slow decorating” that can satisfy both your inner sense of peace and your wallet.
Slow decorating, like slow fashion, is about choosing higher-quality, longer-lasting furniture rather than choosing something that will be on your doorstep tomorrow. Focusing on quality over quantity allows you to focus on what you really like and choose items that will suit your taste and lifestyle. While you may decide to invest in more expensive and durable items, you can also take the time to find the perfect deal that you’ll love.
Ask yourself these four questions
There are plenty of advanced guides with tips to help you narrow down your taste and design style, but to decorate mindfully, you can boil down the questions you should ask yourself to these four:
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How will this space be used?
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How do I want this space to feel?
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What furniture do I want to keep?
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What are my budget priorities?
Once you’ve answered these questions yourself, you can continue to narrow down your preferences by choosing more specific options such as size, color, material, and functionality.
Find joy in discovery
Decorating slowly means enjoying the process. If you’re not at all inspired by design or creating an environment that feels like you belong, you might not enjoy this decorating method. However, if you can enjoy searching for the right bookcase for your reading nook, the right texture for your curtains, and the right set of lamps for your living room, then slow decorating is for you. The idea is not to necessarily stop yourself from taking home exactly what you need, but to create what you feel is right so that it is functional, durable and aesthetically pleasing to you.
Measure success first
If you’ve ever gone to a thrift store and brought home the cutest side table only to find that it doesn’t quite fit your room, you already know how important it is to measure your space before you shop. If you already have some items you want to keep and are thinking about rearranging, you can measure the furniture you already have to see how else it might fit into your space. Also, keep in mind things like the distance to lamp sockets or other places you might need to connect so that cords don’t run into unexpected places.
Repurpose existing furniture
If you need a change but your existing countertop is wrong, you can refinish it or use stencils or other painting techniques to reimagine it. You can also use spray paint to change the color of the metal of light fixtures and lamps. It’s important to think about existing furniture that doesn’t quite fit but is well made and durable, and how you can repurpose it before throwing it away.
Look for durable and sustainable materials.
Today, most furniture is made from fiberboard, MDF or chipboard. These materials are cheap, and while they can be used in a pinch, they also won’t last as long as furniture made from real wood , metal , or rattan . While buying new furniture made from these materials may be more expensive, you can consider thrift and vintage options, or buy unfinished wood furniture and refinish it yourself.
Spend money on handmade furniture
If you have a budget for one or two special pieces, choose handcrafted pieces for quality furniture that is unique to your home. Handmade items are often more durable than mass-produced furniture, meaning you won’t be replacing your piece any time soon. An added benefit of purchasing something from local craftsmen is that you can often get something custom made for your space.