So, my house is pretty much stuck in 1995. We know we need to do some larger remodeling, but until then I’d like to go around and at least get rid of some old decorations, ie… fake ferns.
So we have a 4 Season sunroom and have 2 fake ferns hanging from the ceiling by the wall over the end tables. I know, I know…they’re at goodwill now. Also taking out a lot of the fake greenery that we all used back then. Leaving a coup,Ed pieces that seem appropriate, but that’s all.
I’ve also had fake fruit in my kitchen. Thought it gave it a pop of. Olof, ut I’ve had this fruit in all my houses since we bought our first in 1986. Time to let it go. However, in this house it’s been in a very pretty thick decorative basket. They kind you would put on a coffee table.
I have no idea what to put in this wire basket. It’s something you might find at hobby lobby, dark hammered brownish. Anyway, what do people put in these things? It looks weird just sitting empty.
First of all for redecorating I recently read that even for a room re-arranging it was suggested to pull EVERYTHING out of the room. Make the room largely empty as when you first moved in. It’s easier to see how you might do things differently if the room is empty.
YES, get rid of the fake plants! I would suggest - especially in a sun room - one nice “statement piece” real plant - could be a succulent, a rubber plant…spend the $$ to get a nice plant potted in a nice way.
Wire basket. How big? Some ideas: Fresh REAL fruit. A couple of small succulents nested in the basket. Napkins. Veggies that don’t need to be refrigerated.
I just can’t park with the fake plant that we got for our wedding in 1986, ha. It’s in our bedroom, so I don’t have to worry what other people think about it. It looks pretty good, actually. When it was given to us, I thought, “Ugh, I’m not a plant person, how am I going to keep it alive?” Ha.
But what I put on an coffee table in the sunroom? We also have a table with 4 chairs in their, also. I like the idea of maybe putting a succulent in it. I hate getting rid of it.
@conmama "But what I put on an coffee table in the sunroom? " Coffee? It sounds as if your sunroom would be a nice place to relax…take your coffee (put it on the coffee table!), a good book, a nice knee rug or throw, some soothing music and relax. It sounds as if it would be a great space to just relax, minus the clutter and the fakery.
If you are lucky enough t have a 4-season sunroom, have REAL plants. Exactly what will depend on what the light is like. My favorite house plant is Clivia. A ficus tree is nice, too.
i have an outdated sort of house too. for my BDay my sil gave me an hour with a designer friend. her advice was to get rid of all of the clutter and decorations, and then slowly put a few back. We got rid of all of the things on top of my cabinets in the kitchen, completely slimmed down the stuff on the family room bookshelves, and rearranged furniture. It looks better. not necessarily updated, but much cleaner and streamlined.
If you like the splash of color that the fake fruit provides in your kitchen, replace it once in a while with a vase filled with a bouquet of fresh flowers. I don’t purchase fresh flowers that often - I prefer flowering plants that last longer, but I find I enjoy the beauty of fresh flowers particularly this time of year, as the daylight savings means we have less sunlight.
^^That’s that idea of “clearing out” a room - even if it just means bookshelves. They also suggest living with it empty for a few days so that your mind can visually get used to seeing “less” and then be open to new arrangements.
I cleared out one side of our living room bookshelf (whole wall flanked by built in bookshelves on both sides and then window seat and big picture window in the middle) to trial some new paint colors for the back wall of the bookshelves. It’s kind of refreshing not to see all that stuff there! More and more I like less stuff!
I’d spend some time on Pinterest browsing other people’s rooms and seeing what apppeals to you.
The farmhouse trend has been big but I think it’s run its course. See what rooms you keep dining back to and try to bring those elements to your space.
Agree to pull stuff that is dated or not smile inducing out. You may like the clearer surfaces. Then consider taking a fresh look at the glassware, pottery, etc that you may have inherited or acquired over the years to see if there is a new way to enjoy it. My mother had a large collection of various crystal glasses, some with stems. Hand wash only and haven’t been used enough. This time of year, I pull out some of different heights, add votives and put them on the mantle or with a tray on a coffee table. It is so easy to think that the answer is to buy something; personal pieces can have another life. Have fun!
I would suggest - especially in a sun room - one nice “statement piece” real plant - could be a succulent, a rubber plant…spend the $$ to get a nice plant potted in a nice way.