Your bowl is lovely! You don’t need to get rid of it - maybe just put it away for a bit. Last year I did what I call a facelift on my living room. The room gets used sparingly as we have a family room and finished basement. But, it’s a really nice comfy room with a fireplace that gets used from time to time and you see the room right when you walk in our home. I took everything out ( as someone upthread suggested ) and decided to get rid of 2 lamps, a large area rug, 1 small piece of furniture and pillows and throws. I cleaned off the mantle and the 2 built in book cases. I had put some things away in a closet over the years and I decided to pull some of it out to use in those areas.I purchased a new rug, pillows, throws and lamps. I still loved the color of the walls and the window treatments and my furniture ( couch and 4 chairs) are all very neutral colors so the pillows and throws really changed things up. I also rearranged the furniture. It just looks updated and a bit fresh without spending a lot of $.
I need to update the pillows on my couch. I’m not into fake much of anything but I do believe we need to check ourselves every few years. I don’t want to live in a museum to a previous decade. Certain things are timeless but can be updated. A new frame, coasters, changing out items in a bowl.
If you have a Pier 1 near you, take your bowl with you and try out different objects in it.
The colorful ornament bulbs are a great temporary solution to get through the holidays if you really want to keep the basket.
Or you could put a colorful napkin in it, fill it with frosted/decorated Christmas cookies and invite us all to come eat them! 
Back to a prior page, I do find it an interesting conundrum how to balance not becoming an old person’s time capsule house versus actually liking the furniture I bought in the '80s.
I think of all the times, over the last 40 years, when I walked into my in laws place or into a grandparent’s place or others of those generations and I made snarky little judgments in my head about how outdated it was. Then I bought ‘good’ furniture and I actually like it and don’t have any interest in buying new bedroom furniture, yet I am sure it’s dated. I do have a seating group in the bedroom and had it re-upholstered so it’s updated fabric though dated profile, but I think it’s cool enough to be interesting.
I think you need several MORE baskets, each one a bit smaller than the last and placed inside the one just larger, like Russian nesting dolls. Make a statement and embrace your inner basket!
^^As someone who clearly had a basket obsession at one time (hence, my name) I don’t know if I support more baskets without a purpose to them!!!
While I don’t advocate buying more “stuff” I think sometimes we don’t realize what we like or don’t like or need anymore until we consider replacing something. I might like a vase or basket or container I have at home a lot - until I am out shopping and see something I love even more - and that does not scream “1988” - when that happens I can come home and look at that item at home and not really love it so much anymore!
I’d guess if you haven’t touched a thing in your house in 10 years, it is probably starting to look dated. It’s fine to keep pieces you love, but in my opinion if there is some extra money, change something in each room once in a while.
@somemom , I was thinking the same thing about how I would go into older peoples homes and wonder why they didn’t bother to update. Now I’m that person it seems, and I now understand why. At least for me. There is only so much disposable income, and right now we are wanting to spend that on traveling, ourselves and taking the kids. We will have say, $5k and think…new bathroom or go to California. The traveling wins every time.
I knew my house look dated, but it really hit home this summer. Our home really is a comfortable house. It’s older and has that homey quality. We get that comment a lot. But this summer, one of DS’s friends from college was over for the weekend. He fell asleep on the sofa (I wasn’t there at the time). He told DS that he felt so comfortable here that he could fall asleep in every room we had…just like his Grandma’s!!! Ok…time to take down the ferns, and update a little.
@conmama–…“just like his Grandma’s!!!”
Or you actually own comfortable furniture that isn’t made today. Or your house is quiet and really is homey so you can actually relax. A safe haven. And that is a real compliment.
New, comfortable furniture can still be found.
I would have cringed at the grandma comment, too, though he really was complimenting you.
I’m the type that grows tired of the same style after 5-10 years, and I like to change to something new and fresh, not to impress others, but to make myself happy. But it MUST feel cozy and homey. I’m not about trends that look stylish but sterile.
People often disparage updating a decorating style but think nothing of keeping their wardrobe updated (much less would wear something that dates you 10-20 years back). I don’t really get it.
Do what makes you happy. The only time you need to think of a larger appeal is if you are going to list your home in an area where having an updated look can positively impact the time your house spends on the market and/or price.
When it comes to furniture–I’d love to take my parent’s bedroom furniture. It’s 50 years old but of a Danish design that is timeless. I bought similar furniture later on and still love it. It seems more modern than much of what is out there today.
When I look around my dad’s house what I see now are carefully displayed treasures that really mean something.
When we “update” stuff for my dad it’s little stuff. We try to keep our updates in the “when someone comes to visit dad, we want them comfortable that this is a good place to visit and not just some old person’s house”.
Sometimes there are things that you think need replacing. An old kitchen clock that sometimes skips a beat. But turns out was a gift from dear friends from more than 50 years ago–and it still works. The friends have passed but the clock is still ticking.
Some fish plaques on the wall (cool but now yellowing with age). That was a hand made gift from a best friend almost 60 years ago.
And a few more pieces maybe but minimal in number and you can see all the memories in them.
Photos that have more history than I have.
Please please do not do this. Most civic and school theater groups do not have storage for these things. If they need them…they can get them easily enough (someone else will be getting rid of them).
Re: your basket…maybe move it to a different room and repurpose it. You could put it in a bathroom with rolled up colored wash or hand clothes, for example.
- LOL @conmama at the grandma statement! He clearly meant it as a compliment!
- Yes, "do what makes you happy"
- I totally get the lack of $$ to do major overhauls. I'm there at the moment especially until we know where D2 lands for grad school. That's where inexpensive "freshening up" comes into play. That could mean clearing out a room and starting over - with what you have (which means moving things around, maybe getting rid of some things). Or buying a can of paint. Or going to TJ Maxx/Home Goods (insert your discount store of choice) and spend a minimal amount on "new and fresh" - a lamp, new couch throw, a real plant or two, a couple of beautiful picture frames - voila some freshness!
I am certain my house needs freshening up.
My family room furniture (Brown leather) was purchased as Woodies was going out of business on the east coast, probably 20 years ago. My living room furniture was purchased when we moved into our house 12 or so years ago, but our cats have made a big mess of it (the stuffing is falling out of the arms).
I sort of have “commitment” issues, so I tend not to spend on house stuff. I’m afraid I will tire of it quickly, so I just do nothing. What I do have tends to not get changed up often, that’s for sure.
I don’t have as much trouble committing to vacations though.
Back to your basket on the coffee table…
You could change what is in it seasonly.
In fall, buy the miniature gourds/pumpkins, etc. and arrange them in it.
Winter, maybe a thick candle surrounded by small colored ball ornaments in your color scheme.
Spring, maybe flowering plant?
Summer, still flowering plant! or a collection of seashells!
These are all cheap and keeps it ever changing.
Put seasonal stuff in that basket. A few gourds right now, Christmas or some other light catching bulbs in there for December, hearts in February, etc. Felt balls, eggs in Spring. It is an attractive basket.
I recently visited someone who had Kon Mari ed her house to what seemed to me, a devoid of life place. Or perhaps it is her style regardless. The house just looked worn and empty. Worn with some dearly loved objects would have been more endearing. This was a friend of friend, and the emptiness was startling, as she is quite an interesting person. A space with some architectural beauty looks great when austere, but a worn ranch house, not so much.
But I tend towards eclectic objects on the walls and table tops, and change it up as the kids gift me new things from their travels, or inspiration strikes.
Regarding the basket, I have pine cones in one on a table. (You can buy at a craft store like Michaels — just be sure they are unscented). My mom used to collect colored marble eggs from places like estate sales, and in the spring she would put those in a decorative bowl.
I really like the seasonal change for my basket! Im going to do that. I’m going to start Christmas. Now, I’ll have to just make myself do it, because as you’ve read, I put things somewhere and it’s there for 25 years or more.
See the site www.bhg.com/decorating/ they have many pictures with short texts of inexpensive updating your home.