After I first moved into my Chicago residence after dwelling overseas in Italy, I felt stressed to show it into a house. One of many worst issues about transferring into a brand new place with none of your earlier furnishings is the overwhelming vacancy of your environment. Some would possibly name it minimalism, however I simply noticed it as an unfinished to-do listing. All I may take into consideration was how the lounge wanted a rug, the kitchen wanted an island, and the eating room wanted a bar cart earlier than anybody might be invited over. My want to refill these areas was as persistent as a toothache — it was all I may take into consideration.
However, I knew the wisest factor to do was to brighten slowly. If I wished to put money into items I’d love for years to come back, I needed to take my time sourcing them. In truth, I didn’t even actually know my type or what appealed to me on the time. So I discovered myself within the crossroads of being too anxious to design whereas nonetheless paralyzed by the concern of shopping for the “flawed” factor. If you happen to’re discovering your self in an identical state of affairs, I’ve one tip for you: Purchase secondhand till you discover what you’re actually searching for. Normally, this stuff find yourself being precisely what you wished all alongside.
Scouring Fb Market, OfferUp, and thrift shops has been my saving grace on this complicated journey. I discovered a $30 espresso desk, a $10 bar cart, a $100 sofa, and $40 lamps. And right here’s the kicker: I’ve really saved most of those items! Not solely do these finds refill house and make your own home really feel extra “homey” — no extra cavernous echo! — however additionally they allow you to experiment along with your aesthetic.
For instance, I leaned into the favored, resurgent Memphis Model for my residence, however I additionally actually love Artwork Deco. When I discovered a superb Twenties dresser at an property sale for $70, I wasn’t certain how it could look with my eclectic combine at house. Was it too elegant to face beside my playful, angular, and neon items? If it didn’t work, although, I may simply promote it on FB Market for a similar value I paid (or thereabouts), making it a risk-free gamble that I may get some use out of within the interim.
Maybe the very best a part of this comparatively cheap placeholder technique is you could simply promote your stand-ins again into the secondhand circuit, typically recouping your whole preliminary funding. I don’t know loads concerning the furnishings rental market, however this methodology feels a bit like renting by yourself phrases. Something you are taking a small hit on may be chocked as much as a customized rental price.
Give it a strive, however bear in mind, this means of furnishing does require a bit of additional looking out and shlepping. Even so, you would possibly simply discover your dream piece — and design type — within the course of.
