How to Style Your Home Without Buying Anything New
Sustainability and eco conscious practices are at the forefront of our minds at Good Ancestor. Our source list is full of shops and brands where you can purchase sustainable goods and our knowledge section has so many resources for you to learn more about the importance of preserving our earth. With that said, we thought we should emphasize one of the most important GA principles, reusing and repurposing!
When you move into a new space or are wanting to refresh your current one, a lot of us are oftentimes inheriting furnishings which could include hand me downs, family heirlooms, or your Craigslist finds. Sometimes those items fit your style and on occasion you’re ready to move on and cultivate a new style. But before you start to donate your old furniture, take another look to see if you can breathe new life back into it. Use what’s available to you and reimagine or rework it in a new way. If you’re stumped on where to start and what to look for, look no further because we have some tips to share with you!
Rita Chan Interiors
Wood Furniture
Do you ever feel uninspired by your old hand me down furniture? Sometimes all you need to do is juxtapose it alongside a more modern element to make it feel fresh. Even using items in an unconventional way can create visual interest, like using a vintage buffet or dresser as your bathroom vanity cabinet.
Maybe you like the shape and size of your coffee table, but the color isn’t your cup of tea. Thankfully, a lot of old furniture is made of solid wood and can be refinished with a little TLC. Try taking any old varnishes and stains off your old wood furniture to reveal the natural wood grain or refinish it in a color of your choice!
Laura Hodges Studio
Upholstery and Soft Goods
If you have any upholstered furniture like a sofa or lounge chair with good bones but maybe is a dated color or the the fabric is damaged, consider reupholstering or getting a slipcover made in a new fabric that suits your needs. Upholstery costs can get steep, but considering over 9 million tons of furniture goes into the landfill, it’s much better for the environment to use what you have!
Don’t throw away your decorative pillows! You can always get new cushion covers made or you can repurpose a textile you already have like a quilt, leather jacket, or rug into a cushion cover. Here in Santa Barbara, we have a remnant fabric store where people can find inexpensive fabric leftover from other projects, so check your local community for similar resources.
Rita Chan Interiors
Accessories and Decor
The most unsuspecting things you may already have can be the perfect decor! Think of a stack of old books, an aged terra cotta pot from the garden shed, or a vintage heirloom from a keepsake box in the garage.
One of our favorite items to recycle and repurpose are jars! We’ve used candle jars for glassware, to store makeup brushes or as a vase. You can also reuse jelly jars for storing craft supplies, snacks, you name it! A vessel is a vessel in our eyes, all you need to do is clean it up and it’s good as new!
Buy Vintage. Buy Local.
We recognize that not everyone is inheriting a bunch of stuff that they can work with and you very well may need to get new things! But we’re redefining what new means.. new as in new to YOU. Buying vintage, scouring online marketplaces, going to local estate sales are the greenest purchases you can make. Vintage and second-hand furniture requires no additional resources to manufacture, is often locally sourced, and as a plus, quality vintage furniture has an excellent resale value!
When you buy from local shops and from people in your community, you are supporting the local economy, small craftspeople, and decrease the environmental costs of shipping. It seems like a win win to us!
Athena Calderone
Our most loved spaces are those that are thoughtfully curated, have character, and feel like home. We love using antiques, vintage furnishings and meaningful objects because of the stories they carry and how we can reconnect and embrace past generations.
It’s important to give yourself grace during the process of decorating an eco-minded home. After all, it takes time! While it’s possible to furnish your entire space with sustainable goods, we know that it is not the reality for everyone. As long as you are seeking local and vintage pieces and reusing what you got, you’ll be well on your way to creating a curated sustainable home.
