I never thought my interests would shift so drastically, but at my current stage in life the only things I want to spend huge sums of my money on are my home and my diet. Since we bought our apartment over a year ago, it still remains what I would call, ‘mildly furnished’. I did not imagine that the waiting period for furniture would be so long or that it would take so much time to find furniture to my liking. I sincerely thought it would be easier, but I suppose everything changes when you know you are buying for long-term use.
To be fair, my taste in home décor is like my taste in clothing: a bit unusual. A home, like your clothes, reflects your values and to some extent your outlook on the world. Thankfully, my husband wants no part in the furniture decision making, so I have saved myself from the clash of options. Having a place of your own feels rewarding but sometimes this gets overshadowed by just how much needs to be done.
These are my tips in the event you find yourself in that place:
Buying or renting
Here the rental market is extremely stable. Most laws are on the side of the tenant as opposed to the landlord/owner, so people invest even if they are renting. Whichever you choose to do will play an integral role in how you shop. For me, buying furniture when we were renting was easy because I knew it wasn’t going to be forever and we were also not living in Germany at the time, so it made no sense to invest a lot of time and money. Buying for permanent spaces will automatically require more time, more research to be done and additional budgeting. Spending a lump sum on your big-ticket items like beds, sofas and dining tables can see seem like a waste but try to keep in mind that you’re buying for lifelong comfort. So, whether you rent, or you buy, try to work out what your long-term goals are.
Localized sourcing
When I was growing up, a lot of my parents’ furniture was imported, but some of it was handmade by local carpenters, which usually incorporated fretwork design. My closet and vanity were handmade. This is important for me and while the waiting time is considerably long, I have always liked that idea of knowing things that will carry lifelong value were made especially for me, in addition to being built specifically for my space. I try to keep a relatively ethical home so if this suits you, try sourcing the skills of a local joiner.
An Instagram worthy home
It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting to buy everything popular for the home that you may see on Instagram. Household items have in some ways become just like fashion. However, I can guarantee that if you shop like this you will probably regret it later on. Just like fast fashion, ‘fast furniture’ could be easily disposable.
So, if you are new to this home décor thing like me, take your time, acknowledge your values, budget and don’t forget to calculate waiting times. It can seem overwhelming at first but try to remember it is not supposed to an overnight job.
