17 November 2013

the nothing-new-move experiment

Yep, that's right. I moved last weekend to a new 700 sqft. rental condo and purchased absolutely nothing new. Not a lamp. Not a rug. Not a hook. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. And I'm here to say that decorating and organizing a new home can be done very successfully with no budget. 


The purpose of my move was to downsize, save money and simplify my life. So I made a pact with myself that nothing new would be purchased when setting up my new home. Oh it was tempting. IKEA called. But I held out. In fact, in addition to not consuming new products, I even increased the amount of money in my bank account and the goodwill in my karma account. I held a yard sale and made $500 from furniture and decorations I really didn't need. I also donated two carloads full of clothes, bags and household items to local causes. I gotta tell you it feels really good to simplify and only bring things into my new home that are useful and that I truly love. 

So here's how it turned out. 


I started with a beautiful blank slate of white walls and high ceilings. Insert some black, gray and more white, my mid-century modern vintage pieces, some natural wood, greenery and rustic pieces from 'home' in the Maritimes, and I've created a comfy home that reflects my desire for modern serenity. 













How-to's for the reclaimed and diy projects throughout my home are here. Hope you are inspired to live a simple life without consuming quite so much! 

UPDATE: I've since made some simple furniture moves and art gallery walls to refresh the space. Check it out here. 

5 comments :

  1. I am inspired! Girl you are amazing. I love the photography that feeling of calm and comfort is really coming through...so proud of you and congrats on the new place:)

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  2. Your new place looks fabulous! When I tripped yet again over a box of stuff in the basement this afternoon, it reminded me how badly I want to get rid of all the extra stuff lying around the house. You've inspired me to do something about it, thanks!

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    1. Thanks Kelly! Glad you are inspired to get rid of your 'stuff''. It's so easy to let it pile up without even noticing isn't it?

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  3. Sometimes, it's not wise to buy stuff when you don't have a definite use for it. In your case, however, you've made these loveable items a lot useful in your decorations. Thanks for sharing this. I might as well grab some of the stuff I've been drooling at the department store and use them as a house decor. :)

    Carlo Wieder @ FrancesHerrera.com

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I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for making my day!