Opportunities for revaluation of taste as dictated to you by
different stages in your life
·
New home
·
Baby
·
Marriage
·
Divorce
·
Retirement
·
Selling it
·
Illness/ disability
·
Feeling of “growing up”
·
Pay-rise/ inheritance
Blog posts found explaining why people decorate:
Huffington post article about lifestages:
Decorating Your Home at Any Age, Stage
or Place
Posted: 08/12/2013 2:14 pm
It wasn't
that long ago that people bought their first home in their 20s. Today, it's far
later, in our 30s, and even 40s. We rent more, and for longer lengths of time,
before we settle into our permanent residence. By the time this happens, it's
likely that most adults today will have lived in two, three or more apartments
or other rentals.
Adding to
this, more people are moving about the country, for jobs, opportunities,
different needs. 'Home' may be in one place for years and years, only to change
later to another part of the city, country or world. We are more mobile than
ever, and certainly, where we lay our heads and call home reflects it.
So, how
can we create a sense of home given this? A few tips:
1. Recognize the age and stage you are at. There
is no right or wrong time, or set period in life, that you have to settle into
your permanent residence. This is regardless of age -- today we might not know
where our permanent city is until far later in life, let alone buy a permanent
home there. By understanding where you are at in the timeline, you can better
assess what types of things you should, or shouldn't buy, to make wherever you
are feel like its your place.
2. Put off your investment furniture/decor until you are settled
somewhere for a long length. It's normal to assume
that as an adult, you need to invest in furniture right away. But, even the
best, highest quality furniture isn't designed to endure being carted around,
and in some cases, moving it (such as across the country) all together. There's
nothing more heartbreaking to see than your gorgeous headboard suffering a
non-negotiable scrape because it won't fit through the angles of your new
rental building. If you think you'll get the price you paid for your beautiful
dresser you bought last year when resold, you likely won't. Hold off on your
investment furniture given this.
3. Decorate with the details. A great home is rarely
about the furniture alone, so put your emphasis there. Decor items such as Flor
removable floor squares, or a couch cover from someone like Sure-fit, can do
wonders with making your space feel like it's home, and are far easier to move
(or part ways with) should you need to change location.
4. Run lean. Style is rarely about a lot of items or
anything that's expensive, and this includes in the home as well. You don't
need an elaborate setup or pieces, or much of them, to make your home feel cozy
and comfortable. Base what you buy by need. If you rarely spend time in the
bedroom, get the basics and put your emphasis on your living room. This goes
the same for kitchen items. If you rarely cook at home, now is not the time to
buy the 24 piece cookware set. Get the items you need, and will use, for now
instead.
The good
news is, there are plenty of retailers today that cater to the non-home owner,
apartment dweller, etc. The obvious that come to mind might be Ikea, or Target,
for relatively inexpensive 'starter' furniture you won't feel too bad about,
should you need to leave it behind or resell it. But plenty of others,
including Apt2b.com, Home Goods and Zara Home can put pretty furnishings that
feel like 'you' into a space without breaking your heart if something happens
to it. There are also a growing number of chic house and home resale sites that
give options beyond CraigsList or resale stores and yard sales.
Why Redecorate? We've Got Some Ideas
Top
Reasons to Redecorate Your Home
If you live alone, you probably don't need to
justify redecorating your home to anyone. But if you share a home with someone,
you might need to have a good reason to change a space that is working just
fine.
We've
thought of some of the reasons you might use as an excuse, if you have to have
one, to justify changing the paint on the walls, the window treatments, or
buying new furniture. Which one works for you?
1.
Just Because You Want To
I can’t
think of a better reason to redecorate a room or a home. Having a fresh look to
your home can be a real spirit lifter and can help you feel new. Not everyone
can do it “just because,” but just about everyone can do little things, one at
a time. Before you know it, you’ll have a new space for no reason at all
besides the fact that you want to.
2.
You Just Moved Into a New
House
Why
would you want to live in a home that someone else has decorated for their
life? I sure wouldn’t. Each time I’ve moved into a new home, the first thing I
want to do is make it mine. And I do that by painting or wallpapering the walls
and making new draperies or curtains to match the furniture or bedding that
I’ve brought with me.
3.
You’re Getting Ready to
Move Out
Many
people put off decorating their home until it comes time to sell. Then they
realize that they really have to do something about the dingy paint and carpet
before they can sell it. While a total makeover may not be necessary, moving
time is a great time to dress up a home that’s been neglected. The house will sell faster and you’ll get a better price
for it if things are updated and fresh.
4.
Your Kids Have Moved Out
It’s
sometimes called the “empty nest syndrome.” The kids have moved out. You don’t
need indestructible furniture or industrial-grade flooring any more. Have you
always wanted white carpet? Do you want a canopy bed but thought the kids would
make fun of you? How about a Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom? Or are you ready to
give up the extra bedroom to make room for a walk-in closet just for you?
Here’s your chance!
5.
You Can’t Stand Your
Childhood Room and Need to Help it Grow Up
Lots of
young people move back in with Mom and Dad after graduation from college—not
because they want to or because Mom and Dad want them to. It’s just an economic
fact that having your own place is beyond the financial reality for many young
people. But that doesn’t mean that just because you can’t have your own place
you can’t make your space reflect the new adult you. Get rid of the high school
sports trophies, the cheerleader pompoms, the collection of teddy bears or
collection of model cars. Decorating this space for the more mature person you
are. It can help you move from childhood to adulthood without ever leaving
home.
Interesting article from Dulux about lifecycle of their
paints (trying to get into consumers mind/ from their perspective!)
The principles of
procuring via Best Value ensure that costs are not looked at in terms of the
current time or budget period, but in terms of the long term costs and value
for money associated with Asset Management Programmes. This enables elements
such as durability, sustainability and the cost prior to paint repairs to be
considered, in effect looking at the products and services purchased in terms
of their life time value (LTV) to an organisation.
AkzoNobel in
conjunction with the Whole Life Cost Forum and Constructing Excellence has
developed an approach to Whole Life Costing (WLC) which is consistent with both
the principles of Best Value and Partnering, and builds upon our 'Total
Solutions' best fit site specific specification services.
This approach allows
the most appropriate products to be utilised on projects, based on initial
costs, durability, sustainability requirements and the desired aesthetic
finish, all of which are chosen in terms of the required re-decoration cycle.
As an example, we
understand that to create best value, you don't use products with eight year
durability or more on a three year re-decoration cycle, nor use standard
finishes on a project where extensive durability is required. This is
important, because not everyone thinks like this!
We know that the products
chosen, level of preparation required and desired maintenance cycle are all key
considerations to delivering improved value for money, given the variable costs
associated with access equipment, prior to paint repairs & labour.
Our Whole Life Cost
model allows easy comparison of alternative paint systems, in terms of
balancing initial and long term recurring costs to deliver the required end
result. The model is designed to demonstrate to clients how they can achieve
significant benefits through the extension of maintenance cycles, reduction of
ongoing costs and delivery of Best Value.
If you wish to use
this model against your own maintenance requirements, your local AkzoNobel
contact will be pleased to help you.
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