New House, Old Furniture

You've purchased or built the home of your dreams or maybe you've down sized into a more manageable home. Either way, there's a recurring theme.

“my old furniture doesn't fit the new house”

Let's Start With The Furniture

This could be because the furniture is too big for the space or equally too small for their new surroundings.It may even be that it just doesn't suit the style of your new abode. This is quite common in retirees who have gone for a more modern approach and their traditional style of furniture looks out of place.  If you're able to replace all of these pieces that's well and good, perhaps you've managed to sell some of it, but more often than not it ends up coming with you. 

My Furniture Is Too Old and Traditional For My New Home

You’ve had this furniture for such a long time, and it really is good furniture it seems such a waste not to use it in your new home.   But placed in your new open plan living space, it somehow doesn’t look right.  Unless it is something you especially love and could never part with, I would suggest selling it on or giving it to a new home for someone else to enjoy.  That’s not to say you have to get rid of every single piece of furniture, you will want to keep some pieces that could look good with your modern home.  Look at the design of the furniture, are there similarities in shape or form or even wood finish?  It really makes for a more interesting design if you can mix in a vintage or antique piece of furniture.

Furniture Is Too Big Or Too Small For My New Home.

Scaling furniture to fit in with your new home.  When your furniture arrives, it can look lost in it’s new place or just too big.  If you are able to take some floor measurements before you move this will allow you to decide on whether some of your furniture needs replacing in which case you can budget for this.  Another way is to build the piece out with other items, say for instance if it's small chair that looks a bit lost, add a side table and a tall floor lamp behind it or a tall indoor tree.  If it's too big for the space it needs to go in, try thinking of it in a different room.

Image source: House beautiful

Out With The Old

Try thinking of new ways to use old furniture.  If you have an old ornate chest of drawers, think of putting it in another room, say a dining room and use as a sideboard or bar area.  Maybe it could go in a hallway or as a side table in a guest room.  This could be re-painted or decorate the trim and change the handles.Spruce old furniture up with a new colour within your overall colour palette to tie in with your chosen decor in your new home.

In With The New

When shopping for furniture items for your new home, try choosing pieces that are classic in design and style.  Something that won't date.  Steer clear of trends when buying big furniture item and add bold or colourful accents with your accessories to keep it looking fresh and up to date.

What Should Stay And What Should Go.

Having a clear out during the packing process is just too much to sort out.  Start deciding on what must come and what can be recycled well before the moving date.  There's no point in packing it all only to have to do this when you move in.   If you don't have a choice, then only unpack the necessary items you need for each room then do an edit of what you really want to use in the space.

Painting your old furniture

As discussed above, if you want to re-purpose your old furniture by giving it a new paint job but don't like the shabby chic chalky effect, have your decorators paint this the same time as painting your new home, it will look professionally done and feel like a new piece of furniture.

BONUS POINT ON DECORATING

If it is possible, tackle the big projects before you actually move in.  Things like replacing the flooring, upgrading your lighting plan anything messy, get it out of the way.  If you already know colours you want for your rooms, paint the walls before moving as it's easier to tackle when the room is empty.   TIP If the chest of drawers (or whatever) really has to come with you but looks super ugly, have it painted in the same colour as your walls, you won't notice it's even there - promise!

Helpful Resources on

How to create the perfect furniture plan for your living room here>>

You might find this Checklist useful below.

Download This Handy Checklist. HERE>>

A Quick Re-Cap

• Take measurements of the floor space before you move in

• Do an edit of your furniture and see what you really need and want to take with you that must fit in.

• Have a clear out before the moving date.

• Think of ways to repurpose your old pieces if you can't bear to part with them.

• Purchase large items for your new home that are classic in design and will stand the test of time.

I hope you found this useful but as always if you would like help in this area, why not schedule a call, I'd love to hear from you.  HERE>>