We recently sat down with Jill Seidner, an interior designer in L.A. She works within a person’s style and budget. Often, that includes working with existing furnishings like a family heirloom or a favorite piece. Because she uses existing pieces so often, I asked Jill about her ideas on ways to use what you already have in a room to make the space “new” again. Here is what she had to say:It’s so often stated that at times when you can’t afford a new wardrobe addition to look within what you already have, or in other words: ”shop in your own closet.” I’m always tiring of a handbag and when I go to look through the big box of purses I have, and come across the bag I haven’t used in the past few years - I always feel like I just went out and got a new purse! Not so new, it’s just I haven’t used it in quite some time and what was old feels new again! Likewise, you can take the same approach in your own home!
Here’s how:
*Artwork & Accessories: Many of my clients seem to have some spare closet stashed with some old prints or posters. some framed, others unframed. Likewise, with accessories - perhaps some gift items that got put away, never quite knowing what to do with it or where to display it. Make use of artwork, postcards, posters, prints, etc by having them framed or purchase your own frames. Create a collage on a wall or display artwork on bookshelves, tables, lean artwork against the wall or on a bookshelf, etc. I enjoy creating little vignettes - I will stack big coffee table books and lean a small picture against the books or place a candle on the top of a stack of books. Decorating with books is another great use of styling - stacking several books on a coffee table is a great way to make use of what you already have.
*Furniture: Working with an interior designer to use your existing furniture may often be the best alternative to going out and purchasing all new furniture, especially if it’s not in your budget. I often walk into a client’s home and see furniture that is in good condition but just not in the right places. I can visually see a better alternative to the furniture layout and by using the furnishings they have already can help better define a seating grouping or entryway. Consider taking inventory of what pieces you have and where they may be better placed or rearranged. Don’t be afraid to move things around (they can always be put back!).
*Repurposing: It’s been said many times over - someone’s trash is another person’s treasure. Whether in your own home or someone else’s those old times can be spruced up: re-painted, re-stained, re-covered, new hardware - and it has a whole new life again! I was just working with a client who has a ton of furniture but it all looks so dated. The little writing desk that was in her boys’ bedroom is now in her daughter’s bedroom and we are going to paint it white and add crystal knobs; it’s a perfect fit for her 8 year-old girl but the boys have outgrown the desk. Another client of mine, rather than buy a new bed frame for her two daughters, took the existing oak bed frame, cut off the footboard, painted the headboard white - and now it looks like a whole new bed! She had so much fun painting the bed - the girls are now going to do the same to two little nightstands that were in the master bedroom and make them theirs by painting it a fun color and adding new hardware.
There are so many more things you can do with items in your own home. When I am styling on a photo shoot, I will take platters, vases, trays from the kitchen and stack them on a coffee table, the breakfast table, etc. If you look around your own home, you may discover what’s old is new again with a little creativity.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Jill. Great design ideas! For more inspiration from Jill or for more information on how she can help you, visit her website.
[...] {And if you want to see more in the way of fashion to home, check out the site “Little Designer Book.” Many thanks to Andrea for featuring me in an editorial titled, “Shopping In Your Own Home.} [...]