This year there have been a humorous amount of couches in our home. Yes, couches. It’s been a year that a friend has given us a couch that I loved the colors and style of, one was found that was the rage in our area, another was purchased as a bow to something always wanted, and then there was one that was loved at a sale.
We have one living area folks, it’s getting crowded in here. This morning I sit with three couches in the living room as we determine which one (maybe two) makes the cut. You see the decision begins to change directions when we discuss why a couch stays in our life. Comfort? Style? Ease of care? Emotional ties? Hmmm. Sounds a good bit like the repeating theme from my closet. Lots of concerns that have nothing to do with “Do I like the couch and does it fit our needs?” That narrowed down one of them. The second question is “What is the goal of this room style-wise” and that is where the pondering continues. My home is slowly evolving into French Country Colonial with a tinge of eclectic. The two couches in question at this time are a slipcovered natural white denim one from Ikea’s Ektorp collection or a slipcovered natural faded denim one that is luxuriously comfortable. Both are equal in ease of care and style but the blue one is 100% more comfortable to hang out on than the Ikea one. However, the Ikea one is “tidier” than the blue one when it sits alone.
So Les’s question is “which one stays?” and the answer is “both”. We are going through a period of reduce, unclutter, and reorder choices based on OUR needs, not others, so for now we’ll use both and continue the journey of decluttering the house? The third one, it turns out, we L O V E the material on it, it’s worn and wonderful shabby chic feel to the toile material, so I am considering stripping the material off the couch and making pillows for the couch with it. You would be amazed at how actually making that decision has been. Stripping an old friend for pillows? But she’s seen better days and ultimately I adore her faded cover, so the jury is still out on her, but the clock is running on how long three couches will remain until the guys come with the truck later this week.
There was a time none of the above would have “fit” in my home, they would have not made it past the style police of what was require to be enough. Ha! I would have saved for months and probably borrowed money as well on a card so this living room could be oh la la chic with the a solid choice fashionwise. Ridiculous to go into debt for a couch….really for anything any more. I love that what fits me now is paying cash! Decor still matters to me, but from a totally different point of view. The goal is to make my home/work environment reflect a place I want to be…and invites others to join us.
How about you? What determines what fits in your life?
And after all, if I cannot choose today, there’s always space to put it in our back storage for the new office that seems to be coming soon.
