Does anyone else think decor items suck lately?

[Deleted]

I'm so over home decor for right now. I went out yesterday for some me time and hit some decor boutiques, antique stores and Target.

Ummm...I came back with lightbulbs and a furnace filter. I spent my fun money on a pedi, a bottle of wine and 2 pizzas for dinner instead....lol.

I feel like it's the same old crap. Word art, metal art, sticks in a vase, more word art, candles, weird looking "contemporary prints" that belong in baby rooms, more word art...lol. Oh and mirrors and picture frames...everywhere.

I know I'm a simple girl..if I have one or two of something that's enough for me. I also don't like stuff just for the sake of filling space....so maybe it's just a me thing?! Maybe I just see too much because I read and hang out here a ton?

And I wanted two red lampshades preferably with a "farmhouse/country" pattern to them. They're impossible to find affordable as well!

The decor world needs to come up with something different. I want fun stuff dammit!

[tarheels]

I've been saying this for a couple years now!

Dear Stores:

We have money. We want to spend it. Your profits are down because there's nothing fun to buy! Fix that, fix the economy.

So declareth tarheels. Amen.

[pitterwoo]

I really hate buying stuff that is just a filler. I'd rather keep my money and keep the space blank than buy the generic "art".

[mrs.jacinthe]

Yes. 100x yes.

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 17:39:07 GMT -5 pitterwoo said:

I really hate buying stuff that is just a filler. I'd rather keep my money and keep the space blank than buy the generic "art".

Yeah that's me too. I know everything in my house has a story behind it except for like three items.

I do admit to liking clearance rack seasonal pieces at Target. I'll buy those sometimes to jazz it up a bit. There was a canvas print I actually LOVED yesterday and thought about getting for our room...but it was $60.00. At Target. No thanks. If it's there in another, it'll be half price and I'll get it then.

[emoflamingo]

Yes. Also, clearance should not be so expensive at Target lol.

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 17:51:01 GMT -5 emoflamingo said:

Yes. Also, clearance should not be so expensive at Target lol.

Thank you. There was a ton of stuff on clearance lately. If no one wants to buy it at full price I don't think they are really going to be all that interested until you pull out the big guns (70% off).

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 18:37:59 GMT -5 @forcuatro said:

Jan 9, 2013 17:51:01 GMT -5 emoflamingo said:

Yes. Also, clearance should not be so expensive at Target lol.

Thank you. There was a ton of stuff on clearance lately. If no one wants to buy it at full price I don't think they are really going to be all that interested until you pull out the big guns (70% off).

'

True. True. 15% on an endcap, so you save $.98 cents doesn't do much for me at all. Give me 70% off ASAP and we'll call it even becuase I"ll probably buy more. ;D

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 19:53:23 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Do you think this might be relative? I am all about stuff but maybe just because we just bought a house and need to decorate and furnish. I still haven't hung a damn thing on the walls. I am to cheap. Or broke. Lol. I don't want to hang my cheap ass stuff back up.

Could be. I thought this too. I mean I'm seven years past the I need everything phase and been through a couple trend cycles as well.

However, I do have a couple rooms with very little in them/need to be full on decorated yet. I'm just dying to get stuff for them/actually on the hunt and I still can't find anything.

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 20:24:44 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

Word art can die now.

Right there with you. I'm okay with it in moderation and if the phrase actually means something...but some of the word art I see is just ridiculous. I don't need one more art scroll about Joy in my life..lol.
There is a family rules subway art floating around. I kind of like that for the playroom/FR I need to decorate. I might get it when it clearances. It's not worth $40.00 but $20.00 I'd do.

[stephm0188]

Jan 9, 2013 19:53:23 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Do you think this might be relative? I am all about stuff but maybe just because we just bought a house and need to decorate and furnish. I still haven't hung a damn thing on the walls. I am to cheap. Or broke. Lol. I don't want to hang my cheap ass stuff back up.

I don't think so, at least not for me. We bought this house two years ago and the only "new" stuff I bought was from an antique store. I have tons of space to fill, and nothing interesting to choose from.

Although, there were some lampshades at Target that piqued my interest this evening.

[pugz]

Homegoods has been letting me down for a long time. Just the same old things over and over again, obviously it's stuff from other places so it's not really their fault.

oh how I miss the Target Home Design Event, some of my favorite stuff is from it.

[315bride]

Jan 9, 2013 17:29:34 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

I'm so over home decor for right now. I went out yesterday for some me time and hit some decor boutiques, antique stores and Target.

Ummm...I came back with lightbulbs and a furnace filter. I spent my fun money on a pedi, a bottle of wine and 2 pizzas for dinner instead....lol.

I feel like it's the same old crap. Word art, metal art, sticks in a vase, more word art, candles, weird looking "contemporary prints" that belong in baby rooms, more word art...lol. Oh and mirrors and picture frames...everywhere.

I know I'm a simple girl..if I have one or two of something that's enough for me. I also don't like stuff just for the sake of filling space....so maybe it's just a me thing?! Maybe I just see too much because I read and hang out here a ton?

And I wanted two red lampshades preferably with a "farmhouse/country" pattern to them. They're impossible to find affordable as well!

The decor world needs to come up with something different. I want fun stuff dammit!

Yup.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I loathe word art.
It makes me want to yell "stop bossing me!"

I'm not a huge fan of lots of decor items in general, but I feel this way about fashion. I used to LOVE to shop and now it's all meh skinny jeans again? Retro top again?

The design world needs a fresh direction and some excitement.

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 21:24:39 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

I loathe word art.
It makes me want to yell "stop bossing me!"

I'm not a huge fan of lots of decor items in general, but I feel this way about fashion. I used to LOVE to shop and now it's all meh skinny jeans again? Retro top again?

The design world needs a fresh direction and some excitement.

On that same line...If I see one more "styled" cardigan I might scream. I have a closet full of cardis and I like them, but it has reached the point no matter what belt or scarf you pair it with...it's still a cardi!

I think THR is right. She had a post awhile back about it being economy driven (it was when the Home Event at Target ended actually!). When the economy sucks, so does the pretty stuff. It's also why design is back to the neutral palettes lately as well.

She makes another point above though..give me something to spend my funds on and I could probably single handedly turn this economy around in one good shopping trip!

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2013 21:47:23 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

I kind of hate how the trends lean so much toward pottery barn. I despise pottery barn. Pottery barn is the devil.
I just had to throw that in there since earlier I was confessing my hate on tile (specifically grout and cleaning it).

What kills me is the same people who say, "I could never do antiquey/farmhouse/country" are the same people who are all, "OMG PB love it."

For real? Everything at PB has "found" in the description or is made to look weathered lately. Throw in a couple floral or nature inspired prints and you have antiquey country..lol.

[milosh]

Yes! I have been thinking this for a few years now. I have found a few cool pieces at antique shops around my town but for the most part there is nothing.

[kellikans]

I thought some of the Threshold spring stuff was cute.

[jhawks482]

I think decor is hard, because for me, I can't just go "looking" for it. I've got to stumble onto it. So when I go to Target to specifically look through the latest offerings, I'm pretty "meh" about it. I also think that for a lot of people, priorities shift (like when you have kids or whatevs) over time, so spending $48 on a driftwood mirror or $90 for a set of lamps doesn't seem necessary. I think the economy makes us question our purchases more too. And lastly, all these designer lines are not doing it for me. The Neiman Marcus items were TERRIBLE. Nate Berkus has some decent things, but again- it's $50 for 2 small throw pillows. No thanks.

I do agree with Kellikans- threshold is killing it lately. I've bought probably 7 frames (for me to hang and a few Christmas gifts), sheets for our guest bed, and a tray in last few weeks, all Threshold. When I see cute stuff and look at the packaging, it's (not surprisingly) from the Threshold line. It's very transitional- so my style. I have been really impressed with it.

[cosmowife]

My house is to the stage where the major pieces are in place (sofas, tables, etc.) and now I need "stuff" just to make it look lived in. However, I have such a problem buying stuff just to buy stuff (like at Target, etc.). I've really been into three things lately that don't feel so forced:
1. Buying vintage or handmade textiles from places like India and Turkey on ebay. I bought a table runner (actually sold through Amazon from an Indian company) and two vintage pillow cases from Turkey.
2. Buying prints from original artists on etsy. I found that buying from people who make prints from wood or linoleum carvings is easiest for me since the prints are more moderately priced, as compared to a painting or drawing.
3. Downloading and printing pictures with no copyright restrictions from the Library of Congress (online). This way, I can pick images that appeal to me without feeling like I purchased something off the rack at target. I bought some nice "luster" photo paper and things have been coming out very nicely.

At least these things have made me feel like I can add to my home in a meaningful way, rather than just purchasing "decor" items off the rack. It takes a little more work and time, but that is the fun part!

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2013 0:16:56 GMT -5 jhawks482 said:

I think decor is hard, because for me, I can't just go "looking" for it. I've got to stumble onto it. So when I go to Target to specifically look through the latest offerings, I'm pretty "meh" about it. I also think that for a lot of people, priorities shift (like when you have kids or whatevs) over time, so spending $48 on a driftwood mirror or $90 for a set of lamps doesn't seem necessary. I think the economy makes us question our purchases more too. And lastly, all these designer lines are not doing it for me. The Neiman Marcus items were TERRIBLE. Nate Berkus has some decent things, but again- it's $50 for 2 small throw pillows. No thanks.

I do agree with Kellikans- threshold is killing it lately. I've bought probably 7 frames (for me to hang and a few Christmas gifts), sheets for our guest bed, and a tray in last few weeks, all Threshold. When I see cute stuff and look at the packaging, it's (not surprisingly) from the Threshold line. It's very transitional- so my style. I have been really impressed with it.

You are right on the first part. I am all about the college fund and saving cabinets rather than decor lately. Child gives me the desire to see something substantial. That and all i think lately is, "we'll skip that item. Child will destroy it."
Threshold does have some fun stuff. I bought a lot of it as gifts. I just felt like it was stuff i did not need.
Maybe im just too practical for my own good sometimes?

[simpsongal]

I miss color. Enough taupe, gray, blue gray, and other neutrals. Sometimes I think Restoration Hardware would be better off publishing their catalog in black and white.

[simpsongal]

Oh yeah - Edison called, he wants his bulbs back.

[thewop]

Jan 10, 2013 10:11:43 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I miss color. Enough taupe, gray, blue gray, and other neutrals. Sometimes I think Restoration Hardware would be better off publishing their catalog in black and white.

I miss color, too. Most of my decor has been the same for the last 4 years because I simply can't find anything worth spending money on.

[Blueper]

I've been having a ton of luck at consignment stores lately- luckily there are tons of them around my area. One of my favorites has a warehouse sized room for vendors- and this one crazy lady has some amazing solid-wood antiques and she painted EVERYTHING WHITE. Even the hardware.

I know that white is supposedly coming back into style, but the only white-dominated house that I've ever seen and appreciated is on The Art of Doing Stuff. I'm sick of seeing white entry way tables next to white couches next to white fireplaces next to a white kitchen table and white cupboards.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Simpson- you are killing me! So right!!

I like the look of restoration hardware, but I think living in their catalog would make me suicidal.

And of all the steampunk things to go mainstream the bare bulb is not the correct one!
Bare bulbs look great, when you use the inefficient Edison bulbs and they barely produce any light. Which is great for mood lighting in say a restaurant. Not so great when you are starring at a bare off the shelf CFL (I'm looking at you YHL dining fixture).

Glass houses I know because I have that crazy Sputnik bare bulb fixture above my dining table. But it is on a dimmer and we keep it crazy low.
I've also confessed to DH that he gets to pick the light fixtures for the new house because he is so much better at it than me!

[ktzmoh]

Pitterbull: I agree 100% about buying stuff just to fill up space. Super styled spaces that are put together by people that don't live in the homes just seems so random and meaningless.

Emo- YES on target clearance stuff! WTH is up with their 15% off 'clearance' prices?

Pugz: I went to homegoods for the first time this weekend and left homegoods unhappy. really uninspiring.

and yes - the RH catalog would make me feel like I'm living in a perpetual rainy day. What is up with their Baby and Child stuff too? Can you imagine a child in one of those rooms? so freaking dreary and depressing. poor kids.

[emoflamingo]

I hate going shopping for decor because I know I'll be disappointed. I have actually found some cool stuff at Goodwill, or some hole-in-the-wall flea market that's 30 minutes from the closest actual city (it's an incorporated town!), than I have at major retailers lately. My last great one was the pillows I bought at Gordman's for my living room.

I like colorful decor. I really want some new green curtains (the ones in the old house are still there) but I want a very specific color. Not sage, not hunter, not lime but I still want something bright. This color is next to impossible to find.

[funnygirlglee]

I agree - nothing inspiring lately. I went with a friend of mine a week or so ago to Home Goods, and for the first time I can remember, I left empty handed.