Monday, April 30, 2007 9:45 AM
How do I start buying furniture?
By Paula
My friend just signed the lease on an apartment that's smaller then her current place, so we spent the weekend talking about all her Stuff. Where is it going to go, what will she get rid of, what can she keep, what does she really need, la la la. What we didn't answer -- and my burning question -- is where exactly does all this Stuff come from?
I used to think I had a lot of Stuff. Clothes, magazines, pictures, post-its, yarn... you know, important things. But my friend was using words like armoire, desk, bed frame, overstuffed easy chair and coordinating ottoman... you know, actually important things. The Nest has great advice on combining Stuff and styles, but it's still not clear to me exactly how one begins the acquisition process. I flirt with the idea of buying a nice bedside table or area rug, but then I think, no Paula, wait until you're settled. But that seems kind of wrong too, because how can I get settled unless I... you know where this is going, just the old chicken and egg thing.
The point is, I'm a little confused. When you start buying Stuff, is it better to splurge on something that will last you for a while, or go cheap because really, who knows what you'll want in a few years? (In other words, should I keep sleeping on a mattress on the floor -- yes I admit, I sleep on a mattress on the floor -- because why bother investing in a bed frame for my cell-sized East Village bedroom that I certainly don't intend to live in forever?) And, if I do decide to open my wallet, where should I start? What are the essentials? Right now I mostly use my roommate's stuff, but she's moving out soon, so there'll be a lot of empty space... what should I fill it with? A few nice investments for the future, or lots of Stuff that I can afford right now? What was your acquisition process?
**Now I'm kind of embarrassed about the whole mattress-on-the-floor thing... but it's just for right now, I promise. And anyways, heat rises, so everyone will be jealous of me once the hot Manhattan summer starts.