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Do you get rid of things because they are old-fashioned?

(106 Posts)
CanadianGran Tue 31-Aug-21 22:20:11

I started thinking about my table lamps in the living room. They are brass, from the early 80's, good quality. I need new shades and was looking around websites to see what shape of shade is more 'in' but sadly I am realizing my lamps are sadly out of fashion.

I have a new couch and chair on order, so now wondering if I should indulge in new lamps, or just replace the shades on perfectly good quality lamps, if they are a little stodgy.

Will they end up on Antiques Roadshow one day, with someone saying "I picked them up at a charity shop for almost nothing!", or will I just end up with a living room that screams 'Seniors live here!" if I keep them?

Please excuse any punctuation errors.

Lucca Tue 31-Aug-21 22:25:18

I would get rid of things if I no longer liked them, but not because they were old fashioned.

BigBertha1 Tue 31-Aug-21 22:33:13

Keep what you love and only replace if you no longer feel the same.

Redhead56 Tue 31-Aug-21 22:45:18

When I married I took on quite a few antiques without thinking it through. Some pieces are quite nice but my taste has changed my DHs has not so we won't be changing anything.
Clothes wise I give to refugee camps what I don't wear not because it's out of date. My daughter and daughter in law give me the GC clothes for the refugee babies and children.

GagaJo Tue 31-Aug-21 22:58:47

12 years ago, I decorated my house in a style that is very 'in' now. I see it with very different eyes, now I see similar in other places. I haven't redone it yet, but yes, I will as soon as I can. It isn't that I don't like it now it's popular, but I'm critical of it now because I've seen too much of it.

I'm thinking deep green next time. And maybe some black. Knowing my luck, THAT will become popular. It's happened to me a couple of times and rather than being flattered, I find it irritating.

Speaking of which, I desperately need a new kitchen and other than super plain white, which would show every speck of dirt or very Scandi knotty wood, I really don't know what to go for.

SpringyChicken Tue 31-Aug-21 23:03:02

It would be depressing to think you had to stick with the first things you bought until the day they (or you) die. I don't see anything wrong in having a change if you try to rehome the old items. Most can be sold or given away.

welbeck Wed 01-Sept-21 04:53:15

i keep things almost because they are old-fashioned.
but basically, just follow that great designer, also liker of traditional/old-fashioned styles and crafts:
William Morris — 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

Lauren59 Wed 01-Sept-21 05:12:51

I love vintage things. Everything was well made, unlike today. I don’t worry about today’s decorating style. If I like it that’s the deciding factor.

absent Wed 01-Sept-21 05:50:23

Not usually but can I do it with Mr absent?

nanna8 Wed 01-Sept-21 06:08:40

Hang on to things long enough and they often become antiques - leave them to the children to profit from hehe. I agree, things were made with more care back in the day. Especially wooden things, furniture etc. I’ve got an ancient copper kettle, I love it but don’t use it now but it looks good in the fireplace. Got to clean it now and then, that’s the problem.

Calendargirl Wed 01-Sept-21 07:20:46

I’m 68, but still like to have chair back and arm rest covers on my suite. DS says both the suite and covers scream ‘old person’ which they probably do, but they are practical.

I don’t always like what they have in their home, but keep quiet!

kittylester Wed 01-Sept-21 07:34:27

Do none of you have opinionated daughters? We have 3, 2 of whom have no compunction about telling us when something has had it's day - thankfully not us yet!!! It keeps us on our toes!!

teabagwoman Wed 01-Sept-21 08:01:35

I don’t worry about fashion, I keep what I like and works for me and try to rehome the rest. My step-sister expressed horror that I had three different shades of wood in my sitting room but then she has the income and time to worry about these things.

M0nica Wed 01-Sept-21 08:07:50

We are a family of second hand roses. We have a house of second hand furniture, most of it beautiful 19th century furniture, some we have bought, some we have inherited, some we have restored. We have no hesitation about disposing of things we no longer need by putting them in an auction sale or selling it on ebay.

We are currently having an extension built and sent to auction a set of late 19th century kitchen chairs, a davenport, a dresser and a small desk that were no longer needed. In their place we bought at auction, a 1950s Ercol dining room suite for the new kitchen/family room - and about broke even, making as much from selling as we paid for the Ercol.

AC have both inherited the same tendency. DD is into Arts and Crafts and Mid-century modern and inherited a magnificent Arts and Crafts bedoom suite from one grandmother, Ds and DDiL have taken furniture from family homes after grandparents have died.

Providing you treat your furnishings like your clothes, recycling,sending to Charity shops, auctions, selling on ebay or Freegling/Freecycling rather than throwing away and looking to similar souces for their replacement. so that you stay within a green cycle of change without destruction, why not change everything.

Lucca Wed 01-Sept-21 08:14:05

welbeck

i keep things almost because they are old-fashioned.
but basically, just follow that great designer, also liker of traditional/old-fashioned styles and crafts:
William Morris — 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

Better chuck myself out then,..

dogsmother Wed 01-Sept-21 08:18:15

Gaga hate to tell you my mid 20s dd has just painted with a very dark green ..... seems it might be as you feared. She likes modern. Seems that is very now.

SuzieHi Wed 01-Sept-21 08:40:30

Only keep them if you really like them. New ones may give the room a lift or make everything else look dated? Maybe you’d like to have a change completely. As someone else said you don’t have to keep things the same for ever!
I visited a good friend yesterday
- in my opinion, she was in old fashioned, dated clothes, no make up, no hair wash. Her home also looked old and dated too - full of furniture, ornaments, ‘collectables’, holiday souvenirs. Not my style at all but she was clearly happy in herself /everything at home. We had a good chat & I enjoyed seeing her again
( nearly 2 yrs break due to virus). They’re not hard up- the opposite!
We’re all different. Do what you want to!

Septimia Wed 01-Sept-21 08:56:42

If things are broken, then they need to be replaced. Replacing things just because they are no longer fashionable is unnecessary consumerism, adding to pollution etc - unless they can be re-purposed.

I'm not saying that I'm not guilty of unnecessary consumerism!!

eazybee Wed 01-Sept-21 09:13:14

I get rid of things because they are worn out, I don't like them any more and/or I can afford better.
Never because they are 'old-fashioned.'

fiorentina51 Wed 01-Sept-21 09:20:45

Up until 3 years ago my living room looked like we were living in a 1970s stage set.
Finally had the cash and inclination to give it a make over and sold all the old teak furniture to a nice young couple who had just purchased a 1970s semi as their first home. They wanted authentic furniture and mine certainly was!

kittylester Wed 01-Sept-21 10:38:51

florentina We have done our dining room in mid century furniture (mostly Danish) having declared it so old fashioned when we got married.

M0nica Wed 01-Sept-21 10:46:10

kittylester nothing would have persuded us to buy Ercol when we got married, dated and smacked of old people.

I am now delighted with my Ercol dining suite, so trendy, so modern!!!!!!!

GagaJo Wed 01-Sept-21 10:54:34

dogsmother

Gaga hate to tell you my mid 20s dd has just painted with a very dark green ..... seems it might be as you feared. She likes modern. Seems that is very now.

Thank you!! Honestly, happens so often.

Might go monochrome then. ?

PinkCosmos Wed 01-Sept-21 11:03:47

dogsmother

Gaga hate to tell you my mid 20s dd has just painted with a very dark green ..... seems it might be as you feared. She likes modern. Seems that is very now.

My son and partner and my friend's son and partner have just done an emerald green feature wall.

I think emerald is in fashion now.

Urmstongran Wed 01-Sept-21 11:03:50

Aren’t we all supposed to be thinking more of our carbon footprint and green credentials? Not replacing stuff as often? That’s my excuse anyway for my inertia!
#lazygran
‘Good enough is good enough’.
?