A message from Innerspacism owner and founder, Olivia Henrie:
The way I decorate my space is very important to me. I like to think of my space as my own temple or sanctuary where I am surrounded by pieces that inspire joy. When people visit my home, they can’t believe that I didn’t pay a fortune for all of the items I decorate with, but the truth is, everything I own has been traded, found second-hand, or made with my own hands.
Being on a tight budget means I simply can’t afford to decorate my home with the designer furniture and artwork that I want, but with a little bit of patience and planning I’m able to decorate my home with things that truly inspire me. By following these few steps, you too can create a space with genuinely reflects who you are without breaking the bank.
First things first, establish your style. I find myself deeply inspired by the richness of craftsmanship and Scandinavian decor. I would describe my style as modern with a hint of naturalistic and vintage features. Once you’ve established your style, it’s time to create a vision board. My favorite platform to use for that is Pinterest. This is where I pin all of what I inspire my space to look like. I also like to keep the layout of my space in mind. Maybe there is a weird corner and you don’t know what to do with it-- keep that in mind while working on your vision board. This should give you a good idea of what you need and what you might already have that you can use in decorating your space. As for the things you need to acquire, I recommend making a list of what furniture, artwork, or goods you need to find for your space.
The next step is going to require time and patience, this is where the hunt begins. I keep my list of things on my phone that I’m keeping my eyes out for. Once a week, I check my local classifieds for what estate sales will be happening through the week/weekend, and along with attending the ones I choose to, I make sure and make my rounds to all of the local thrift stores. You’d be surprised by what gems you can find when you thrift regularly. If you think you’re going to make a list and be able to find everything in one visit to the thrift store or estate sale, you may be very disappointed. It took me years to slowly collect all of the pieces I have in my space but the hunt can be very rewarding and has definitely been worth it. For example, there was a designer chair I saw in Dwell magazine. To my dismay, this chair was priced way outside of my modest budget, so I added it to my list. After months of searching, I found an identical chair through a Facebook page that listed Mid Century Modern furniture for sale by private sellers. I was able to purchase this chair for seventy dollars in nearly perfect condition and picked it up from the seller who lived only five minutes away from me. This was definitely a score to celebrate.
Finally, as new pieces enter your space, you may find yourself wanting to make room by trading out the old for the new. This is where your friends and family can come in handy. Twice a year I like to host trading parties with anyone in my social circle who is willing to join. Everyone brings their unwanted home items big and small and trade with others at the party. Not only is this a great way to change things up in your home, but it is also a great way to help those around you mix things up on their budget. As the saying goes, one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure!
These steps have helped create a space that is unique to me in which I find endless joy. I hope you find the same joy in shaping your own space. Here are a few shots of how I’ve decorated mine.
