home splurges – which were worth it & which weren’t

by | Jan 7, 2015 | All Things Home, Decorating | 45 comments

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I shared yesterday that I want to write more posts about decorating your home on a real budget.  To me, that means looking for bargains, working with what you already have and mixing in a few special splurges here and there.  I thought I would share some of the splurges in my home and which ones were worth every penny and which ones left me disappointed.  Some of these splurges are things I bought and others I exchanged for writing about them on my blog.  This isn’t a sponsored post, though.  All of my obligations have been met and I don’t gain anything by saying nice things about any of these companies or products.  Just putting that out there before you read on with too much suspicion!

Let’s start with a worth every penny.

I bought the bed frame in our master bedroom a couple of years ago from Restoration Hardware.  It is the upholstered Vienne bed with footboard and I bought it on sale for $1100.  This is the first new piece of furniture I spent that kind of money on and, for this second-hand furniture junkie, that was tough.  Jeff had to actually coax me along as I nervously made the call to order it.

I’m so glad he did.  The bed is sturdy, quality, very well made and super comfortable.  It makes a beautiful focal point for the room and I just love it.  I would buy it again in a heartbeat and, in fact, because of this experience, Restoration Hardware is the first place I look whenever I’m contemplating a new piece of furniture (I’m saving up for some bar stools right now!)

Let’s go to another splurge that’s worth it…

Quality bedding.  (Can you see a theme around sleep, here?)  I first partnered with Pine Cone Hill on a bedding review almost two years ago.  They sent sheets, a matlasse spread, shams and a duvet cover.  I had never slept in such comfy, luxurious bedding in my life.  After two years of washing, I am happy to report that everything still looks and feels gorgeous.  None of the spreads have pilled, frayed or shown wear in any other unsightly ways.  I have thrown everything in the washer and dryer and nothing has shrunk.  The bedding is generously sized for super thick mattresses, so a queen bedspread actually hangs over an adequate length.  I kept asking to work with them, so I could outfit the other beds in our house in PCH and now we have their bedding in the guest room…

…and have quilts for the boy’s room (paired with flannel sheets from Kohl’s and vintage quilts my mom made.)

I chose white quilts for our bed and the guest bed (with a gold accent quilt) and ticking/navy for the boys.  I feel like I’ll still be using these quilts in 25 years and beyond.  As I said, these were in exchange for posts I wrote, but I wouldn’t hesitate to save up the money and invest in good bedding.

And for one that didn’t work out as well as I had hoped…

I think there’s an assumption on the part of the consumer that if something is more expensive, it’s a higher quality product.  Fair, right?  Well, that’s what I thought when I bought this Pottery Barn flatware.  I actually received one set to blog about and I loved it so much, I bought two more sets (one at a time) on sale for around $150/set.  We had been using our $20/set flatware from Wal-Mart for 15 years and I was excited about an upgrade.

Now, let me say that I still love the flatware, but the silver plating has started scratching off of the spoons and forks.  They are still functional and I will still use them, but I certainly wouldn’t have splurged on something that would get scratched up in less than a year.

 

Aw, since that one was a downer on Pottery Barn, let me share a splurge from their store that I do love – the Brooklyn sofa ($2700).  I had grown weary of washing the white slipcovers on our Ikea sofa and with two boys in the house, I doubted things would improve.  I had my eye on leather, since it can just be wiped down.

This sofa is comfy and wears extremely well.  It’s been holding up to wrestling matches and two rambunctious boys.  I’m so glad we bought it.

Now, we have only had it for a year and I expect this sofa to serve us for many years, so I’ll give you an update down the road.  Jeff is a little concerned about the delicate legs, but they’re holding up so far.

Oh, and I also love the braided chenille rug under the sofa ($500).  That’s worn well and feels nice underfoot, but it’s not good if you do aerobics on it.  I started to notice it was getting fuzzy in the spot that was taking the brunt of my pivoting feet.  I do my workouts in the basement now, so that is no longer an issue.

There was a time when I felt bad about those occasional splurges for my home, but I’ve learned strategic splurges balance out all of the bargains…like the $35 night stands that flank the bed and the free wing chairs slipped in drop cloths that accompany the sofa.  And here are a few things I’ve learned when it comes to splurging on the right things…

  • Make sure you really, really love the piece.  If you feel even remotely unsure, it’s not worth spending your hard earned money on it.
  • Splurge on pieces that will make a large impact in your space.  I see those being large pieces of furniture, original artwork and rugs.
  • Make sure what you’re buying is as functional as it is beautiful.  Jeff’s always pointing out how much I fixate on form (and I do), but even I don’t want to have a family room sofa be uncomfortable and impractical for our family.
  • Do your research.  Read reviews on the pieces you’re thinking about buying to make sure other customers are happy with their purchase.  (Keep in mind that reviews can sometimes be misleading, because a bad experience often encourages someone to leave a comment more than a positive one.)
  • When spending the big bucks, do it on pieces that are classic, not trendy.  If you put out a lot of money on a something, the hope is that you’ll love it and use it for many years.
  • Save up and pay cash.  A splurge becomes a real waste of money when you have to pay for it two times over in credit card interest.  Enjoy the delayed gratification of saving up and buying it outright.
  • Lastly, wait for sales/use coupon codes, etc.  Just because they are splurges doesn’t mean they can’t be a bargain, too!  (Many of my splurges were bought with gift cards, birthday money, reward points, etc.)

I hope this post helps you think through some of the purchases you’re considering in the near future.

I was asked in a comment yesterday to share more decorating ideas that you can do for free.  I gained a lot of experience decorating for free when I had zero money to spend on our new home.  That meant a lot of free furniture, mixing old cans of paint together to make enough to paint a room and cutting a bed pillow in half to make two throw pillows.  Sometimes I was frustrated that I couldn’t splurge (or spend anything at all), but I learned how far I could stretch a dollar and it really pushed me creatively.  More on that to come…

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    45 Comments

    1. cathgrace

      So I know the flatware is sort of a regret for you, but I actually prefer the patina of them now, they look more loved and well used (I have used nickel knobs from restoration hardware in 2 of my kitchens, and I absolutely love it when they start to blacken from use, there’s no replacement for real usage patina!)

    2. Jenny B.

      This is great practical advice. Thanks!

    3. JennyExplainsItAll.blogspot.com

      Newer silver-plate generally has a very thin layer of silver and won’t stand up to more than occasional use. Older silver-plate flatware and hollowware often looks better than the new stuff and will polish up as beautifully as solid sterling–as I’m sure you’re well aware! Although beautiful in a different way than silverware, my Oneida wedding stainless is still going strong…definitely a good buy!

    4. Heather @ Viral Upcycle

      We all deserve splurging quality pieces every once in a while. I enjoyed your honesty and useful tips for just those occasions. I’m saving right now for an entertainment center. I never seem to find one I really like, probably because they house awkward TVs. Any suggestions on where to find a classic piece?

    5. Emma Kate

      Hmm, food for thought. I was actually very recently considering buying an uncomfortable sofa because it is STUNNING. I fall deeply in love and then try and convince myself I can make it work. I just wrote about this yesterday. Good timing!

    6. Doreen @ Hymns and Verses

      First, let me say, you have worked soooo hard and you totally deserve the splurges! And, I agree with you on the leather sofa. I raised three boys with leather furniture. I’m coming into the empty nester phase and I’m just now getting a slipcovered sofa!!! It would have been a disaster when they were younger!!! Thanks for sharing your experiences with these products!!!

      Blessings,
      Doreen

    7. kristin

      WOW. I was shocked to see how poorly the PB silverware has held up. I do love PB but am cautious about what I purchase from there. I love my parsons chairs and covers, frames, rugs, from PB. I was able to purchase my silverware with Betty Crocker (?) points–the kind you clip from the boxes. An older, dear family friend, who I cleaned for in my early 20’s had bags of the coupons! She wanted me to take them all and showed me the catalog. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I purchased several sets of Onieda silverware. It has been 20 years and has held up beautifully! And I LOVE getting a DEAL on anything! PB points/reward certificates are great!

    8. Laura @ Rather Square

      Nice post! One other thing I would recommend splurging on (depending on your needs) are kitchen appliances. We are slowly upgrading ours (refrigerator and dishwasher so far) one at a time, and since these are workhorses in our kitchen (I cook a lot), I want quality pieces that will last a few decades. To balance that cost, we are planning to keep and repaint our kitchen cabinets. Like you, we mix free/bargain decor with a few splurges here and there so that we don’t go into debt for these things!

    9. Janet

      My mama always told me that the most important item in the home in terms of spending “good money” is the sofa. I now have told that to my girls and hope that they heed my passed down advice. We have leather in our family room and although I don’t often share that room on my blog, it’s where we spend time in the evenings with our 3 dogs who have a steady stream of bones on it. Wipe it clean! Gotta love that:~)

    10. Teresa

      Great advice Marian… quality bedding and linens can be expensive but they are worth the spurge when you get years of wear out of them compared to a much short live span for cheaper linens.

      The only thing I am somewhat surprised about is your leather sofa. While I loved the style, color and legs it appeared to me from the pictures to be a little stiff looking in the back with not a lot of cushion. I was concerned you wouldn’t find it comfortable but I am glad to hear that is not the case. I have a leather sofa in a similar color and I just love how easy it is to keep clean and the patina that aged leather gets as it ages.

    11. Nancy

      What a great article Marion! I think it is so great to see how things really hold up over time especially the splurges! I almost bought that Pottery Barn flatware set but ended up getting real silver from Etsy. So glad I didn’t spend the money on PB, how disappointing as usually PB quality is very good! One question I do have is since you changed the rug in your dining room, how is it to pull or scoot chairs in and out with it being so nubby? As always thanks for your valuable insight!

    12. Vicki K

      Marian, when you made mention of cutting a bed pillow in half to make throw pillows, it made me think of a way to get some budget friendly materials. Recently I have been helping my parents pare down to move to a smaller home. My mother is a sewer and even after she kept some supplies and I took some supplies, sold some, we still took supplies to Goodwill–including 2 pillow forms. Had someone volunteered even a day of helping clear, we would have gladly exchanged some beautiful fabric, pillows, sewing supplies for the help!

    13. Charlene in SC

      Thanks so much for the PB flatware report. I’ve been waffling about this set for over a year, and although I like the way they look, I would be disappointed after making that splurge!

    14. Amy Sue Nathan

      Years ago I saw a funky $250 mirror when I was window shopping. I couldn’t rationalize spending $250 for the mirror, so I didn’t. I couldn’t stop thinking about that mirror! Since I was at the store on a Friday, I decided that if I was still thinking about the mirror on Monday, if it was still there, and if they’d ship it to me (it wasnt’ local), I was meant to have it.

      It’s still one of my favorite possessions. For me – when something sticks in my head or I just *know* then it’s a splurge that’s supposed to happen. If you saw the mirror you’d agree!

    15. beverlee

      Thank you for all the information and help! oops…I bought the flatware in October, and I love it. It is heavy, but some of the tines are askew. I waffled on it but I guess if it does what yours did, I will just live with it. I am sorry to see that!

    16. SusanG

      I made the mistake of giving away my 40 yr old Betty Crocker stainless, in good condition, but just tired of it. Got new stainless and it was a bust.

      So I decided to whip out my mother’s 60 yr old Oneida silver plate in a pattern I’ve always liked. I figured I should just use the good stuff rather than store it! And I was excited to find 8place setting sets of it on eBay for less than $100. The pattern is currently retired, but I was able to find serving pieces and speciality items for very little. I wash it in the dishwasher and occasionly get out polish. It’s holding up well.

      So think about old silver plate as an option. It’s often cheaper than you think!

    17. Gretta

      My 90-year-old home is furnished entirely with antiques, but done on a very low budget, thanks to scouring flea markets regularly. My refinished original hardwood floors are covered with Persian rugs (thank you, eBay), and my original wedding china/pottery, crystal, and sterling/stainless flatware sets have been augmented with fun finds also bought inexpensively on eBay. I find “old stuff” to be much better quality than new, and “buying old” and refurbishing (when refurbishing is required) to be a lot less expensive than buying new. I recently assembled a large set of 1953 silverplated flatware and agree that the quality is better than new. One can furnish a home extremely inexpensively with absolutely top-quality old items — the KEY is finding the necessary craftsmen to reupholster, strip/refinish, repair, rewire, etc .affordably AND to learn to do many of these tasks oneself. One is then undaunted by condition issues that will frighten most other people away from inexpensive pieces (what I call “the GOOD stuff”).

      • marian

        Oh, I agree! I prefer old stuff in almost every case! 🙂

    18. CJ

      You probably have already done this but just in case, double check what metal is under the silver that’s wearing off on your flatware. Wouldn’t want it to be something unsafe. Great post, we also don’t splurge often but love all our pieces, thrifted, free and splurges!

    19. Cheryl

      Thank you for these useful tips. I am currently looking for a chandelier/swag lamp similar to the one in your home – saving my cash for when I find just the right fit. I love being the curator of my home, searching and findings the right pieces to upgrade, repair or paint. Thank you for your inspiration and sharing of you vision.

    20. Jelena

      I understand your frustration with PB flatware, Marian. Working with a bench jeweler for a couple of years and making my own jewelry for about 10 years now taught me to stay away from plating (gold plating, silver plating, etc.) on any items that would receive a lot of use and natural “wear and tear.” That’s the nature of the electroplating process: a thin layer of a precious metal (silver in your case) is placed on top of the base metal, and if the item is used a lot, that top layer starts wearing off. If the wear bothers you, once you no longer can live with it, you might want to talk to your local jeweler and see how much (s)he would charge to electroplate your flatware with a new coat of silver.

      As for splurges, one thing I would add is that those working with a tight budget need to make a firm plan as to what they potentially might splurge on and stick to it. When we moved to another state and another house about 2 years ago, even before we packed up our possessions on a U-Haul truck, we decided that the only new piece of furniture we were going to buy was the bed for our master bedroom. We actually stuck to our plan, which forced me to look through Craigslist and local used furniture and antique shops for everything else we needed, from a dining room table and chairs to daybed in our other room, and everything in between. Not only does our new house now have a special character, but we didn’t have to go into debt in order to furnish it.

    21. MarciLee

      I have the same pottery barn nubby jute rug in my living room. While I knew jute rugs shed, this rug has never stopped. It is a year old. There is a fine “jute dust” that accumulates around the perimeter of the rug on my dark wood floors and if not vacuumed up (using only the floor setting option) right away it becomes a “jute dust” on my dark wood furniture. Also I have a big upholstered ottoman that we sometimes move around when more of us our here. It has to be picked up, cant slide it across the rug or it will “bump up” or break the fibers. I still really love this rug but glad it is in the living room, it would really drive me crazy in the family room where we spend more time.
      Your “splurges” list is perfect, I totally agree with you! 🙂

      • Laurie

        I appreciate knowing this! Thanks.

    22. Laurie

      this is a great theme and I hope you continue it!

      on another topic…..it struck me as odd that your guest bed and the wall behind it are the same color….the room as a whole looks GREAT though. just expected the design aspects of the bed frame to stand out from the wall….

    23. Jane

      How refreshing! Yesterday I was reading the Jan/Feb issue of HGTV magazine that had the theme of decorating on a budget. For them that meant accessorizing a desk area for $300 (not including the desk), a Living Room makeover for $3500 while reusing their same couch, flooring and mirror, not adding any built ins or anything. What? I was wondering if I was losing touch or if they were? I agree with you! Their $800 rug is a splurge, not a bargain.

      One of my tips for doing things for free is…Sometimes, I’ll earn money for my splurges… If I want a cutting edge stencil, I’ll get a thrift store coffee table and stencil the top and resell it. Then I have the stencil for the project I wanted it for and it’ll have paid for itself.

    24. Vicki

      If I wanted to get into painting thrifted furniture to sell, HOW DO I BEGIN to advertise it, HOW DO I SELL IT? I don’t blog. I am an artist and money would be welcome. I have tons of ideas. I know you have to buy the furniture to start with, and the stuff to fix it up and paint it, whatever, but SOMEBODY HELP ME OUT HERE! Run an ad in the paper? There are no swap meets here, just a farmer’s market in summer. THANK YOU.

    25. Lisa Mazzitello

      I’m so glad that your couch purchase from Pottery Barn was a positive one, I had a terrible experience with their Carlyle couch. I too splurged on what I thought was a beautiful quality piece of furniture, I had it for less than 2 years and the wood frame cracked. I have gotten the run around from their quality control team for the last 2 months and needless to say there has been no satisfactory resolution and they won’t take it back saying that it is out of warranty! I am never buying a piece of furniture from Pottery Barn again! I am now very suspect of the quality of their items. 🙁

      • Teresa

        Lisa,
        I agree with you about the quality of some of PB’s furniture. While I love the quality of their bedding and linens, some of their furniture materials upon careful inspection look to be cheaply made.

        You also mentioned a very important part of furniture buying that many people overlook….the Warranty!! The fact that you are being told it is out of warranty on a piece of furniture that is less than two years old is enough for me not to consider buying their furniture. It should at least be pro-rated on a frame problem. I hope you get some satisfactory resolution soon.

    26. Billie

      I too am so disappointed with Home and Garden TV and their magazine. I remember paying extra to get the channel and now with very few exceptions not worth watching. They spend way too much money on items that aren’t even needed. Anybody else feel that way.

    27. Karen

      Very practical advice. I remember when my husband and I purchased our second home – a fixer upper. I wanted a double white porcelain sink when we remodeled the kitchen. It was pricey and there was so much to do. We were currently working on the outside of the house. I decided to teach myself how to lay brick so that I could lay the front steps myself – a project we had budgeted to hire out. My husband thought I was crazy, but, man! I wanted that sink! LOL I learned, I built the front steps, and my finger tips were raw front the mortar…. but I got my sink! 🙂

    28. Rosea

      Love all the comments and thoughts. I just want to remind you about the GREAT Sisal rug you purchased from Decor Steals. I purchased it for my Living room i/O the PB one you have in the living room. I have to tell you I Love this rug so.o.o.o.o. much I called the company directly and foud out where I could purchase more. I’m in the mist of redoing a spare room..wondering what paint and color you have used in your spare room. Thanks for every thing you do for us Marion.

    29. Deb

      I agree with spending more on quality larger items – the furniture you could live with for 15, 20 years or even more. We did that and spend less on smaller things you can rotate in and out as you tire of them or things that might not hold up for so long. We’ve never regretted the money spent. It might make you feel breathless for a moment due to the larger amounts for larger items, but it is worth it over the long haul.

      Where I haven’t in the past appreciated spending the money – but do now and want to do this in the future – is on original art. Good art makes a big difference.

    30. Susan M

      The wear on the PB flatware is awful, especially since you haven’t had it that long. I bet PB have had lots of sets returned. I wonder if you could return it for partial store credit? Seems to be that they should stand behind their products. Flatware should be made to last.

    31. Tammy

      Love the advice! Classic!

    32. Melissa

      So glad you posted this! I have been saving up for the very same flatware as I love the look when new, but not the wear. Love your blog-always great info. Happy New Year!

    33. Donna Marie

      I’m sorry but I get a kick out of free or as close to that as I can get. My income does not allow these purchases that you mention as I do not work away from home. But before I worked, I still did not purchase items unless they were well-made and real bargains. My items have lasted a life time and will be here when I die.

    34. Anita

      I’ve heard of clothing exchanges, but never a home decor exchange. Several friends with items that they just want to change out can bring all to a central location like church fellowship hall or someones home. No money exchanges hands, only things. (Lamps, pictures etc) Maybe be specific on the invite, such as ” only items that can be taken home in the car” and I’m sure a few other rules would have to apply… It would take some thought and energy. Have you ever attempted such a thing? I’d love to know if anyone has!?

      • Anita

        I found your post about it!! lol Guess I should have just searched it first 🙂

    35. Cathy

      I totally agree with you about sheets-you can’t beat good quality linens that will stand up to many washings. Also you are wise to buy a good couch as the exterior covering is only half the story. As for your silver, I have had a set of silver-plated flatware for 37 years. You may already know this but never wash stainless with silver especially in the dishwasher as they have a chemical reaction and will pit and scratch. Your flatware should not look like that and I would contact the store.

    36. Tone on Tone - Loi Thai

      Restoration Hardware and Pine Cone Hill are two of my favs. Great post and very good advice!!

    37. Michelle

      Fantastic advice! Thank you! I just bought a jute and chenille rug from West Elm on clearance with a New Year’s discount code. Great ending price. Waiting to unroll it until I know all of the Christmas tree needles are out of the house (this weekend’s goal!). Just wondered about the shredding of the rug. That is one of the only complaints I read about jute. I bought a quality felt rug pad that I hope helps with the wood floor beneath. Soooo excited to roll it out.

    38. Lin

      Thank you for the great advice. Your articles are always an inspiration.

      I have two night stands purchased from PB many years ago and they did not hold up well. The front of the drawer came off so I decided not to make an furniture purchases again from there. I am glad you are happy with yours.

    39. Tammy

      Love your bed from Restoration. Would love to know what brand of mattress you have, how does it sleep. With all the changes in mattress the past several years I have gone thru many. Not a cheap thing to do.

    40. steph

      What is the finish on your restoration hardware bed? Burnt oak or weathered oak? I’m looking at purchasing the Vienne 4 poster bed !!!

    41. Susan

      I know that this post is years old, but I am in search of new chairs for my living room. We love the look of the Brooklyn chairs, but there is nowhere to sit in them. I guess our style is old fashioned. We want comfy, sit in a chair and read a book chairs. So many that I have been able to sit in were tight fitting and hard as a rock. Do you still have the Brooklyn sofa? Is/was it comfortable to sit in? I know I’m reaching here, but thank you in advance!

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