A conscious house move

After re-locating back to Sweden a few months ago, we’ve now bought a flat and therefore have had to move again. But this time, with the knowledge of it being more permanent and the lovely feeling of moving in to something that is ours.

The move to Stockholm included a massive clear-out with a lot of stuff being sold, recycled, donated to charity shops or given away to friends. We’ve bought some stuff and have been given some from relatives over the last few months but we are still on a rather low level of stuff-ownership.

Our aim to stay low.

Not having a lot of stuff means we value and use what we do have. Not having a lot of stuff also means we need less furniture as the stuff-buying vicious circle only means that the more things we buy, the more furniture we need to store them. And subsequently we need to buy bigger houses to fit all our furniture. When actually, we don’t need massive energy-consuming houses if we just stick to owning only the key things we truly need.

But of course, we do need some things in our home. We need kitchen tools to cook. We need something to sit on. We need at least some plants to keep the air clean and help us breath. And some of us need things to make us feel warm, cosy and at home, like blankets, cushions and candles.

Here are some of the things we’ve kept in mind to stay conscious and mindful of our planet during our move.

Decluttering. One’s decluttering process is ongoing. It doesn’t happen in one go. Some things are harder to let go of so at a first attempt you might put them in a box in storage, but at a second round you realised you haven’t missed them and can therefore let them go. Even though we had a big clear-out in the spring, there were still things we decided to sell (through Arkivet, Sellpy, and Blocket) or give away to charity this time around. A house move is also the perfect time to declutter as it also means you have less stuff to move. Win-win.

Avoiding buying things new. One doesn’t need to spend a lot of time looking to realise the amount of stuff that is in perfect condition to buy, even if it’s second hand. The amount of kitchenware found in second hand shops has really made me question whether anyone would ever need to buy plates and cups brand new ever again? And the amount of lovely vintage furniture out there is overwhelming, and again, really highlights the fact that we don’t need to buy everything brand new from a shop. So, we’re sticking to local vintage and charity shops.

Buying eco-materials. I’m trying to make the new flat as plastic-free as I possibly can. I love the feel / look / smell of wood so this is mainly what I’m looking for when buying new things like chopping boards and toilet brushes. Other things I’m buying new rather than second hand are things like towels and bedding, and here I’m looking for materials like organic cotton or linen. And with everything, looking for things of good quality that has been made to last.

Asking friends and family. Especially my mum has been super excited about me moving back home and has therefore been collecting things she’s found in flea markets for me, which is very kind. To avoid buying new things, I’ve also made sure to ask. Like, if there are any cutlery or Christmas decorations laying around that she doesn’t need, and more often than not she’s been able to help. We had borrowed some furniture from my step siste when staying in the previous flat and when moving out I asked if she needed the mirror that had been left by the coat rack. She didn’t, so she gave it to me. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Thinking long-term. We haven’t rushed into buying stuff. Instead, we’re taking it step by step, trying to get a feel for what we actually need. And then investing in pieces of quality that will last. Simple, time-less pieces that aren’t too affected by trends, making our style last longer. There are always trends, and interior design is no exception. But following these isn’t just stressful, but also expensive, as buying new furniture every year doesn’t come cheap. Finding a style you like and then sticking to it is therefore important and will help you make the right decisions when decorating your home.