The thing about moving is that I always grossly underestimate how much it’s going to cost. Sure, I can budget for the security deposit, the boxes, the movers. What I always forget is the inevitable nesting that comes with having a new space with a blank slate.
I tried so hard to keep myself in check this move. We’re still renting so it’s hard to justify buying items specifically for a space that we don’t own and may not live in for more than a year or two.
But then…I finally got to put together a nursery for my son. A place that he’d actually sleep and play and enjoy. The nesting instinct kicked in and I indulged it. I bought items for his nursery, for our living room, and for our bedroom. I justified this by telling myself that I’m home all day now and therefore am around more to enjoy the things I surround myself with. Reasonable, yes?
Here’s what I bought leading up to and since we moved in to our new place. Also, you’re welcome for the extremely high quality iPhone pics (lol). Six years of blogging and I still can’t be one of those fancy professionals.
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Project 62 Drum Accent Table
We’d been using a stool as an end table at our old house because it was kind of tucked in a corner and you couldn’t tell anyway. When we moved, it was clear that we needed an accent table next to our couch so we’d have somewhere to put our drinks down.
I was completely in love with this one from Target* and it was out of stock for ages. I finally discovered it in stock during a 4am nursing feed, ordered it, forgot that I ordered it, and was surprised by its arrival two days later.
It’s heavy and well-made and I think it does a good job of looking like an expensive West Elm piece (proof).
Wingback Chair from Ikea
I was searching for the perfect nursing chair for Ben’s nursery. N pushed hard for a rocker but truthfully, I like a supportive chair with a back that’s nice and straight.
Friends of ours have the Strandmon Wing Chair from Ikea in the grey fabric and I always find myself in it when we’re hanging with them. I found it came in a lovely faux leather that worked so well with the aesthetic I was going for with Ben’s room. I love it, I loved the price point ($279) and it will work well later in our living room.
One day soon I’ll share Ben’s nursery. I love how it turned out!
Anthro Candle in Volcano
For years I couldn’t believe people spent so much money on freaking candles. Then someone got me one as a gift and I was converted. Even N thinks they’re the longest lasting and best smelling candles ever.
Anthropologie had their 20% off sale recently and I scooped up this Capri Blue Burnished Candle* with a brushed gold base and marble lid. I like this because once it’s done as a candle it can have a second life as a q-tip holder or something.
A Fern!
I wanted one for our mantle. Something about the added texture and Kate Hudson’s voice in my head saying “it’s our love fern!” I finally grabbed one at Home Depot last weekend and I think I’m done on the house plant front until I kill all of these and have to buy all new ones. #honesty
Mid-Century Modern Console Table
Okay this purchase falls under the “need” because we actually had nowhere to put many of the items it now holds.
Our TV has always been mounted on our wall (no small feat in brick houses). At our new house we needed some type of console table to hold our router, the PS4, the Nintendo Switch, and Alexa. I was looking for something that would hide most of these items. N might think that a PS4 makes for beautiful decor but I do not.
We wound up with this Belham Living Mid-Century Modern Console Table from Hay Needle. The PS4 is in one drawer and the router is in the other. N drilled holes in the back of the piece so the cords could go directly in to the drawers and be hidden.
Neutral Pillow Covers
Throw pillows stress me out (says the person with the most first world problems ever). I do not have the interior decorating skills to make all of my throw pillows match without matching. I’d buy one here or there and then realized I hated how they all looked together.
Being extra cheap, I bought these neutral ones from Amazon* in light grey and light linen. I stuffed them with cheap feather pillows from Ikea that I already had. They aren’t beautiful but they’re inoffensive so there’s nothing I can really dislike about them.
Linen Blend Sheets
I’d debated linen sheets for a long time but couldn’t justify the price tag.
Postpartum I had some serious night sweats and subsequently washed our sheets almost daily. A few months later, they ripped. I slept on the rip for longer than I’d like to admit before a Target home sale came along and I scooped up these Threshold linen blend sheets* at a super reasonable price. I wanted to see if we liked the feel of them before ever investing in an expensive set.
Now we don’t need to because I love these so much. The reviews are right, they do get better with every wash. Plus I bought them in belle pink because after nearly 8 years together, I’ve realized that my husband just doesn’t give a damn what color our sheets are.
Project 62 Textured Sheer Curtains
Can we all agree that window treatments are weirdly expensive? I searched high and low for sheer-ish curtains that wouldn’t look too sheer or unfinished but also wouldn’t break the bank. We also needed 108″ length which was an added challenge. I wound up buying these Project 62 Milan Sheer Panels*.
I took a risk on these because they have zero reviews. The pictures don’t do them justice. They turned out to be gorgeous! They’ve got a beautiful embroidered geometric pattern on them so they’re interesting but not too much. They look much more expensive than they actually are and let plenty of light in during the day while providing privacy at night.
Ikea basket
I have too many baskets. It’s true. I buy them to collect items and keep our house from looking cluttered.
Archie is a special pup who likes to greet you with a stuffy. If no stuffy is quickly available to him, he will grab anything near by (a shoe, a baby toy, a burp cloth).
At the new house, I decided that if I can’t get him to stop (and I won’t, it’s too cute) I should just make the stuffies very available to him. I plopped this Fladis Basket by the door and am now happily greeted with a toy that is actually his.
In the photo above you can also see a bigger basket from Target (no longer available) that we use for shoes. N inevitably takes his shoes off right when he walks in the door so I’ve accepted defeat and just put a basket by the door for them.
So those are my recent home purchases! I’d still like a few more decor items for Ben’s room but for now, I’m really happy with how everything in our new house turned out.