Not yet ditched the decor trends you loved as a student? Are you still sleeping on the same mattress you had at uni? Or perhaps you still can't quite bring yourself to buy frames for your prints and are just sticking them on with Blu Tack? As we grow older and change, so should our homes. In fact, upgrading your home decor can feel as much a part of growing up as changing your wardrobe or getting your driver's license.
Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at FurnitureChoice.co.uk, reveals the interior decorating habits to ditch as you hit important life milestones such as finishing university, coupling up, and having kids.
1. Old mattresses
Still sleeping on the mattress you've had since your student days? Replace it with a new one. The older you get, the more sleeping problems you will have, and a good-quality mattress will help mitigate (some of) the lack of sleep. Also, if and when you decide to couple up with someone, you will need as big a mattress as you can afford: believe us.
And, while you're at it – invest in a mattress protector to prolong the lifespan of your mattress and get some nice new sheets (nothing screams 'I refuse to grow up' more than old bedlinen that your mum bought you for uni).
2. Man-caves
Remember the days when it was trendy to have this thing called a 'man-cave'? Apart from everything else, they're an incredibly sexist idea: a man needs a room of his own, but not a woman – why? Also, an American study found that most men in their 30s who owned a ‘man cave’, or a room/space that’s seen as a sanctuary to play video games and watch TV, reported that their man caves were mostly unfinished and rarely used. So, man caves are a waste of space, literally. Ditch them and treat yourself to an extra bedroom, home office, or storage room instead.
3. Inspirational phrases
Don't get us started. 'Phrases such as 'Live, Laugh, Love’ are quite generic, so try personalising your decor and framed prints that are really individual to you to add some of your personality to your home', advises Rebecca. We couldn't agree more. Vases, pictures, and ceramic ornaments all make great additions to a mantlepiece (if that's what you're decorating).
4. Wall stickers
Wall stickers, decals, and anything that's attached to your wall with Blu Tack should be consigned to history as soon as you've finished university. Framed prints, photos, and paintings look much better and don't leave sticky marks on your walls.
5. Cheap curtains
Not only do cheap curtain look unsightly, but they're also useless when it comes to trying to sleep (see our note above sleeping problems creeping in on you as you grow older). Add a baby to the equation, and you really need to invest in some nice blackout curtains, blinds, or even shutters.
