To save the environment. would you live in a smaller house if possible and only have secondhand furniture?

Question

I have often seen only 2 people living in huge houses and others continually decorating, changing furniture etc.

Answer 1

Bin there! Done that!!
When we first married - had a (literally) unfurnished flat, begged things from my Mum, like chipped crockery, slept on an aging studio couch (no bed) and begged for a blanket from in-laws for a Christmas present because we were cold - no heating except a drip-feed paraffin heater (bought on HP) in the living room. To keep warm we sat on the window ledge in the loo with a blow torch alight between us!
Now just two of us again - our next move is feet first!

Answer 2

Interesting question!

We are ready to down size from 3500 sq. ft . since the children are grown and gone. So we are looking for a small floor plan that will suit us for the next 20 years. So yes I feel sure I can give this place up it has 3 empty bedrooms now.

Senior citizens are frequently in large houses because the family has grown and left and the house IS PAID FOR.

I will hate to leave it because I designed the house and really love it and we have fabulous country property. So I am busy working on a new floor plan with most of the same benefits and less space.

I am an eclectic furniture person anyway so that is not a problem. I need new sofas and bar chairs to stage the house for resale. But old is good.

We live as green as possible anyway . Low water use, recycling, take my own bags to the grocery. Minimal chemicals. My daughter is a thrift store nut. (since high school) So we try our best.

Answer 3

I wouldn't live in a smaller house just to save the environment, but I don't really care whether furniture is secondhand or not. Secondhand and new furniture don't have that much of a difference.

Answer 4

i wouldnt downsize my current house as i am crammed into a tiny house with my son and the space would be great but i prefer second hand furniture most of the time and i disagree with the answer that said new stuff lasts longer!theres no way a piece of ikea junk will outlast a nice old soild wood table or cabinet,and the craftsmanship shows on old or antique furniture in a way you will never see on modern furniture.
also if you are living on a tight budget as i am, i could have spent a couple of hundred pounds on some nasty looking fabric sofa that my son would cover in stains and pen marks but instead i went on freecycle (a yahoo group) and got a big squashy leather(child proof) sofa in nearly new condition,with a recliner at one end,for FREE!!saving myself about 500 quid.
so A BIG FAT YES TO SECOND HAND FURNITURE!why the heck not! ;-D

Answer 5

2nd. hand furniture presents no problem as much of it is more interesting and better quality than a lot of the modern stuff. Peoples' needs vary as to size of houses as some work from home or pursue hobbies which need a special room and extra storage eg woodworking, pottery,metalwork,sculpture etc. Some types of needlework take up a lot of storage space. Grandparents need space for visiting family.People like this need extra space, I know I do.

Answer 6

I wouldn't move to a smaller house ...but damn half of the furniture i have has been passed down to me or has been bought second hand and its perfectly good so why shouldn't I use it still.
I don't continually re-decorate either ...when I do re-re-decorate its because it needs doing not just because i fancy a change.

Answer 7

No, once you are used to space it is hard to downsize. I would make sure it is fully insulated though and reduce utility costs. Don't mind good second hand characterful furniture, have a few bits myself. People make changes often, maybe because there are other issues at stake and by decorating they feel life will be better.

Answer 8

everybody needs space with good things around them (it lasts longer ), your mixing cheap with weather

Answer 9

no i would not.........but i wouldnt have an oversized house or keep redoecorating