With the cost of living rocketing, second-hand shopping is having a moment in 2022 and people are heading to charity shops in waves not only for retro clothes, but unique home décor pieces.
In our Where I Live series, the ECHO will explore one house from across the region each week, with the owner giving us an insight into how they've made their house a home. Charity shop fanatic Sophie Hill, 27, lives on the Wirral with her boyfriend Sam and baby daughter Sienna. They bought their home in December 2021 and moved in just before Christmas last year.
The family have spent the last year putting their own stamp on the new build home, which was "very bare". Sophie said: "I don’t think the previous owners had decorated at all from when they moved in. It was a good blank canvas but in desperate need of some colour and warmth."
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Sophie told the ECHO the kitchen was "by far the worst room" and started the budget makeover straight away: "It was dated and unloved, but by painting the cabinets and putting vinyl on the worktops, it looks like a brand new kitchen for under £200.
"Everyone said it wouldn’t last but it’s been six months and it’s holding up well."
Sophie has always had an eye for things that can be reused or need a little TLC, and has "loved" charity shops since she was little.
"I only used to really buy clothes from them," she said. "But since studying design at university, my interest in interiors really took off and I found myself looking for home décor in them instead."
Sophie loves the thrill of finding "hidden gems" or "searching for months for the perfect piece". She also managed to buy her dining room chairs for £40 each, with them usually selling for more than £100 in shops.
"People often ask me how I find such good stuff and I would say it’s because I’m constantly in charity shops or scrolling on market place. Some days I won’t find anything but then the next day I’ll pop in and find a bargain. I’m also a firm believer of if you love it, buy it. There’s nothing worse than leaving it there and then going back for it to be gone at a later date.
"The best thing about shopping second hand is if you don’t like it or get bored, you can sell it and swap it out for something else you do like. It’s a sustainable way of shopping and especially in this climate very affordable."
Sophie also loves a houseplant and thinks 'every room in the house should have one'. She added: "They really soften empty spaces and bring a natural calming vibe to a room, I love decorating with colours that make the leaves pop.
"I’ve always thought my style is quite bohemian as I have natural materials in my home and of course my houseplants. I tend to buy things I love even if they don’t necessarily go together, so eclectic in a sense. I love MCM (mid-century modern) and have recently started to acquire more retro teak furniture which I think goes nicely with my rattan obsession."
Would you like to be included in the ECHO's Where I Live feature?
We'll be taking a look inside a different property each week. If you're splurging on a renovation, trying your hand at DIY to save money, or have a passion for interiors, let us know.
Please email your name and details to storm.newton@reachplc.com
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