Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Getting Rid of Worn Out Decorations


This blog contains affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I may make a commission at no additional cost to you. Read more here.

Getting Rid of Worn Out Decorations

Do you ever find yourself a little sad when one of your favorite decorative items gets worn out (or am I just really weird)? 

You are probably thinking, "How do you wear out a picture on the wall??  Duh, Kate."

But I'm talking about decorative things that we use... not something going out of style, just getting worn out. 

Maybe it's your favorite comfy chair and the leather starts cracking, or maybe your sofa starts to sag in the middle, or your kitchen chair seat covers have too many stains but you just love the discontinued fabric they are covered in.  Those types of things are what I'm talking about.

I recently decided that I had to replace my kitchen rugs in front of my sink and fridge.  I've been putting it off for a good six months because I really love my polka-dot rugs.  I love what they were, now they are just gross.  They are discontinued and I can't find any similar ones to replace them.  Boo.

(FYI, sorry for the crummy pictures, I ran out of day light.)
They don't look too bad from way back here but you can see how stringy the edges are.

They are way past their prime, stringy on the edges, matted and flat on top, and the off white polka dots have taken on a dirty shade of grey that won't scrub off.  They are really looking disgusting and I held on to them for too long because I loved them when they were new, and I kept telling myself that just maybe, somehow I could scrub them and fluff them enough that they would look like new again.  (I was in denial people)


This is embarassing!  At least this is the side that is up against the cabinets but the other side isn't much better.

I could scrub and fluff these rugs 'til the cows come home (does anyone say that anymore??), they will never be pretty again.
 
I picked up some replacements, they look ok but they aren't living up to my polka-dots in their prime. 

First is this black trimmed jute-looking-natural-fiber material that is SO scratchy.  Like it kind of hurts scratchy. 

Hides dirt, scratches feet. 

Good thing slipper season is coming right up.




My second option has a cute pattern but is a little smaller than I would like.  There is a gap between the dishwasher and sink so I will surely be dripping water on the floor as I load the dishwasher.  Thumbs down to that.


Don't mind the price tag in the corner

Which rug do you like best?  Scratchy or Too Small??  Aren't those great options?!?  HA! :)

So tell me, what are you holding on to that you should've trashed a long time ago?  Please tell me that I am not the only one who keeps old dingy rugs for a couple months too long...

Do any of you do this or do I have a strange attachment to these dingy polka-dot rugs?

15 comments :

  1. Bummer. The only thing to do here is shop some more! :)
    -Revi

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the too small one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Get two of the too small rugs and place them end to end. They'll cover more space horizontally but you'll get the cute/comfy rug you like. Or just keep shopping till you find the right one :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Of these 2 , I prefer the smaller one. Surely somewhere there's one similar and a little larger:)

    I have held on to my bathroom rug about a year too long and I need to just toss it but but but lol.. No , you arent the only one.

    good luck on your rug hunt.
    xoxo
    Sonny

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shop some more! About a month ago I tossed the pair from my kitchen that should have been tossed LONG before then!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Have you considered Etsy for a rug? They have cute, unique rugs...maybe you'll find something on their website. Carol

    ReplyDelete
  7. Better keep shopping. You will come across one, don't give up!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had the same problem and my colors are like yours. I ended up picking up a runner at Lowes for $25. It's cream and black with a scroll all away around. It's not too small or scratchy it's just a little flat. I do like it so then I went to JoAnn's and picked up similar material and made toppers for my windows. Good Luck!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think the 2nd option looks the best between these two choices.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like the too small one better. I really need to recover most of our cushions.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I totally do this too. I have a couple of rugs I've tired to bring back to life by sticking them in the washing machine...no go. :(
    Oh, and I'd say stick with the first one, don't want to ruin your pretty floors! (Or maybe layer them???)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Funny! I hold on to stuff too in hopes of finding just the same thing or something similar. It's ridiculous. I also say til the cows come home. And for the love of Pete (who IS Pete anyway??).

    I like the dark rug best.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like "too small" better

    ReplyDelete

I L-O-V-E love your comments! :) I read and try to respond to every one! Thanks for taking your precious time to leave me a comment.

My faves...

09 10 ""