I’m tired of celebrities flogging their tacky fall decor – us moms can’t afford it
LUCY Baker, 48, who lives in Lincoln with her daughters aged 14 and 11 and her son, five, says the pressure to redecorate every season – with homes like Stacey Solomon’s – puts too much pressure on families with lack of money.
She tells Lynsey Hope all about it.
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EVERY time I open TikTok or Instagram these days, I’m flooded with photos of pumpkin orange throws, spooky Halloween ornaments, and adorable fall pillows.
If it’s not store ads that make me want to buy plastic tats disguised as party food, then it’s celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Stacey Solomon promoting their new fall homeware range and showing off their professionally decorated mansions.
It’s impossible to get rid of – and easy to see how someone could be convinced to spend £50 on things they really don’t need.
It will remain in the house for a few weeks before being hung in the attic to make room for Christmas decorations.
A total waste of money.
I’m a busy mom of three and have plenty to do without worrying about how to get an Instagrammable sidewalk ready for trick or treating.
I have barely paid off the bills we racked up in September for new uniforms and school shoes.
And now parents like me are under pressure to decorate the house before fright night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve almost fallen for the seasonal store a few times.
While shopping in my hometown recently, I almost bought a pumpkin-shaped makeup brush holder.
I had to have a quick chat with myself before I put it back on the shelf.
And I’m not the only one.
One in five adults in Britain say they plan to buy or have already bought autumn decorations this year, according to a YouGov survey.
That’s not surprising, since there are tempting seasonal goods everywhere.
Stacey Solomon has a full autumn range at Asda, with bat print duvets, skeleton mugs and decorative boucle pumpkins.
I like Stacey, but I almost unfollowed her because of her posts.
Her ideas to decorate the house for Halloween are too many – and she makes money from it too.
I’m all for women being successful in business, but this “Get Your House Ready for Halloween” vibe makes other parents feel like they’re not good enough.
They try to convince us that our lives will be enriched if our homes are trendy.
It’s so far removed from my childhood that you’d be lucky to have your bedroom decorated every five years.
‘MASS PRODUCTION AND OFTEN NOT RECYCLABLE’
When I was a kid, things were made to last.
No one had the money to renovate their house for every party.
Now it’s Halloween, then Christmas, maybe you get a glitter ball for New Year, then Easter trees, decorative bunnies and even Easter crackers. It’s starting to become the norm.
And of course, if you don’t get involved, mom guilt takes over.
Just this week, my 14-year-old daughter filled an online basket with things she wanted for her room: pumpkin pillows, fall-colored bedspreads.
It amounted to approximately €50. To her disappointment, I put my foot down and told her it would only last two weeks.
We live in a household with two working parents, and even though we can’t make ends meet, things like this aren’t feasible on our budget.
It’s not just about the money, it’s also bad for the environment.
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What happens to this stuff when the party is over?
Next year they want new stuff. It all feels so wasteful.
Stacey has previously spoken about the importance of sustainability, but these temporary measures go against everything we need to do to care for the environment.
Mass produced and often not recyclable. What are the chances that most of it will be in the reduced section by early November?
As parents, we need to remember that these celebrations are not about how much you spend on pillows and wreaths, but about having fun with your children.
Buy a real pumpkin, cut it up and stick it on the sidewalk.
When the pillows and tea towels are long gone, these are memories you will cherish forever.
GO FOR TIMELESS STYLE…NOT a fad
INTERIOR stylist Claire Douglas, who specializes in home styling on a budget, says: “Don’t be afraid to ignore these types of trends.
“They are largely there to help brands sell their products and as such they are moving quickly.
“By the time you’ve purchased the latest ‘must-have’ item, the next trend may arrive before you can enjoy it.
“That said, if a trend really appeals to you and you like a certain style or color, embrace it and enjoy it for the long haul.
“If you like a trend but can’t afford to waste money on buying a bunch of new home decor, there are some things you can do.”
Here are Claire’s tips. . .
SHOP IN YOUR HOME: Take inventory of the decorative accessories you already own and move them from room to room.
By mixing up the decor and creating new vignettes, you can boost your interior and give it a fresh new look without spending more money.
REUSE AND UPCYCLE: You can adapt your current decor to a trend you love, such as painting pots or vases with a sample pot to add a pop of this season’s color.
Add texture by mixing bicarb into the paint, or use modeling clay for a trendy 3D effect.
GO SAVED: Charity shops are your friend, as are boot sales and flea markets.
Keep your eyes open for home accessories that match the latest trend, without paying full price on the high street.
Go foraging: I’m a big fan of finding flowers, leaves, twigs, sticks and branches to style your home with.
Foraging is free and legal, as long as you choose permitted locations and follow the rules.
You can create amazing displays for free, plus you’ll get some fresh air and time to enjoy nature while you do it.
AVOID FADS: Keep the changing seasons in mind when adding decorative accents to your home.
Celebrating nature never goes out of style and is a great way to surround yourself with pops of color and scent for an emotional boost.
Think scented candles and pumpkins for autumn, cozy knits and vases of decorated twigs with twinkling lights for winter, Easter trees and beautiful bulbs for spring and fresh flowers in summer.
BE MORE YOU: Most importantly, never decorate your home to please or impress someone else, or to keep up with people on social media.
Choose a home decoration that suits you and your family. You encounter it every day, so it must match your personal interior style.
Don’t focus on what other people are doing; comparison is the thief of joy.
DIY HALLOWEEN DECOR
ABOVE THE TABLE WITCH’S BROOM
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Gather some twigs and sticks to create a witches’ broom-style display and weave in twinkling lights to achieve a truly magical feel.
EGG CARTON Bats
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Take an egg carton, some black paint and nylon thread and you can make creepy bat decorations on a budget.
Hang these in doorways or on your mantelpiece for maximum effect.
SPIRITUAL LEAVES
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Have the children look for fallen leaves and encourage them to paint their finds with white paint and draw creepy faces on them.
You can then hang them in groups with transparent wire.
