Somewhere between the third “Spring refresh haul” video and the fourth Amazon unboxing in my feed, I felt it. That little twinge of … ick. You know the one. The mix of fatigue and vague guilt that comes from watching someone tear open box after box of things they absolutely did not need and somehow making it feel like you’re the one missing out.
Quick Summary
What: A personal anti-haul list: Things I’m not buying for my home in 2026, and what I’m doing instead.
Why: To resist the constant pressure to consume and build a home that actually feels like me.
The goal: Not deprivation, just intention. A little pause before buying can transform the way you decorate, save you money, and help you build a home with soul.
For: Anyone feeling the ick of constant home decor consumption and craving a more mindful approach.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. We are living in a golden age of being sold things we didn’t know we wanted, by people who genuinely seem lovely, using language designed to make us feel like our homes are somehow incomplete without the latest seasonal drop. And look, I’m not here to throw stones. I’m a blogger. I have a shop page. I understand how this ecosystem works.
But here’s what I also know: I have been a secondhand shopper since my very first apartment. I have never, not once, walked into a thrift store and thought, “This is settling.” I’ve thought: this is smart, this is fun, this is a treasure hunt. And that instinct, that bone-deep belief that a beautiful home doesn’t require a credit card workout, is what I built this whole corner of the internet on.
Earlier this year, I wrote my Mindful Home Manifesto, a personal promise to choose curiosity over consumption, to embrace the beautifully imperfect, and to create a home that feels like me rather than like a trending aesthetic that’ll look dated in eighteen months. This post is the Manifesto in action.
So here it is: my anti-haul list for 2026. The things I’m consciously choosing to skip, and in some cases, what I’m doing instead. Not because I’m a minimalist (I am absolutely not), and not because I never buy anything new (I do). But because I’m done spending money on things that don’t actually add joy to my home~ they just add stuff.
Hi, I’m Jennifer. I believe the best homes tell a story-and mine is written with found treasures. For me, thrifting isn’t just about saving money; it’s about curating a home with soul, character, and a bit of New England history, one secondhand find at a time.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission if you purchase through our links. See our disclaimer page for more information.
1. The “Fast Decor” Trap
Trendy Seasonal Decor (Yes, I’m Talking About the Giant Plastic Bunnies)
Let’s start with the one that sent me down this rabbit hole. Pun fully intended.
I’m going to start by naming the thing we’ve all seen: the giant bunny topiaries.This Spring, my feed has been absolutely overtaken by these large outdoor Easter bunny topiaries.
You know the ones. They’re everywhere on social media right now: tall, sculptural, often made of moss or faux greenery, and priced anywhere from $40 up. They’re undeniably charming. For about four weeks in the spring.
Here’s the thing: I’m not buying them.
Not because I don’t appreciate the look, I do! But when I step back and think about where that bunny would live in my home for the other 48 weeks of the year, I realize it would spend most of its life in a box in my basement. And that doesn’t feel like mindful spending to me.
This is what I call the “fast decor” trap. It’s the seasonal, trend-driven items that:
- Are designed for a specific holiday or season
- Feel essential because they’re everywhere on your feed
- Often cost more than everyday decor because they’re “statement pieces”
- Will look dated or irrelevant by next year when a new trend emerges
Sound familiar?
I’m not saying NEVER buy seasonal decor. A few well-loved pieces that spark joy year after year? Absolutely. But I’ve started asking myself a different question before I click “add to cart”:
Would I still love this in July? Would I still love this next January?
For the giant bunny? The answer is no.
Now I want to be clear: if you bought the bunnies and you love them, genuinely, no judgment from me. But this is a perfect example of the kind of purchase that the scroll makes feel inevitable. Everyone’s doing it, so it starts to feel like a thing you just… do. And that’s exactly the moment I’m trying to pause at.
The bunnies are just one example. The broader category: trendy seasonal outdoor decor with a very short display window and a very plastic feel- is something I’m opting out of entirely this year. My porch can be welcoming and seasonal with a good wreath (that I make), a potted plant, and secondhand finds I’ve collected over the years. No assembly required.
2. New Throw Pillows Every Season!
I’ll tell you exactly what’s on my sectional right now: a mix of neutral gray, blue, and beige pillows that genuinely work in every season. Yes, there are a lot of them — we are unabashedly pillow people in this house, throws included, zero apologies. But here’s the thing: I bought two large Pottery Barn pillow covers about a year ago when I brought in a new living room rug with navy in it, and I have absolutely zero plans to change them anytime soon. They work. They’re beautiful. The rug still has navy in it last time I checked.
My biggest “splurge” might be two new pillow covers for a focal point if something really speaks to me- might be. Not a seasonal haul. Two intentional covers when the time is right.
Instead: build a base of pillows in neutrals and tones you genuinely love, and let them live across seasons. Or if you are drawn to patterns, try a couple of plaid, block print, or floral pillows that you won’t be sick of in a few months. If you want a refresh, move one from another room, add a throw in a different texture, or just rearrange what you have. It costs nothing and somehow always feels like something new.
Your home doesn’t need a seasonal pillow wardrobe. It needs things you actually love in it.
3. Anything Purchased Specifically Because It’s the “Trending Color of the Year”
Every year, the design world announces the Color of the Year, and approximately ten thousand home decor pieces arrive in that exact shade within thirty days.
And every January, I watch people redecorate around it.
Here’s my honest take: if you genuinely love the color and it works in your home, great. But if you’re considering buying throw pillows, a vase, or a candle in a specific color primarily because it was declared trendy by a paint company, that’s worth a pause.
My home has a palette( I lean towards the colors of the seacoast here in New Hampshire). It’s evolved slowly over the years, through thrifted pieces, DIY projects, and things I genuinely love. That palette works because it reflects me. Chasing a trending color every year is a great way to end up with a home that looks like everyone else’s — and a donation pile full of last year’s “it” shade. Just visit your local thrift store…it’s like a time capsule of past year’s trendy decor.
4. Mass-Produced “Handmade Look” Ceramic Vases
This one makes me a little bit crazy, if I’m being honest.
There is an entire category of home decor right now that is factory-made to look handmade: the slightly uneven rim, the textured glaze, the “artisan” finish — all manufactured at scale and sold at prices that would make an actual potter weep.
And I keep seeing the exact same vase on what feels like every home decor Instagram account, which rather defeats the “unique handcrafted” aesthetic they’re going for.
Instead: thrift stores. I cannot tell you how many genuinely beautiful, genuinely unique ceramic vases I have found secondhand at flea markets or thrift stores for under $10. Actual pottery. With actual character. The kind of piece that looks like it has a story because it does. If you go in with a specific eye: ‘I’m looking for interesting shapes, interesting glazes, interesting textures’ the thrift store will not let you down.
Want to transform what you already have? I’ve done exactly this more times than I can count — here are a few of my favorite thrift store vase makeovers to get you inspired:
Flea Market Flip: How to Upcycle an Ugly Vase
DIY Textured Vase: Thrift Store Hack
DIY Pottery Barn Thrifted Vase
A $5 thrift store find, and a little paint can absolutely hold its own against anything in a home decor store. I promise.
5. Perfectly Matching Sets of Anything
If the giant bunny represents seasonal impulse buys, matching furniture sets represent something else entirely: the pressure to have a home that looks “finished” and “put together” all at once.
You’ve seen the rooms: the matching sofa-loveseat-chair situation in three shades of beige. The bedroom set with the headboard, dresser, and nightstands all cut from the same cloth. Everything coordinates perfectly. Everything looks… expected.
I’m not buying matching sets anymore.
Here’s why: a home that matches too perfectly often lacks soul. It reads more like a catalog page than a place where real life happens—with all its mess, quirks, and collected memories.
The problem with sets:
- They leave no room for evolution. Swap one piece, and suddenly nothing “goes.”
- They can make a space feel flat. A room with all matching furniture has no visual tension, no surprise.
- They erase the story. When everything arrives in the same delivery, your home doesn’t reflect you…it reflects one shopping trip.
What I’m doing instead:
I’m embracing the eclectic. A thrifted side table that doesn’t match my sofa but shares its wood tone with a picture frame across the room. A madeover lamp that makes no sense on paper but adds exactly the warmth my reading corner needed.
I think of it like a dinner party. A room full of matching furniture is like inviting all the same kind of people—polite, predictable, no surprises. An eclectic room? That’s the dinner party where conversations get interesting.
My new rule: Unless pieces genuinely love being together (and have something interesting to say to each other), they don’t all need to come from the same set.
I understand the appeal; it feels intentional, pulled-together, like you made a decision instead of just accumulating things. But here’s what I’ve found: matching sets make a space feel like a display, not a home. They read as a snapshot of one shopping trip rather than a life being lived.
The spaces I am most drawn to in real homes, in magazines, on the accounts I actually save from, have that mix of textures and finishes and heights that only happens when things are gathered over time from different places. Two brass candlesticks that don’t quite match, a thrifted frame next to one you’ve had since college, a vase from a flea market next to one your mom gave you.
That’s the look I’m going for. You can’t buy it in a set.
6. More Faux Florals (Seriously, Go Check Your Bin)
Okay, this one is a little personal.
Every Spring, the stores fill up with faux stems: tulips, peonies, eucalyptus, whatever the botanical trend of the season happens to be. And every spring, people buy them. Fresh faux stems for the new season.
Meanwhile, most of us have a bin (or box or bag!)somewhere. You know the bin. The one with last year’s stems, and the year before that, and the random ones from who knows when.
Before you buy a single new stem this year: go find the bin.
Pull everything out. Spread it on the kitchen table. See what you actually have. I’d be willing to bet there’s more than you remember and more than a few pieces that just need a new context to look completely fresh.
If you’re ready to do something creative with what you already own, here’s my favorite idea: grab a grapevine wreath base (usually just a few dollars at the craft store or thrifted). Then raid your stash. Tuck in those leftover stems, rearrange, step back, adjust. Suddenly, you have a brand new spring wreath. No shopping required. You’re literally making something new from what you already own, and it’ll look a thousand times more personal than anything off a store shelf.
Spring Faux Flower Wreath Tutorial
For those of you who grow flowers: this is where your dried blooms from last season live their second life. Strawflowers, bunny tail grass, statice, globe amaranth, anything you dried from the garden is a craft supply waiting to happen. That’s the whole joy of growing your own. The season keeps giving, even in the off months.
7. New Storage Bins “For Organization”
This one is sneaky because it feels so responsible. You’re not buying decor, you’re organizing. You’re being a functional adult. Very virtuous.
Except.
More bins don’t fix disorganization. They just contain it in a cuter way. And then you have the original clutter plus the bins.
Here’s the thing I’ve come to believe: if you find yourself constantly needing more storage solutions, the storage isn’t actually the problem. The stuff is the problem. And the most liberating thing you can do for your home isn’t to find a prettier way to hide it… It’s to have less of it in the first place. A calmer, cozier home isn’t about better containment. It’s about being intentional about what gets to stay.
Before buying a single new bin this year, I’d suggest two things: first, do an honest declutter pass I have a whole post on exactly where to start with that right here. And second, do a “shop your home for containers” lap: what baskets, bowls, trays, and tins do you already own that could be doing this job? The solution is almost always already there. It’s just in the wrong room.
8. “Just Because” Thrifted Buys
This one might surprise you coming from me. I mean, I’m the person who built an entire brand around thrifting. I’ve written guides on spotting quality secondhand finds. I’ve styled countless thrifted vignettes. I love the hunt.
But here’s the honest truth I’ve had to face: even thrifted items can become clutter if I’m not intentional.
I’m not buying things just because they’re a “good find” anymore.
You know the feeling. You’re at a flea market, estate sale, or Goodwill, and you spot something. It’s only $8. It’s vintage. It’s a little quirky. Someone else would totally buy it if you don’t. So into the cart it goes.
And then it sits on your counter. Or in your garage. Or in the “I’ll find a place for this someday” pile that never seems to shrink.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- A good deal isn’t a good deal if it doesn’t have a home.
- Vintage doesn’t automatically equal valuable (to me and my space).
- Passing on a find is not failure-it’s editing.
What’s changed for me:
I now go into thrift stores with more intention. Instead of asking “Is this cute?” I ask:
- Do I have a specific spot for this?
- Does it fill a need I actually have?
- Would I still want this if it weren’t vintage?
- Am I buying it, or am I rescuing it?
That last question is the big one. I’ve realized I sometimes buy things because I feel sorry for them-like they need a home. But my home isn’t a rescue shelter for orphaned objects. It’s a curated collection of things I genuinely love and use.
What I am doing instead:
I’m still thrifting-don’t worry! But I’m thrifting with purpose. A vintage breadboard that fits perfectly on my kitchen counter? Yes. A basket that solves my blanket storage problem? Absolutely. A quirky ceramic bird that speaks to my soul and has a designated shelf waiting? Done.
But the “just because” buys? They’re staying at the store for someone else to discover.
What I AM Buying This Year (Because I’m Not a Monk)
Just so we’re clear, this post is not a vow of poverty. I am absolutely still spending money on my home this year. I’m just being a lot more intentional about where that money goes. Here’s what’s actually on my list:
1.Experiences that linger longer than stuff. Instead of a giant plastic bunny that lives in my basement for eleven months out of the year, I’ll take a Spring day trip to a favorite nursery. I’ll wander, I’ll smell things, I’ll probably come home with a flat of annuals and a very good mood. That afternoon will outlast any seasonal decor purchase I could have made,and honestly? It’s more fun.
2. Quality seeds and plants for the garden. This is my equivalent of a home decor budget. Every dollar I put into my cut flower garden comes back into my home all season long: in vases, in wreaths, in dried arrangements, in craft projects. It’s the best return on investment in decorating that I know of.
3. Quality materials that age gracefully. Solid wood. Natural fibers. Real brass. Things that develop a patina instead of peeling. I’m buying fewer things this year, but the things I do buy are built to last. A well-made piece doesn’t need to be replaced every season. It just needs to be chosen carefully.
4. The occasional soul-stirring splurge. Because I am not a minimalist! If I fall completely in love with something: a piece of art, a hand-thrown mug, a vintage quilt, and it has a home waiting for it? I’ll buy it. No guilt, no hesitation. The goal was never “never spend money.” It’s “spend money on things that actually matter to me.” There’s a big difference, and it’s worth remembering.
A Note Before I Go
I want to say this clearly: this is not a “never buy anything” list. That’s not my philosophy, and it’s not my life. I buy things. I will continue to buy things. I have an Amazon store page, for goodness’ sake.
What this list is about is the pause. The moment between seeing something on your feed and clicking add to cart. The question of whether you actually want it or whether the algorithm just made it feel inevitable. That pause-even just 24 hours- changes everything.
I’ve been living this way my whole adult life. Longer, actually. That little girl in the photo above? That’s me at four years old, very seriously styling a small table with a plant and dried flowers tucked into a found glass bottle. I didn’t know what “intentional decorating” was. I just knew that a pretty bottle with something growing in it was better than nothing and that you didn’t need to buy anything special to make a corner of your world feel beautiful.
Apparently, some things don’t change.
My home is full of things I genuinely love! Mostly found secondhand, mostly made with my own hands, and all of it adds up to something that feels completely mine. Not a trending aesthetic. Not a catalog page. Just a home with a story, built slowly and on purpose.
That’s what I want for you, too.
Now I’d love to hear from you: what’s on your anti-haul list this year? What have you consciously decided to skip, and what are you doing instead? Drop it in the comments. I genuinely want to know!
xo, Jennifer
Love projects like this? Don’t miss out! Join my newsletter family for more cozy, budget-friendly DIY ideas delivered right to your inbox. You’ll get exclusive tips, early access to tutorials, and all the inspiration you need to make your home feel handmade and heartfelt.
Jennifer, I absolutely loved your post! Thrifting runs in our family from my Grandma on down. From antiques, to auctions to thrift stores all of our homes reflect our love of older, well made items from the past that are as beautiful and useful today as they were 50+ years ago.
Oh, thank you!! I love that, it’s the best way to decorate.
What a great article! I have become a little tired of decoration blogs who used to give us ideas and inspiration, and that now present only what is on their list to buy or what they have bought with 100 photos of the same item! Your article is great. I especially like the “pause” incentive. We should pause more in life, before buying, before talking, before acting on automatic impulse. Bringing more consciousness and intentionality brings more long term satisfaction. I will not buy an embroidered bunny pillow, even if I find them cute. I will re-read your article when I want to buy more artificial flowers, and I have actually started drying more flowers from my garden after reading one of your blogs. The only thing I partly disagree with is matching furniture. I have 2 matching rattan dressers in my bedroom. I have changed the matching bedside tables, but will keep the rest because they are in good condition and I still like them. Thank you for a much needed wake-up call, not only financial but also environmental.
Thank you Monique for taking the time to comment!It makes me my heart happy that you have started drying some of your flowers, truly! It’s such an affirmation to me that all the work I put into my little corner of the internet is worth it.
Hi,
I am pleased to hear your affirmative advice. I think that many of us have been experiencing a saturation point in trendy decor trends. It’s much more satisfying to creatively display items we already possess than to trudge out to stores and try to duplicate a current fad. I love to comment on the provenance of a meaningful item than a Hobby Lobby (no offense intended) purchase.
I look forward to your creative ideas each week. Thank you.
Becky
Thank you, Becky! I really feel that 2025 was my personal breaking point in the constant feeling of being sold to! Will I still share great finds & link to high-end dupes…yes, but it always comes from a place of sharing something I truly think is fantastic.
Hi Jennifer – I totally agree with you! We are oversaturated with all of those “must-have” items to buy! When it comes to holiday decor, I try to focus on using things that either I make or someone gave me that have meaning for me. It’s funny that you mentioned pillows – I used to buy them on repeat and I’ve been hanging on to the ones I have now for a few seasons. As you said, I’d prefer to spend my money on travel or experiences with friends and family.
Alexis, I am right there with you in always feeling like I had to change my throw pillows every season-I look back at the early days here on the blog and see the evidence!!!
Hi Jen,
Girls getaways are always fun….Enjoy!!!
I enjoyed reading your blog today. Yes I’ve seen those Plastic bunnies as well, my 1st thought was cute..but where am I going to store them the rest of the year. I have a storage problem as it is. Which leads me into the storage bins…Im so guilty of this but I still think for me it is the best way to store “my stuff”. I use clear bins , label them, stack them and try not to get any more..lol!!! I use the adage if something in the house comes in…somethin̈g has to go out. I still have “stuff” I like to call it my seasonal decor that is homemade and curated. I do think when getting something..can i use this year around in my decorating, do I have space in my bins when not using it? If it is a “No” I will say sorry I love it but I just cant get it. Waiting for the warm weather so I can start playing around in my backyard. Have fun and Enjoy time with friends.💞💕
The funniest thing happened on the girs’ trip, we stopped at a big TJ Maxx on our way home and one of the girls stopped at 2 big $80 bunny topiaries and said ‘oh theses are adorable’ and I said ‘Laura, you absolutely don’t need them, we still have snow and Easter a couple weeks away anyway. Plus, were are you gonna store them?’…she said ‘You’re right…that’s why you’re the blogger!!’
Jennifer,
Thank you so much for this post! We are all guilty of buying decor just because we saw it in a magazine or on the Internet. We are constantly being compelled to buy, buy buy. Nothing wrong with using what you have.
You are welcome! I just feel like it’s gotten to a fever pitch the past year!I hate to think that people are thinking their homes are not ‘good enough’ because they don’t have the latest trendy item from Target!
I heartily agree! I do love a good faux fern, though, as I can grow flowers in the garden but once a plant arrives in my house…sigh. I have spent 3 years deleting things my children will not want ever. That freeing feeling is amazing! No regrets. Do I still enjoy looking at the latest trend? Yep! But that little voice murmurs,” not today!”
Deb, I love a good faux fern too! When I was down in Waco a few years back at the Magnolia store I bought the best ones that I have in a vase in the bathroom. I actually bought supplies for a wall art project with faux ferns a year ago…I swear I will get to it (it’s a dupe for something I saw on Pottery Barn).
I hear you about the buying trends. I am still a sucker for a pillow cover. However, I have scaled back. It’s outdoor plants that I have no self control. Thrifting, I have to ask myself am I buying it just because it’s a good deal? Can I really use it? Or is it just more “stuff”? I did snag a white soup tureen because my other one got broken and found it for a bargain price. I love planting in them. This post was great!
I love a good soup tureen too! I’m trying to force bulbs in one now.
I am doing the same. I’ve been shopping secondhand since my 20’s. Now 58 and living in a smaller space I have to be very intentional about my finds. I have one box for each season that I rotate through the year to bring the seasonal (plus Christmas bins). Some of my favorite items I have had for a decade or two. Learning to display them in fresh ways has been my goal
We are the same age! I just pulled out a vase I got for my 30th birthday that I just love, it’s still cool after all these years and it reminds me of the friend who gave it to me back then.