An example of using what you have—and changing how you see it.
I Thought This Chair Was Seasonal
Not just because of the colors.
Not just because of the pattern.
It felt like a Christmas chair because that’s what I intended it to be.
I had already decided it belonged to December—before it ever earned a place in my everyday home.
Once I changed that thinking, everything about this chair changed.
Using What I Already Had
This project started with two things I already owned –the chair & one piece of fabric for the top back (which used to be a tablecloth)
No shopping. No starting over.
Instead of replacing anything, I worked with a designer at Spoonflower to make sure the added fabric worked with what was already there. I found a couple of patterns that I liked and worked on adjusting the colors to work with the fabric I had. I focused on color balance, tone, and how the patterns played together—not on making it “match,” but on making it feel intentional.
That step mattered.
How It Became a Year-Round Piece
Originally, I thought I was creating a beautiful Christmas chair.
What I actually created was a good chair with good pattern.
Once I stopped labeling it as seasonal, it worked in Florida, at the dining table.
After Christmas, without changing a thing
Nothing about the chair needed to change.
My thinking did.
Why This Approach Works
This is a perfect example of use what you have + add one (or two).
I used the chair I already owned
I reused fabric I already had
I added one thoughtful adjustment—color clarity
When pieces work together, they don’t feel locked into a single season. They feel flexible. Useful. Easy to live with.
The Real Lesson
Most things don’t feel “too much” or “too seasonal” on their own.
They feel that way because we’ve assigned them a role they don’t actually need.
When you release that label, pieces last longer, get used more, and stop living in storage.
A Simple Reminder
You don’t need new things.
You need fewer rules about the ones you already own.
