To think that you don't get to be smug about recycling...

[Drowsybutawake]

unless the majority of the furniture in your house is second hand or ethically sourced?

I was having this conversation with the auctioneer who is clearing out my grandparents' house. He said that the bottom has fallen out of the market for brown wood furniture because everything is so cheap new these days. I just find this really sad - there is so much beautiful/useful furniture out there going to waste just because it is brown. DH is also from a developing country which is being ruined by illegal logging, which breaks my heart.

AIBU to think that sending your rubbish off in a nice green bin to god knows where, or even using reusable nappies or second hand clothes, is nothing to be proud of if your home is full of brand new furniture?

My BHF shop has the odd gem from time to time. But I agree re. sofas, the sight of a well-used sofa complete with grimy outline of previous owner does make me heave a bit.

I'm actually quite open to buying second-hand and when I was a student I loved a good saturday afternoon trawling the charity shops for clothes... but it certainly wasn't a quick in and out, grab what you need and go experience. It was about serendipity and often you'd spend a few hours and go home with nothing. I haven't time to do that these days and my toddler wouldn't really enjoy it.

So I know of one bhf furniture shop I can think of, to find the storage I need how many times do i have to travel there and check what's in? it's a lottery... it could be months before they have even one option.

And whoever said 'don't have 'stuff'' - the stuff i need to store is my 21mo old's toys. he gets given them by his loving family for birthdays and christmas and i am not about to give them away just so i can be all holier than thou about not owning 'stuff'.

It's not either/or, dammit.

THIS. Thank you.

Look, any of you who want to buy new, buy new. But don't make out that those of us who generally don't have some sort of Antiques Roadshow lifestyle and can take endless time out of our tennis lessons and lunch appointments to scour quaint little places for interesting pieces. I live in a big city, am a working single parent, and don't drive, and still I've managed to fill a flat very cheaply with reasonably nice furniture. Sometimes the furniture hasn't been all that nice, but I've put up with it until another thing catches my eye, then it goes on freecycle. But it hasn't been endless days trawling, mainly serendipity.

But surely that furniture can be broken down and recycled so it doesn't matter if nobody wants to buy it?