Stuff You Don’t Need In Your House
I came across an interesting article on housebeautiful.com called “Needless Home Items” in which designers share which home accessories (or major purchases) they succumbed to but now rarely use. These include a steam shower, soft-serve ice cream maker, commercial-grade stove, and central air conditioning. Now that I have central air, I can’t imagine how I suffered through 29 New England summers without it.
The article made me think about what I (or friends and family members) have but don’t really need. I’m sure my husband could come up with a much longer list that would include practically everything but bath towels, bed, couch, and television.
1) Jacuzzi tub.
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We have one in our master bath. It seemed so cool when we toured the house, and I had visions of candle-lit bubble baths. The reality: the master bath became the Mr.’s bath, with all of the manly nastiness that entails, and I have never used the tub. Nor have I used the basic tub in my bathroom. So maybe it’s not just the manly nastiness I’m afraid of.
2) More barware than you will ever use.
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We’ve got martini glasses, champagne glasses, and margarita glasses in sets of six, and a dozen each of white and red wine glasses. That doesn’t include the random glasses we have left over from before I went nuts with the Crate & Barrel wedding registry. We’ve never had that many people at our house at one time. I don’t think our house would even fit that many people at one time. When we have a party, what do we use? Plastic cups (which we recycle if possible).
3) Random cooking gadgets. This made HB’s list. I just had a debate with my mom over the need for an apple grinder thingy. I made applesauce in my slow cooker and used an immersion blender to get rid of the big chunks. She insists I need one of these:
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I don’t see the point in having an appliance that has one specific job (and my husband doesn’t eat mashed potatoes, so it would not be used for that purpose). Note that my mom and I have different opinions on the best way to make applesauce (to include peel and core or not – I go with not).
4) Linen table linens.
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Also on HB’s list. Some people love using cloth napkins for their eco-friendliness, but I hate doing laundry, and I really hate ironing. Anything made of linen wrinkles like crazy. I used a set of linen napkins at Christmas last year, washed them, shoved them in a drawer, and haven’t used them since because they’re so damn wrinkly.
5) McMansions with two adults + one child + one dog living in them. Ok, this isn’t stuff you don’t need, but rather the whole house that you don’t need.
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Really? Do you even use all those rooms? We live in 2,000 sq. ft. and don’t use two of our three bedrooms for anything more than storage and the rare overnight guest. If you don’t plan on expanding your clan, how about getting out of debt and giving up the absurd status symbol that is your oversized house.
I feel like I’m on a bit of a rant, here. It’s just one of those weeks. 
It’s amazing to think about what we get used to once we have it.
We got a “smoothie maker” for a wedding present and not only have we never really used it but the one time we tried it didn’t work. Now we use our super blender and HAVE to pour it into cups
We went from living in a 2,000 square foot house to living in a 1,080 square foot house. I have made more trips to Goodwill in the last few months than I ever have in my life! It’s amazing what you can live without when you don’t have room to store it! Great post!
Since I live in a tiny apartment I dont think there is much I have that I dont use all the time. I have a TON of serving dishes and stuff that I never thought I would use, but now that I’m throwing more parties I’m so happy I have all that stuff so I dont have to buy new. I hate using plastic anything so its nice to have lots of stuff. (no offense to people who do use plastic of course, flip cup would not be the same without them)
Here in Houston central a/c is a basic necessity! Clearly whomever said that lives in North Dakota or something….
Anyway, TOTALLY agree on the barware thing (I already told my sis who is getting hitched in May ’10 not to register for martini glasses, margarita glasses, etc.), linen napkins, etc.
Another totally useless registry item is my silver. I hate polishing it, I only have a set of 8 anyway and you can’t put in the dishwasher (kiss of death for me).
I have to disagree on the bath. Bubble baths are my escape and I take several a week in our non-jacuzzi tub. What I wouldn’t give for a giant garden tub. Sigh. Alas, we live in an older home where the bedrooms are teeny and the bathrooms even tinier. I do, however, concur on the barware. I registered for the amount that Martha Stewart recommended. We received it all and haven’t used a fraction of it!
1500 square feet with three bedrooms, 1 kid and 2 dogs, and so we have learned to get rid of everything that isn’t a necessity. My mom always wants to buy “stuff” for the house, but I remind her I have no space (and no closests to store stuff). Interstingly, one item that did make the cut is the apple sauce maker (I also have a popover tin). Great article.
Kristin, I’m now going to have to Google what a popover tin is!
Lots of cooking gadgets are really not necessary. Do we really need electric rice steamers? I donated a George Foreman grill to the Goodwill that someone bought me as a gift when they were still around $99. The food tasted funky and it had this crazy dish to catch grease that you had to clean every time you used it.