Turning a house into a home

Turning a house into a home

Turning a house into a home
We all want our house to feel like a home, especially when you’ve just moved to the Netherlands from a different country. But where to begin? Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to shopping. Whether you want to buy furniture online or go to an actual store, finding out where to go is usually insider information that you don’t pick up on until after you’ve lived in a country for a while. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this article we’ll hook you up with all the tips, tricks, and trends to unleash your inner interior designer!

Vintage
It’s safe to say that vintage has been the trend in the Netherlands for quite some time now. The Dutch are very environmentally aware which might have to do something with the fact that more than 50 percent of Dutch territory lies below sea level, but in any case vintage, recycled and upcycled furniture are all the rage and almost a necessity to make your house look authentic these days.

If you go for a wander through any city near to you, you’ll find lots of vintage shops that offer wonderful furniture. You will also find that many of them offer new furniture with a vintage or eclectic look, such as ‘Sissy-Boy Homeland’ and ‘Lifestyle’. But as is the case with any trend, vintage is also becoming increasingly expensive. Which is why a lot of Dutch people swear by ‘Marktplaats’. This online marketplace allows you to sell and buy furniture through their app or website. You can even select how many kilometres you’re willing to drive, so you’ll only be shown the furniture within that radius. With more than two million (!) people checking in on a daily basis, it’s one of the most popular ways to find second-hand gems. For those who prefer live action and are looking to find their furniture a little more on the cheap, the thrift shops called ‘Kringloopwinkels’ are a good alternative, although you will have to be able to see through the somewhat crummy exterior of their premises.

Woonboulevard
If you’re looking for new furniture, entire kitchens, bathrooms and what not, the ‘woonboulevard’ (literally ‘home-improvement strip’) is the place to be. They are often found outside the city centre and offer a wide variety of large lifestyle and DIY stores such as IKEA, Leen Bakker and GAMMA. These shops are both quite reasonably priced and easy to navigate. You can find a large woonboulevard in Duiven, a small town on the outskirts of Arnhem. All of these shops offer a delivery service for an additional fee.

Interior Design
Do you want to change the design of your house or the layout of your apartment, but don't you want to spend to much time strolling along the Woonboulevard? You may also consider asking an expat-friendly interior designer (e.g. JR Interior Design). An interior designer offers services such as; interior styling, interior design, renovation, space optimization, new construction interior design specifications.

Happy homemaking!