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Getting rid of the TV once and for all ~ Creating a pretty bedroom
January 13, 2010
We've had an on again, off again relationship with TV throughout our family life. For the first 5 years or so (Celine was born 2.5 years after our wedding) we didn't have a TV. Somehow (I honestly don't remember the details) we came in possession of one when the kids were toddlers and preschoolers. And I must say for about a year of our lives, half an hour of PBS Kids in the morning saved my day. At the time the kids were 4, 2 & 1; no wonder everyone commented on how "busy I must be".
After a time we weaned ourselves off that and would watch videos & DVD's instead. A couple times a week (usually in the afternoon) for the kids and adult movies for date nights at home.
The TV remained in our living room because that was the most logical spot for it. In addition, for several years we taught a health course in our home and used a DVD series in which the TV was a very necessary teaching tool. A few years ago we "upgraded" to a bigger model when our neighbors down the street put their old one out on the curb. It worked perfectly well but was just too large and black for the living room. Off it went to our bedroom.
By this point we only used it once a week or so and for family movie night when we'd all pile on our double bed, squish and squirm together to watch a movie. But then we bought a new computer monitor to feed mommy's photography addiction support mommy's photography endeavors. A monitor that is nice and large and conveniently located in our central living area. The monitor became the preferred watching source and the TV was left alone to take up space in our bedroom.
Last fall we finally got rid of the beast for good. It was sitting in our front porch, while we were trying to decide what to do with it, when our buying club driver (the guy who delivers our order to our house from the distributor) noticed it and said they could use it in their warehouse for breaktimes. Or maybe they watch TV while working, who knows. I don't care when it's used, I was just happy to get it out of my house. And now we are officially TV-less and I love it.
Even though we haven't watched real TV at home for years (the kids love watching it when we visit family etc...) we still used it to watch movies. But now we use our computer monitor and it's one less thing to own, one less thing cluttering up our lives. So instead of a TV on my dresser I now look at this. (I remember drying those hydrangeas in the last sweet days of summer).
While I'm talking about our bedroom I wanted to share a few photos of that space. Since it's no longer a bedroom/video watching room I like to keep it pretty. I still don't like the flocked wall paper but I can almost forget about it with my grandmother's quilt on one wall and the other touches of beauty I've put in the space.
Our winter bed (summer bed looks like this). I sewed the big pillow, perfect for back support while reading in bed, and picked up the others at for $1 a piece at a sale.
A collage of photos that I happened to have developed and frames for. One of my goals is to frame more of my photography. The black & white photo is a gift from my parents by another photography. The wintery photo is taken by my cousin of my grandparents/aunt & uncles farm on a cold January morning. The flower photo is mine.
I saw this idea at beauty that moves, before Christmas. I raided my mom's doilies while visiting there, took this one my grandmother made and fashioned this jewelry hanger last week. I absolutely love it.
Remember my baking soda cup and soap dish? I decided to use this beautiful teacup & saucer from my great-grandmother to store all the non-hanging jewelry I own.
No TV and lots of pretty. Much, much better.
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nicola@which name? on Jan. 13, 2010, 2:53 p.m.
oh my gosh, renee! you and i are so alike in many ways! first, your bedroom is so beautiful! i love seeing photos of people's homes, especially blog friends i haven't met! :) and i almost could have written this post about TVs. we still have one, in the living room, but haven't had TV reception for years) and the adults still watch movies on it occasionally, but that is so infrequent now that i have been thinking it is time to go. or at least cover it up! it is huge (in my opinion, at 27 inches of big boxy blackness). i like the computer, and mike, who does enjoy movies, mostly watches on the computer. (also, your computer monitor statement was funny...for awhile our movie watching happened on an old computer monitor hooked to a VCR, but mike's brother thought that was awful when he came over to watch football and couldn't (no reception), so he bought us a TV. (he and mike are very different about what they enjoy in their spare time. football and TV don't make the cut around here. not even close.)
anyway, FABULOUS topic, renee!
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Candelion on Jan. 13, 2010, 6:43 p.m.
I don't need a TV, but with the Olympics and World Cup fast approaching---- I'm super glad I have one ;) Some don't care for either competition, but I have always loved them. I may try to rent a TV or something when the time comes again. Your bedroom is so beautiful. Love it all
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Mel on Jan. 13, 2010, 8:16 p.m.
I haven't had a tv since I lived on my own--oh, almost 20 years now! We watch the occasional video on our laptops, but a bigger monitor sure would be nice. 4 of us gathered around a 15 inch screen is getting silly.
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Debbie on Jan. 13, 2010, 9:20 p.m.
We officially got rid of our tv this fall as well. It had spent the last couple years in the closet because we never watched it...and have never had cable. My son (3 1/2)never showed any interest in tv (thankfully) and so it just made sense to rid our lives of it for good. Like you, my husband and I our computer for any viewing needs. It works...and it is so nice to not stare at a black box in the middle of the room. Great post.
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Spring on Jan. 14, 2010, 2:08 a.m.
We tried cable for 8 months this year (I wanted to watch the Red Sox)- never had it before. But we just pulled the plug last week. Today Levi said "Funny, I seem to have already adjusted to not having TV anymore." Thankfully it was a quick adjustment! Rich reads the news online, I check the weather, and that's all we need. We still have a big ugly black box in the LR hooked up to the VCR player and the Wii though!
Funny, I was just admiring your wallpaper, when you commented on a couple lines later. Maybe it looks better online than in real life? :) I would settle for wallpaper that is that good shape in my bedroom at this point!
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Denise on Jan. 14, 2010, 3:20 a.m.
sigh. it is okay to admit that I am jealous that you have no TV?
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Denise on Jan. 14, 2010, 3:21 a.m.
p.s. - your bedroom is very pretty but not so pretty that Damien wouldn't sleep in there : )
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exhale. return to center. on Jan. 14, 2010, 7:26 p.m.
congrats!!!!!
we've been wrestling with the tv issue for quite a while now. ( my husband and i have very different opinions about it.)
we did take a big step this past week though. we moved our couch so it no longer faces our tv. now we all can sit together comfortably and see each other while gazing at the fire in our woodstove.
and if we want to watch tv we have to sit on the floor to do so.
SUCH an improvement. (well...i think. hubby not so much.)
my hope in the very near future is partially finish our basement and move the tv down there. that way the main living spaces of our home will be tv-free, but we can still watch movies and sports downstairs.
we'll see....
~erin
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Kendra on Jan. 17, 2010, 5:31 a.m.
I so wish we didn't have TV! Or a videogame console. Sigh.
I totally LOVE the earring holder idea! I made two of them today with some old lace curtains instead of doilies. They look adorable on the wall with their hip/antique vibe.
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Amy on Jan. 20, 2010, 12:30 p.m.
Ive only just come across your blog... But i just wanted to say; Good on you! Great decision... we've actually never had a tv for television purposes (only for DVD's) and its been great! I must say though, i have found the ability for the kids to watch a dvd some of the afternoons in the week so helpful! We have only been married 3 1/2 years, and in 3 months i will be a mother of a newborn, a 1 yr old and a 2 year old! Yes it was fast.... and they keep me super busy!!BUT... i fully support NO tv! and besides... honestly, what good program really exists out there for them anyway. Great to hear!!
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Lise on Jan. 13, 2010, 1:24 p.m.
Beautiful. I'm working on convincing my other half that we don't need our t.v. (and DVD player, and VCR). Soon!