Plunder your attic: Making the most of hand-me-down decor

AS we move through a world of disposable things, it’s easy to forget that previous generations kept nearly everything.

Furniture was made to last. Pieces of crystal or china were investments passed down from parent to child to grandchild. Even mundane items could remain in use for decades: The same Corningware bowl and General Electric mixer might churn out birthday cake batter for a generation and more.

Many of these items still exist, nestled under layers of yellowing newspaper in cardboard boxes or shrouded by dust-laden sheets. America’s attics, basements and garages are filled with hand-me-down home decor and household goods waiting to be unearthed.

And this may be the perfect moment for that to happen, with prices rising and supply chains at a crawl.

Using hand-me-downs is practical for anyone hoping to redecorate this spring. It’s good for the environment. It can even be mood-boosting if the items have