Home Items: Where to Invest and Where to Save
One of the most asked questions I get is ‘where should I spend money and where should I try and save’ when it comes to home items and decor. The answer isn’t straight forward or the same for everyone. Keep in mind that overall, bigger items equal bigger budget, and smaller items are typically less expensive. But with that said, here is the thought process I have stuck to for our home.
WHERE TO INVEST:
Surfaces. Think about where you spend most of your time. Whether its lounging, sleeping or working from home. First and foremost, you want to enjoy your home, and that means being comfortable. If you never are truly comfortable while hanging on your couch or lounging in your backyard, you won’t want spend time there and will probably not want guests to have to suffer through sitting on those surfaces either. Here, comfort and function can trump aesthetic. Your home is a place where you should be able to relax and reset. This is the number one place where I advise investing.
Pieces you plan on keeping for the long haul. This is one area that may differ for everyone, but I tend to think of these pieces as your classic items. Personally, if I’m going to spend a bit more on an item, I stick to timeless designs and finishes that I know I won’t get sick of and that I keep coming back to. If I know I want to keep them around, I also want the quality to be good (no IKEA items), such as this bed, floor length mirror and these dressers on both sides of our bed.
Sentimental, one of a kind items. A piece of art you had custom made or an item that you found while on vacation or in another country. A vintage find. A piece that speaks to you and brings you joy. Your home should reflect you and your personality. I love seeing items that have a story behind them rather than everyones homes looking the same.
WHERE TO SAVE
Sales. This may sound very obvious, but I have a list of items that are waiting in my carts for certain vendors to have sales. Most stores have sales around the major holidays, so I hold out for these if it’s an item that falls into the ‘want’ vs ‘need’ category. If an item falls into the ‘want’ category, this also allows me to sit on it for a while. I may decide down the line that I didn’t want it as much as I thought I did and end up finding something better in the long run.
Ebay. I stalk EBay and Poshmark for items from time to time. Sometimes for vintage finds but also for products that I don’t want to pay full price for. For example, I recently went down an EBay rabbit hole and realized there were a TON of Visual Comfort lighting options for great prices, all open box never used. All of the curtains in our home were purchased on EBay for about half the price, never used, still in the packaging. I also search Facebook marketplace occasionally for specific items. The key here is to be intentional, and only search for what you are already in need of, rather than just buying anything because it’s a good deal.
Trendy items. I pause on forking over the big bucks when it comes to trendy items. It’s not because I don’t love some of them, but I’d rather have pieces that stand the test of time. If there is a trend that you are currently into at the moment, try purchasing an item of smaller size or price to still enjoy it. For example, I’ve been eyeing burl wood lately. But it can be rather pricy. I’d rather purchase this smaller console table or this picture frame than buy a larger, more expensive desk that I may not love in the years to come.
Decor. These tend to be swapped out the most or layered. This is also where you can get away with vintage finds or find items that serve multiple purposes. Most of my coffee table books are from Amazon but also allow me to a place to draw inspiration from. You can use your glassware collection to help decorate a bar cart. Plus, there are plenty of places to find art on a budget that looks great layered in.
All in all, some of these decisions come down to personal preference. In the past, I’ve cut corners on some items or bought something to fill a space and then fast forward a year, want to replace it because I pulled the trigger too fast. I stick with my gut and my overall rule of ‘if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no’. I would personally spend a little more on something I love and that will last rather than to fill a space. That can leave my home feeling a little more minimal at times, but it’s also an intentional way of living. At the end of the day, no item is worth being financially unstable and no item will define your worth. Purchase pieces that bring you joy; not what others on Instagram say you need to have.