If I had to guess, I’d say that about 30% of the items in my home are hand me downs. Things I’ve collected as friends outgrew them or moved away. My electric kettle? My duvet cover? My french press? All leftovers from a friends move. (And all items I use every day.)
I lovtrye to minimize waste in my life and to shop ethically. These hand me downs have served their purposes well. I genuinely love the duvet cover and the french press. But I’ve also collected other items that aren’t really me, and it’s lft me with a home that isn’t 100% me.
Since I work from home, I spend a lot of time here. I want it to be comfortable but productive. I want my home to reflect who I am as a person. My home, and your home, should be a place that brings you joy. Your home is the place where you get to style and arrange things exactly how you want them, and have the items that you care the most about. Whether you rent or own, your house should be your home.
Collecting items from different people at different times in my life has lead my home decor to be a bit of a mish-mash of tastes. I’m at the point in my life where I want my home to be truly, deeply ME. So to that end, I’ve been curating things that make my house feel like my home. Here they are, in all their glory.
Plants
Mother-freaking plants. I want them. I need them. I’ve spent about $50 in the last month or so buying plants, pots, and soil in an attempt to bring some green into my home. I have four small plants and one large one.
This decision has come with a learning curve, as I know very little about plants. But it’s honestly been a great one. I love taking care of my new plants, and I love the look and feel they’ve brought to my house.
A Throw Rug
Hard wood floors will forever have my heart, but a throw rug is a straight up game changer when it comes to decor. Lebowski know what he was saying when he said that his rug tied the room together.
If you lean more white/neutral color pallete for your home decor tastes, a bright throw rug can easily bring some color to a room. Or vice versa; if you’ve got a bright color on your walls, a neutral rug can balance it out. I opted for a white rug like this one for my home office and it makes me feel cozy and chic all at once.
Throw Pillows
This was a purchase I resisted for a long time. I kept telling myself that pillows are not necessary and that they create more clutter than comfort. But I was WRONG. Pillows are essential, especially when you watch as much soapy tv as I do. I shopped around for a long time, and ended up with two pillows very similar to these.
Light Fixtures
You know what brings me so much joy? Light fixtures. They really, really do. When light is displayed is a fun and beautiful way, my heart sings. A light fixture can be an easy way to brighten up a whole room. If you’re on a budget, it can also be the one home decor investment you make to really change how an entire room looks and feels. I have a lamp similar to this one in my living room that I love, and something similar to this light fixture in my kitchen that is one of my favorite parts of my house.
A Statement Wall Mirror
A statement mirror is a must have on every home decor blog I’ve ever scrolled through. The last apartment I lived in had very little natural light, so having a mirror opposite one of our windows helped to reflect some of the light. Now that same mirror (similar to this one) is in my living room and it’s the focal point on my gallery wall.
A Shoe Rack
I don’t keep my shoes in my closet. I keep them all by the front door. For years that has meant they live in a pile on the floor. This is a bad plan all around- it looks ugly and I often can’t find my shoes in less than 2 minutes, because I’m looking for the partner shoe in the pile. I plan to get a shoe rack like this one to make my entry area cleaner and more organized.
Getting Rid of Things
As I’m re-making my home, and as you do too, you’ll come across a lot of things that don’t fit anymore. Whether those are hand me downs or things you got before your tastes change, let me hearby give you permission to let those things go.
I collected a lot of books and ‘professional items’ when my friends left. I love to read, and I love office supply things. But guess what? Recognizing that I am never going to read the war histories that my friends love, or that I don’t actually need a tiny whiteboard calendar is a step towards creating a home I love. I welcome items from friends that fit my taste, but I am passing on the things that aren’t from now on.
Overall, I believe that your house is always sort of becoming your home. Your tastes and budgets will change over time, and you an explore re-decorating as that happens! It’s exciting, and all that matters is that you love your home.
What home decor items have you bought for your house that makes it feel like home?
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