The Happiness of Things

When it comes to designing your personal space, things can get stressful. People feel pressured to match everything or use only one style of home accessories. All too often, we hear, “I’m not sure if it will match,” as most people are concerned with their space looking cohesive. We get it. It’s not easy to know what will look good and what will look “just OK.” There are also considerations about price and quality. It’s all too easy, and commonplace these days, to purchase something for a lot of money online, only to receive it and be disappointed about the craftsmanship. We should know. They just don’t make things like they used to! And that’s one reason why we do what we do: to offer you the best of what’s old, so that it may last you a long time.

So, how can you know if what you are purchasing is the right addition to your space? For one, take your time. Spend some time in your space and think about what you want, or what’s missing. Do you need a nice, tall lamp in a corner? Would you like a unique side table to place at the end of your sofa? Is your space missing a rug? Are your throw pillows spotted with red wine? (Guilty here!) There’s no way to know without living in your space for a while. Take notes when things occur to you and keep the list with you when you go shopping.

Next, and maybe most importantly, we believe that touching objects is key. Sure, you can find the world at your fingertips online, but can you touch it and assess its quality? Nothing can replace that experience, and it certainly guarantees you’ll be happy with your purchase.

So, what happens after you’ve decided what you need and you’re out shopping? We say, “stop worrying.” If you see a certain something, and it speaks to you, it’s probably not a bad choice. Sure, there are some general questions about selection that need to be answered like, “Will it fit?” and you can figure that out pretty easily by having a tape measure on you (Coming Soon: The Literal Tools You Need When You Go Picking). Most times, though, if you’re in a shop and you see something that screams at you, “Hey, you, divine goddess of interior design and picking! I’m here! Pick me!” then it’s yours. You were meant for it. Just buy it.

After years of collecting and picking antiques and vintage, there’s one rule I’ve learned that always helps other people when I share it. It’s the “Does it make you happy?” rule. When you’re in your space, and you look around you, do the objects that surround you make you happy? Do they make you smile, do they invoke a memory, or do they represent something significant to you? For me, this is really important. For example, my coffee mugs are a collection of cups from every vacation I’ve taken with my family, so I think about those memories while I’m drinking my coffee every morning. Each one represents a different time and set of memories, so each morning is unique. Some of them are vintage and some of them are new; however, they’re all made by hand and mostly stoneware, so I’ve created a cohesive collection for myself.

So, the next time you decide to redecorate, consider these basic rules for a happy and cohesive space:

1.     Take your time to figure out what you really need.

2.     Shop in person- touch, feel, and consider quality.

3.     It’s less about style, color, or decade. It’s more about what speaks to you.

4.     Buy what makes you happy, not what matches or is trendy.