10 Shoppable Home decor fundamentals.
Make your space, be it rented or owned, feel like home. These are my top 10 items I believe will take your area to a whole new level of goodness! + some items I always go to when I’m looking to buy these fundamental items - Tap the pics to shop the items.
You may already have most of these, or none! But hey! I have noticed most of my readers are only just starting to get interested in home decor and beginning to invest in their spaces. And I've noticed that decorating your home seems to make people feel anxious, confused, and lost. Even the fashionable ones! Which I find so fascinating. They can throw a cute outfit together in no time! but give them a room, and it's a whole different story haha! (Generalising here!)
So! Here are my top 10 home items I think you'll most likely forget or shrug off when moving into and decorating your new space. You'll get the tv, sofa, and side tables, but what about the good stuff? lets get into it!
Rugs!
Yep! you may have one. You may not. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say yours is probably too small. Your rug has to fill a space where there is at least a 10cm border surrounding the item of furniture. Or! in the living room, each piece of furniture is slightly over the edge. So the sofa has 10cm underneath it.
So I would go with a 200x300 rug as an excellent go-to for small/medium spaces. Even if you don't think it's going to fit. I would still get it and tuck it up on one end. It needs to have a sense of grandeur.
They can be expensive! So I stick with Jute rugs. You can get one at the right size for a high rate. Everything else, wait for a sale! Don't believe me? Look on every online rug store and let me know if you find a cheaper option haha!
2. Window Treatments
This one is a biggy. So important! Regular roller blinds are not going to cut it.
Curtains and sheers are life! And believe it or not, but Roman blinds are making a big comeback!
If you have a victorian style house with traditional style windows, a roman blind layered with curtains in front looks gorgeous! if you're in an apartment with floor to ceiling windows, stick to a beautiful sheer curtain wall.
tap image to shop blinds, curtains and more!
3. Trays/Baskets
So some are going to argue these should be lower on the list. BUT! They are such a crucial element in anyone's home. They come in a variety of styles and shapes and are the most versatile thing to have in your home! They're clothes storage, shoe storage, planter pots, cushion and blanket holders… the list just goes on and on!
As for trays, they just give all the random nick-nacks around your space a place to dwell and look like they're meant to be there. Cluster all your decor pieces together in odd numbers on a tray and BOOM! You've got yourself a gorgeous little display. Take the tray away.. and they're just lost!
4. Light shades (if applicable) & lamps.
Lighting! sooooo important. You need warm light for one. So get rid of any white light globes in your home. You don't want your room looking like a hospital ward or a bus stop!
Also, if you can, add a light shade.
If you're in an older home, you're bound to have pendant lights hanging down with ugly light shades. Change them! Also, add in a lamp or two. It's so beautiful to have lights not beaming down on you at night. Some gorgeous ambient light works wonders! Also, now with google home and apps, you can turn them off and on with a tap or voice control. I love saying "Hey Google, hit the lights!" and the end of the day.
5. Invest in good bed linen.
Okay! So, yeah, you need at least four standard pillows for a start.
You sleep on two and you have two more for decor. Or! use them to stack if you prefer a higher pillow.
Don't at me with 'What's the point?' because I know that you would have bought a duvet cover set with two pillowcases and a sheet set with two pillowcases. So use them! One pair is not a spare!
Now we've got that out of the way; you should invest in the right duvet. Make sure it's fluffy; otherwise it's just not worthwhile. Honestly, invest all round. It's beneficial for comfort and looks. After all, you spend a third of your life in bed. So make it worth it.
Also, a pair of shoes will set you back around $100 so don't at me with it being expensive when you probably have eight pairs of shoes! Haha!
I like linen bedding. It's a classic luxe material that never dates. Yep! It's pricey. But considering it’s never going to date, you won't need to change it. So that's why it'll set you back now. But it won't in the overall scheme of things.
I also love coverlets. They are so underrated. They're mostly a flat quilt that you layer on top of, or beneath your duvet. I opt. for under the duvet because a lot of the time it looks just plain dumb on top… or it has an elderly vibe which I'm not dissing, but I'm certainly not about it.
If you spend time in bed during the day, reading and whatnot. Invest in some European pillows! they not only jazz up your bed but function as great back support while you chill in bed.
6. Indoor plants / planters
Your space needs life in it! and no, you don't count haha!
Honestly, I feel like caring for something and watching it grow helps with your mental health. Just taking a moment to stop and care for the things around you in a way that doesn't seem like too much of a hassle only takes your mind off things and helps you unwind. And then you see the new growth come through, it's such a pleasing experience.
Check out my top rated and least favourite indoor plants here!
7. Mirrors
Mirrors are great when you're indecisive about art. They instantly elevate any space and help a space appear more prominent and throw light around, making the place look/feel brighter.
8. Throws & cushions
So a lot of people buy throws and cushions before they purchase any of the other stuff and it irks me. Like filling your home with things that you feel are more affordable and provide instant gratification ends up having your space be full of clutter and you wonder why nothing's working, and then the cycle repeats itself, and you go nowhere.
Yes, cushions and throws can add colour, texture and dimension to your space. They're essential layering items that bring a cosy and inviting feeling into the home. BUT! Don't skip out on the other stuff. Save and spend your money on essential items like a rug first! Trust me; you'll thank me.
9. Artwork
Honestly, Artwork isn't an easy thing to try and incorporate into your space. I struggle with it myself. But it definitely can add dimension and interest into your space and make it feel more complete. My advice would be to stick with something monochromatic and minimal to start with and then as you go down the track progress into more exciting prints and pieces that express something about you and your home.
10. Scents -Candles /Diffusers
Just like how a scent can define a person, it can do so in a space. You may recall a specific space when you smell a particular item, and that's because we hold a lot of memory within scents which makes it very important when it comes to designing your own space. I opt for botanical scents because they're the perfect balance of freshness, mellowness, uniqueness and warmth.
I like to use candles and diffusers. Because diffusers are more of a constant scent and then candles are occasional. So when I'm feeling lazy, at least the diffusers are still working their magic in case a random guest drops in (not while we're quarantine, but after!)
And there we have it!
I hope this was helpful! maybe you already own some of these things and are just missing those final touches to really make your space feel like a well-curated home. Remember, a lot of the time it never really feels finished. So don’t beat yourself up too much. Dressing your home takes time and money. So enjoy the process and watch your space come to life. 😊
See some more journal entries below to keep inspired!