Finding and falling in love with gorgeous decorations is all a bit too easy. As a decor enthusiast and an interiors writer I’m constantly coming across beautiful decorations like vases, candlesticks, cushions, bowls, interior books and more. And the temptation to buy is strong… very strong. In the past I’d give in to the temptation more often than not but I’ve now realised that asking one simple question can make all the difference.
The question: where will this item live?
Sounds simple right? It is simple but this one question has stopped many impulse purchases for me. Rather than ordering a new decor item with the hope that I’ll find a place for it later, I decide exactly where it will go before I buy it. If I can’t pinpoint a place for it to live, I don’t buy it.
When you ask yourself where you’ll display your new purchase before buying it, you can avoid many impulse buys which leads to other positives too.
Firstly it prevents the build up of clutter. Small decor items have a way of multiplying and before you know it, every shelf and tabletop is crammed with stuff. With fewer, carefully chosen items your home looks curated rather than cluttered. And often, even when you end up storing excess stuff out of sight, you’re taking up valuable storage space for something you’ll likely never use again.
Next, this question helps you think about how a piece fits with your existing decor and also helps you consider what it will add to your existing decor. Will it bring much needed texture or interest to a vignette or will it help organise a shelf or will it fill an empty corner? Are you buying it to replace an item that’s seen better days or one that you no longer love? If the answer is yes to questions like these, then it’s likely a worthwhile purchase but in my experience the answer is no, more often than not, and therefore it makes it so much easier to move on.
I also like to think about whether I already own something that serves the same purpose. A new portable lamp (my current weakness) may be tempting, but do I really need another one to add to the three I already have? Often, shopping your home by moving decor pieces from one room to another gives the space a fresh look without needing to spend anything at all.
And finally, you save money or at least you spend less money which is always a good thing.
This isn’t about never shopping new decorative accessories for your home but by asking this question you will end up buying things intentionally rather than impulsively. And intentional purchases are usually the ones that we truly love and never tire of.
So the next time you’re tempted by a gorgeous home accessory, ask yourself: where will this live? And see what comes up for you.
image credits: dimakaterina | source unknown | nordiska kok
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