Have I made some regrettable purchases for my home? Absolutely.
Like the IKEA sectional that was supposed to be a budget-friendly solution but ended up being temporary. At the time, it seemed like a smart decision. Looking back, not so much.
Decorating a home for more than twenty years means you’re bound to make a few questionable decisions along the way. Some of mine involved furniture.
Sometimes the quality isn’t what you expected. Sometimes your style changes or you buy something because you need a quick solution and convince yourself it’ll work for the long haul. I’ve certainly done all three.
But for every purchase I regret, there are many more that I’m still happy I bought.
Some weren’t expensive, while others required saving up for. A few took months of debating before I finally decided they were worth it. Years later, they’re still in my home, still being used, and if I were decorating from scratch tomorrow, I’d buy them all over again.
So today I’m sharing some of the home purchases I’ve never regretted and why they’ve earned a permanent place in my home.
1. A Comfortable Sofa
If you’ve ever shopped for a sofa, you know it’s not exactly a small purchase. And if you’ve ever made a bad sofa purchase, you know you’ll be reminded of it every single day.
Our family spends a lot of time in the family room, so the sofa gets a workout. It’s where we watch TV at night, gather with friends, work on laptops, and where the dogs seem convinced they pay the mortgage.
What’s funny is that neither of the sofas in my home was purchased new.
Our family room sectional is a Pottery Barn sofa I found on Facebook Marketplace. I bought it because it was the right size, comfortable, and had removable slipcovers that could actually be washed. With dogs in the house, that last feature alone has probably saved my sanity more than once.
The sofa in our living room came from a consignment store years ago. It’s from Restoration Hardware, and after recently replacing the slipcover, it looks brand new again.
I’ve never regretted either purchase. Not because of the brand names, but because they fit the way our family actually lives. They’re comfortable, durable, and have held up to years of everyday use.
That’s probably the lesson I’ve learned with sofas. Spending more doesn’t always mean buying new. Sometimes it means waiting for the right piece, buying quality secondhand, and choosing something you’ll still love years later.
2. Good Sheets
In my younger days, I thought sheets were sheets.
Then I went through a phase where I judged them almost entirely by how they felt in the package at the store. If they were soft and silky, I was interested. If they felt crisp, I assumed they’d turn scratchy after a few washes.
Then I hit that age.
Suddenly, a good night’s sleep became a much higher priority than whether a set of sheets felt silky in the store aisle.
I started paying attention to how hot I was at night, whether the sheets felt breathable, how they held up after repeated washing, and whether I actually looked forward to crawling into bed at the end of the day.
What I’ve learned is that the sheets I love most aren’t necessarily the ones that feel the softest when they’re brand new. In fact, after trying different materials and weaves over the years, I’ve discovered that I much prefer crisp cotton percale. They sleep cooler, get better with time, and help me stay comfortable throughout the night.
Nobody visits my house and compliments my sheets. They’re not a decorating purchase that makes a room look prettier. But they’re one of the purchases I appreciate every single day, and I’ve never regretted spending a little more to get the ones that work best for me.
3. A Good Mattress
When I was little, I could sleep anywhere at any time. In fact, my mom has an entire photo album documenting my more interesting sleeping locations.
These days? Not so much.
A good night’s sleep has become increasingly important, which means the mattress you sleep on matters, too.
My husband and I spent years sleeping on a mattress that was fine. Not terrible. Not amazing. Just fine.
About a year ago, we finally purchased a Sleep Number, and it’s one of those purchases that made me wonder why we waited so long.
What I love most is that we can each adjust our side to our own comfort level. No more trying to find a firmness that works for both of us.
To date, it’s one of the best purchases we’ve made for our home. Unlike most decorating purchases, you don’t appreciate it when you walk into the room. You appreciate it every morning when you wake up.
4. Window Treatments
I have never enjoyed spending money on window treatments.
They’re not nearly as exciting as bringing home a piece of furniture, a new lamp, or a piece of art. In fact, there always seems to be something else I’d rather buy first.
But let’s be honest, they’re practical and give the room a polished look.
The only custom window treatments in my home are in our primary bedroom. I had them made about eighteen years ago and I still love them today. The style is unique, they fit the room perfectly, and they’ve held up beautifully over the years.
Throughout the rest of the house, I’ve used much simpler solutions. My white ballon curtains came from Soft Surroundings years ago, and I still love them just as much now as when I first hung them.
The purchase I wish I had made sooner, though, was woven shades.
I’d wanted them for years, but they never seemed like a priority. There was always another project that felt more important. When I finally added woven shades (from Amazon!) throughout the house, I immediately wondered why I’d waited so long.
They make the windows look finished. That’s the best way I can describe it.
The rooms didn’t suddenly look completely different, but they felt more complete. Sometimes it’s the finishing touches that make the biggest difference, and window treatments have been one of those purchases I’ve never regretted.
5. Art I Love
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you probably won’t be surprised to see art on this list.
I’ve never believed that art needs to be expensive to be meaningful. Some of my favorite pieces have come from antique stores, thrift shops, estate sales, and even online sources.
What matters is how a piece makes you feel.
I’ve purchased artwork over the years simply because I loved it, even when I wasn’t completely sure where I would put it. And more often than not, I’ve eventually found the perfect spot.
Unlike many decorating purchases, art tends to stay with you. Furniture gets replaced. Paint colors change. Rugs wear out. But the pieces of art that truly speak to you often move from house to house and room to room.
Some of my favorite pieces aren’t necessarily the most valuable. They’re simply the ones that still make me smile every time I walk past them.
While I’ve regretted impulse art pieces, I’ve never regretted bringing home a piece of art that I genuinely loved.
6. Pieces That Tell My Story
When people talk about creating a collected home, I think what they’re really talking about is creating a home that feels like you.
And contrary to what social media might have you believe, that doesn’t require a house full of antiques or expensive decor.
Some of my most treasured possessions aren’t decorative at all. They’re the things connected to people, places, and memories.
One of my favorites is an Ariel painting my daughter made for me years ago. To say it was colorful would be an understatement. It looks like the entire paint palette exploded on it, and I absolutely love it.
I also treasure the pieces my kids made at school when they were little. The handmade gifts that only a mother could truly appreciate. The things that would probably look like clutter to someone else but instantly make me smile whenever I see them.
Then there are the pieces connected to experiences. The item I fell in love with while traveling, the vintage find I stumbled across while antiquing with my husband (hello, Frozen Charlotte dolls!), and the things that remind me of a particular place or season of life.
When I think about the purchases that have stood the test of time, these are always at the top of the list.
More Decorating Tips
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