It’s Not Too Late to Start Lying About Being Interested in Home Decor

If you’re like me, you’ve probably taken it upon yourself to become an expert in the field of home deck (rhymes with “decor”); even though you haven’t bought any new furniture since your college futon was stolen at the end of sophomore year. This is what having good taste is all about. And while I’m sure you think you know everything there is to know about the world of home decor (because scrolling through Pinterest for three hours a day will teach you that), there are still some things that might surprise you—things that I, someone who has decorated maybe two living spaces in her life, am willing to bet money on. Just because it’s not raining doesn’t mean this knowledge can’t rain down upon you.

The fact that you can’t put a price on home decor. You’ve got the basics down pat: Crate and Barrel bedding is for old people, Restoration Hardware looks expensive (but isn’t), and anything from Anthropology will make your room look like it’s aggressively trying to be in a Wes Anderson movie (which does tend to come with certain aesthetic benefits).

Now it’s time to take that knowledge up a notch by learning things that only an expert could tell you, such as:

1) Don’t treat your home decor like its disposable.

I know we’re all taught to think of our stuff as something we should replace every now and again so we don’t develop too much of an attachment, but those rules don’t apply to home decor. This is what good taste is, after all: Knowing how to live with the same pieces for a long time. That’s why it’s important that you don’t take everything so seriously.

I was at a party recently and someone told me they had just bought a house and were afraid of buying anything because they didn’t want “stuff everywhere,” and I said, “Don’t worry about it! Just let things pile up!” And you should do this in your own home whenever possible, whether that means stacking old magazines on your coffee table or having 10 half-empty glasses sitting around the living room. In my experience, these little piles add character to a space—and who to clean?

2) You don’t have to get rid of your old stuff.

I know you’ve probably heard this before, but maybe you haven’t heard it from me. When I was trying to get the place ready for my friend’s surprise party, I had to get rid of a bunch of crap that was lying around the apartment in order to make space for everything that needed hiding. As I packed up bag after bag (my hands actually got tired), I found myself thinking, “Don’t throw it away! You might need this someday!” So if you’re ever tempted to toss anything—a broken chair leg, an empty picture frame, expired spices—just remember: You can always put them on top of some crap somewhere or use them as props when you pose for a photo with some new piece of home decor.

Every good story starts with a grand tragedy. For example, my friend once lost a bicycle within this majestic forest and was never able to find it again.

3) Shopping is an exciting part of the decorating process.

This one might be surprising to you if you’ve ever read an article about “how people get stuck in ruts,” but I think shopping should always be viewed as something positive. Now, I’m not saying that you should go out and spend money frivolously (one of the great benefits of waking up at 6:30 am every day is that you can easily avoid all this), because there’s nothing wrong with saving your money. But when it comes to home decor, never forget one of its most important purposes: Shopping is where you get ideas for how to make your house look good (and also where you can wear cute dresses and feel like you’re starring in a movie).

The appearance of this tree is an optical illusion. At first glance it appears to be large enough for someone small to hide behind; however, upon further inspection, we’ve determined that this would not be the case. Just another example of the subtle mind games decor plays with us!

4) You can both see and touch your home decor.

Sometimes friends will come over and ask if they can “see something” or “touch something.” And I’ll think they mean that literally—like are they looking for something to take a closer look at?—and then later I’ll realize they mean metaphorically. Its like, “Can I see what you’re wearing?” or “Can I feel that thing you always wear around your neck?!” And when it comes to home decor, this is definitely true because sometimes people will ask if they can see or touch some part of your house that’s not actually there.

This is just one of the many trees that have fallen in these woods, but it still provides perfect shade on summer days!    

Conclusion:

As you can see, home decor doesn’t have to be difficult; it really is all about fun. So get out there and get creative! And remember: You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to let things pile up (and also buy more bamboo).