A common critique of intentional interior design is the cost: “I don’t have the money,” we may claim with a sigh. I have said it and still do. But, as I’ve written before, I’ve come to think this statement is actually an excuse or block or defense mechanism, revealing more about our sense of worth than our financial situation.
To be sure, making our homes beautiful takes money. We’ve got to believe that our home environment is worth investing in and set aside resources toward that end. What we might spend on food or clothing or entertainment is indeed lost on those and dedicated to furniture and decor instead.
We all have to weigh these needs and wants and make the most prudent choice for our families. And indeed, there may be seasons when we must focus our budgets on the essentials.
However, in light of many conversations with friends and a few clients, it seems time to say that beautiful does not mean expensive, and expensive does not necessarily mean beautiful.
Expensively curated rooms can lack the personality, livability, and quirk that make for truly inspiring interiors, and sometimes truly inspiring interiors are composed of many high-price pieces.
But we should move beyond the assumption—perhaps a crippling one for those of us with limited budgets—that high cost and beauty necessarily go hand in hand. I invite even those of us with more resources available for interior design to think beyond price tags. Once we have accepted this attitude, we might find it easier to move confidently toward making our homes for ourselves and those we love.
(Clothing style follows a similar pattern. We might be tempted to think that a beautiful appearance requires a large budget for clothes, shoes, and accessories, but in fact, as my friend Mary Strecker often writes about, inspiring personal style comes through an understanding of one’s form and an eye for pieces that complement it. Many of my favorite pieces to wear are ones I purchased in high school. Their contribution to my wardrobe has little to do with the brand or what I paid for them and more to do with how they (still!) flatter my figure and communicate my sense of beauty.)
In our interior spaces, I’m sure many of us have a few things that were given to us or that we bought at a bargain and still love and value. We might also have a couple that we splurged on that are also meaningful and expressive of our styles.
So if money does not necessarily buy beauty, what makes for beautiful pieces and spaces? I have written of a few guidelines for discerning which pieces to purchase. I have also suggested that everything we bring into our homes should be either useful to the hand or pleasing to the eye.
Our attention can shift away from cost and toward value. For example, I am continually surprised at the poor materials and quality of new, “high-end” furniture. Similarly, I am in awe of the relative availability of exquisitely-crafted pieces available on Marketplace, eBay, and Etsy.
When considering which things to invest in (whether a little or a lot), we should look for ones that have integrity: they are made well, made of real materials, and genuinely attractive. As we craft spaces with these materials we have chosen thoughtfully, balance and harmony are our goals: Does the furniture and its arrangement complement the shape and size of the room? Is there a cohesion of a few colors balanced about the room? Are there little motifs of color or pattern or style (like a geometric pattern, an accent color, or a piece of chinoiserie)? Does the room give an impression of wholeness?
Although beautiful interiors do end up costing some money, let’s also reframe our perspectives to think of what we are gaining in exchange for our resources: an inspiring home, a place to nurture our families and teach them their dignity, a place of rest to all who visit.
In addendum, a few guiding principles for finding beauty on a budget:
Thrift shop: Although I don’t like the word “scrappy,” it may be the right one to describe the attitude we should have for decorating our houses. Some of the most gangly-looking garage sales have provided pieces I love. Keep your eyes open for thrift stores, antique stores, junk stores, and save all the things that catch your eye on Marketplace to tone your algorithm.
Be patient: Rooms take time to come together. The right pieces might be a few weeks away, waiting in unexpected places.
Go natural: Opt for natural materials. This helps narrow your search and ensure a more humane interior.
Make things yourself: Pillow covers, window treatments, even lighting, and other pieces can be made at home for less money. I’m not in the DIY blog business, but there are multitudes out their with hacks and detailed directions.
Be choosy: Try not to buy anything unless you’re sure you like it. This can be a hard skill, and we all miscalculate at times, but we can usually trust our gut instincts. If you're waffling about a piece, and the indecision does not have to do with the cost, it’s usually a sign to keep looking.
For those of you who have been reading for a while now and maybe following along with my pregnancy, we welcomed our son a few days into this new year. We are all healthy and doing well.
Congratulations on your baby boy. You are right about taking your time to find the right pieces and it might be in the most unexpected place