I will be turning the big 3-0 this October which has me thinking about how I want our space to feel as I get older and reflecting back on how my taste has changed quite a bit since my early twenties. Over the years I have gotten a lot of questions in regards to what home pieces I would invest in or start collecting early on. You all know I change up my decor frequently, but there are some pieces I have had for years that are irreplaceable. As I have curated my style more in recent years I have noticed a pattern in a lot of the staples I gravitate towards.

My philosophy is to invest in pieces I know I can carry from home to home with ease. Anything like furniture that seems too space specific – maybe don’t go crazy over budget. I am now at a point where I would rather throw down for a gorgeous vase or vintage object than a sofa that only works well in my current living room. I tend to appreciate these unique pieces more and smaller accents can be much easier to interject into a new space if you aren’t in a forever home. Here are some of my favorite elements to start creating a gathered home early on – even if you’re in college!

Vintage

Bar none, the vintage accents I have acquired are my favorite pieces and always will be. I got my mini Senufo stool at the Alameda Flea Market a few years ago and I never tire of looking at it. I also have quite the collection of vintage French stoneware from all different places. Elsie Green is my go to for crocks, but I always keep an eye out when traveling or at flea markets. These are the irreplaceable treasures that tell a story and can make your space quite unique. I love remembering where I bought a piece and seeing it move from home to home. There a ton of good options for purchasing vintage online now (see more here), but there is nothing like a good flea market haul!

Ceramics

Many of my ceramic pieces are not vintage, but have the same appeal. Bowls, vases, platters, trays – these are almost always the accents I am looking for when I go out home shopping. I love having an array of dishes to pull out for any occasion. I now try and take my time with these pieces and pull a mix of classic styles that I will never get bored with and some fun accents that might not be as much of an investment.

Textiles

Whether vintage or new, I feel like I am always on the hunt for a good textile. Even though we don’t have a lot of storage space, pillow covers fold up easily and are my go to for changing up a space quickly and cost effectively. I also love collecting linens such as tablecloths, napkins and tea towels. I try not to go too crazy, but these are wonderful pieces to pick up on trips. I still have a set of cocktail napkins I spent way too much money on when I lived in Savannah, but I love that they have lasted! I mentioned in my previous blog post, but a few of my favorite shops for special table linens are Cutter Brooks and Carolina Irving & Daughters.

Lastly – books! I started collecting my coffee table books over ten years ago which is how I have amassed so many. Plenty have worn and stained covers, ripped out pages and faded from the sun. I love that they don’t look perfect. It was quite the ordeal to ship my books home when I was moving back from Savannah, but I refused to leave them behind! We see a lot of the same books in spaces these days, so I am trying to be better about picking up used copies or something I might not normally gravitate towards.