Experience has taught these experts that not all items are worth bringing home due to personal taste, outdated styles, or quality concerns. Readers might still opt to buy them, but they shouldn’t say they weren’t warned.
Antique Reproductions
In many Southern homes, heirlooms and vintage pieces fill the space with charm and history.
Lindley Arthur, an interior designer and antique dealer, firmly stands against buying reproduction antiques. She believes they lack the unique quality and beauty of genuine antique furniture, especially in items like chests.
Arthur states that you can’t recreate the original wood grain or hardware found in true antiques. For those on a budget who desire the antique aesthetic, she suggests a Louis Philippe commode.
This piece maintains the classic look while being more affordable and easier to find.
Avoiding faux antiques helps maintain authenticity and enhances the overall appeal of the home.
Avoiding Matching Furniture
Matching furniture sets were once a go-to for quick and easy room design. These sets might make shopping simpler, but now they are seen as too uniform.
Interior designer Rayana Schmitz suggests that buying each furniture piece separately is a better approach. This gives a room a more personalized and unique look.
Schmitz believes that mixing different styles and eras can create a more interesting and cozy space. Instead of a matching set, choose statement pieces and custom-made furniture.
A few standout items can really elevate a room’s overall feel and style.
To sum it up, matching sets may offer convenience, but a carefully curated mix of furniture will make a home feel truly special.
Big Recliner Chairs
Plenty of dads across the South love their LA-Z-BOY recliners. However, designer Casey Sanford would never choose one for a main living area.
She feels they aren’t visually appealing and don’t blend well with other pieces in a room.
“While they might be super comfy, oversized recliners are often too large and look out of place,” says Sanford. “A room’s design should be seamless, with every element in sync.
These chairs are usually out of style and hard to match with other furniture.”
As an alternative, Sanford suggests choosing a stylish leather option that provides comfort without compromising on design.
For example, vendors like Wesley Hall offer customizable options that are both beautiful and cozy.
This way, you can have a masculine, comfortable touch without sacrificing your room’s aesthetics.
Particle Board Furniture
Monika Nessbach, an experienced designer, always chooses quality and long-lasting materials for her furniture pieces.
Because of that, she completely avoids particle board furniture. She believes it is poorly made and lacks both uniqueness and character.
Instead, Nessbach recommends opting for furniture crafted from solid wood or metal. These materials offer better reliability and longevity, making them a smarter investment for any home.
Avoiding Overly Trendy Furniture
Staying away from overly trendy furniture can save both money and hassle. Trends come and go, and pieces that are “in” today may feel outdated soon.
Experts, like Nessbach, suggest using trendy styles for smaller décor items that are easier and cheaper to replace.
Nessbach favors unique, handcrafted pieces that add a story and depth to any room.
These items, paired with classic furniture, create a timeless look.
Even though trendy choices are generally avoided, there’s still room for the occasional unique piece that adds character and personality to a space.
When decorating, classic pieces mixed with interesting items offer a balanced and lasting design. This approach ensures your home remains stylish without the constant need to update big-ticket items.
Quartz Countertops
Schmitz has used quartz for countertops before but doesn’t prefer it.
She finds quartz too flawless and man-made, lacking the unique character of natural stones.
Schmitz believes that natural stones have a timeless charm.
She feels that the minor flaws in natural stones add to their beauty.
Schmitz encourages embracing the natural look and imperfections of materials like granite and marble, which she loves for their enduring style.
