She Strengthens

Decorating Disasters: Lessons Learned from My Misguided Purchases

As I scroll through my favorite interior design Instagram accounts, I often find myself swooning over stunning spaces and tagging my friends in posts that inspire me. But, let’s be real – I’m still learning the ropes of decorating my own home. When I moved into my apartment last September, I was excited to finally have a blank canvas to work with. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.

The Vintage Wine Crate Fail

One of my earliest missteps was purchasing a vintage wine crate at a stoop sale. I envisioned it as a stylish storage solution for our wine bottles, but with a bar cart and mounted wine rack already in place, the crate was redundant. Instead, it’s become a makeshift side table, cluttered with random items like printers, lamps, and books.

Laundry Basket Blues

Another mistake was buying a laundry basket to keep in the tub. Without a hamper in our small bedroom, we thought this would be a convenient solution. However, it’s led to procrastination and a mountain of dirty clothes. The basket has become a burden, rather than a helpful tool.

The Fancy Cheese Board Flop

I was thrilled to host weekend dinner parties for friends, and I thought fancy wooden cheese boards would be a great addition to our entertaining arsenal. While they’re lovely when in use, they’re bulky and take up valuable space on our fridge. The reality is, we only use them once a month, and they require frequent dusting and cleaning.

The Globe That Gathered Dust

I rationalized buying a small decorative globe, thinking it would be a handy reference tool. In reality, I’ve never used it to check the location of a country. It’s a beautiful piece, but it serves no purpose and takes up valuable desk space.

Under-Bed Storage Bust

We purchased large plastic bins to store off-season clothing under our bed, but they don’t fit neatly with our vacuum-sealed bags. As a result, the bins sit empty, taking up space and collecting dust.

The Wooden Basket Debacle

A wooden basket next to our couch was meant to corral our linens, blankets, and decorative pillows. Instead, it’s become a dumping ground for magazines, newspapers, and other miscellaneous items. It’s far from the chic storage solution I envisioned.

Friends’ Faux Pas

I’m not alone in my decorating misadventures. Friends have shared their own stories of useless purchases, including a fondue pot, a food processor, a metal champagne bucket, and more. It’s comforting to know that even the most well-intentioned purchases can go awry.

Lessons Learned

Through these experiences, I’ve come to realize that it’s essential to think critically about each purchase and consider how it will be used in our daily lives. It’s not about accumulating trendy items or following the latest design trends; it’s about creating a functional, comfortable space that reflects our personalities and needs.