I guess I’m talking about one of those Knick knack type of things but I ask because I know there’s a lot of cheap and low quality stuff out there so what some stuff you’d keep in mind?
If you guys were looking to get a decor piece (say for your coffee table or a shelf) what would you keep in mind?
This. I pick up pieces one at a time, on travels, or little shops, etc.
I agree with this sentiment. Decorative items “Knick knacks” I have in my home are things like my grandpa’s old WWII telegraph machine, a large polished geode book end (from Homesense, but I had a huge rock collection as a kid so it kind of nods to that), some seashells from vacation in an old candy dish that belonged to my grandmother, my husband’s high school pottery project, and an old hobnail vase I thrifted years ago while shopping with a friend. Although they are sentimental items, their colour scheme fits with the decor, and they are thoughtfully and artfully placed. I didn’t go out looking for clutter.
The things I bought, I purchased just because I loved them and I knew I would find a place to put them because I loved them. When my grandparents passed or moved, I asked for things that I loved. When my husband was getting rid of his childhood bedroom stuff, I picked some things out of his keepsake trunk and displayed them in the house.
Work with what you love and place them where it feels right. Don’t clutter for sake of clutter.
That’s kinda cool that you had a rock collection. I didn’t really like earth science but I can appreciate a nice rock collection. What type of rocks did you have?
I absolutely agree! Although maybe there could be a place in a house that’s kind of for guests, or a place that people don’t really use, that you could try to make that style. That’s what I think. But definitely for the rest of the house, I agree with your point
Personally I buy things that have a use to display. You don't have to fill every surface with dust collectors. Having said that you don't want it to look barren. Plants are really nice- because they purify the air for- promoting more oxygen. That's always good! It's nice to have things like attractive Ice buckets, coasters, a globe. Things that have a purpose. Framed pictures are nice too! I like to see family photos- gives warmth to a home (put away if selling the house though). Less is more. Use an odd number of things on the shelves. I like the flameless candles and they come in attractive varieties. They are useful and nice ambiance.
I recently discovered the trick of assembling things in odd numbers, specifically in 3. I also like frameless candles, they add a nice touch but I think that nothing beats regular candles. Thanks for the insight though!
With grandkids- they are the way to go. They have a remote which the kids love and they can't get burnt. They look so real these days too. Also my sister has cats so it's good for people who have cats that knock things over and so forth. Practical. The odd number thing is true- it's one of the first things I learned in my staging course.
My mom bought a set of flameless candles for Christmas like two years back, they were a nice touch!
Get what you love and what is actually part of your life. If you have any sentimental items that are aesthetic, display them on a shelf. Hit up antique stores and flea markets, or go to good home design stores for quality decor items.
Google "coffee table/shelf decor inspo." Make sure things *actually* work in your space and reflect your personality.
Personal Pet Peeves- decor items that seem fake, like loads of antique books that the person has never read or stacks of art books they haven't even looked at, or random items representing cultures of countries they have never visited, like Buddha statues from Amazon. Also not a fan of Live Laugh Love type signs, fake plants, or faux vintage items.
What I love to see are items from someone's travels, their culture, their interests, and their life.
I love rocks. My rock collection lives on my shelves interspersed amongst books and other things from my travels and things that have meaning to me.
I would give you a dozen upvotes if I could.
I’d love to assemble a tourist collection for when I start traveling. I’ll keep that in mind!
I pick up little things while traveling. Not really branded token things, but like a great vase or candlestick holders. The sentiment/memory is there for me, but they also look like pretty decor pieces
I love that! I’d love to have my own travel collection stuff but my time to travel hasn’t come yet.
Keep in mind that knickknacks do one thing: collect dust.
A friend calls them "AFTID"s -- another freakin' thing to dust.
And if they don’t mean something to you, they’ll eventually become landfill fodder.
I get that, I think it’s important to spend money on a few key pieces that make a statement and not some random thing you see off of Amazon
My farmers market has these cool plants growing out of pretty shells. I like uncluttered surfaces but I'm considering getting one because plants add life and we live by the beach.
I also like to get things when I travel. Reminders of fond memories on trips and unique items.
I only like knick knacks that have meaning or evoke feelings. Not just space fillers.
I can appreciate plants, but I think I’d only have one at most because I don’t see them being a cornerstone for decor
I’m a creative writer, so to me, decor has to tell a story.
What was the last story a decor piece told you?
For me, it was a ruggable in my office:
It’s a blend of the cultures I grew up in, and the ones I write about (African/Middle Eastern/Persian).
I have small kids and pets in the home. It would have to be unbreakable and not collect a bunch of dust.
Would that lead to a specific type of material for you?
Something unbreakable. I'm not fussy about material, just destruction proof.
Right, I’ll keep that in mind
Go to an antique mall and find something that is unique and sparks joy when you look at it
Definitely the unique part!
Get things that you love and express your interests and personality. I'm a nerd and collect all kinds of nerdy memorabilia, and the nice thing about that stuff is that a lot of it has resale value. But there's more to life than resale value and trying to impress uptight "friends". Your home is for you to live in -- not them. It's meant to reflect your personality. It should be a place that makes you feel happy, safe, and comfortable.
So just keep that in mind and buy a nice duster.
I think your home should be welcoming and inviting for people but definitely it starts and ends with what you like so thanks for reiterating that
Decor items I love: coffee table books that reflect your interests (for example I love photography and so I have a lot of photobooks by artists like Alec Soth). I also like unique coasters, pottery/glass, in some cases leaning 2D art, and cool lamps. If you find that you have quite a few things in one space visually grouping them together using a tray or book helps, too.
I also have “useless” figurines, which, as sooo many people love to immediately point out on every post like this as though no one has ever heard it before, I have to dust sometimes. I’m not a snob about them, if you walk into a store like IKEA and see an item you like I don’t think it’s “empty” of character just because it’s not from a thrift store. You still picked it out because you were drawn to it.
That said, most of my stuff is thrifted or passed down. It ranges from really beautiful and inspires me to really kitschy and makes me laugh. All valid emotions. I included a collage of my favorite vignettes I have around my place.
I love the vintage deck of cards. Lots of great stuff here. It looks personal and cohesive.
What’s the black, starfish looking figurine in the middle?
Not sure lol! I think it’s supposed to be a paperweight but I found it at a thrift store. It was a silver/chrome color I didn’t love but I thought the shape was cool so I bought it and spray painted it.
I go to estate sales and get things that I think are cool af.
That’s great! What’s been the best thing you’ve found?
Oh man, I’ve gotten some great lamps, some beautiful artwork, mirrors, lots of vintage and antique glassware.
Most of my decor is pottery and paintings from art festivals and local artists, plus a few nice antique pieces that I've had forever. As another commentor mentioned, pieces that have a story really make your house a home.
Yeah I agree! What festivals or artists did you get your stuff from?
Carrollton, Georgia Festival of the Arts (every October), Michigan City Indiana Arts Festival, and one in Marshalltown Iowa. Plus I've gotten some at random small town potteries throughout the Eastern US. Local artists in Carrollton GA in private sales, as well.
Oh so they have they type of things everywhere? I thought it was a one place local thing
Artists festivals are all over the US. Look up your local artists guild or Cultural Arts Center for dates.
- How breakable is it
- How easy would it be to clean
- Whether or not it has a purpose other than cluttering the space
- Does it actually have some meaning to me, or will I just throw it away when I get bored with it
You sound very neat like in clean type of way
I am really not. That is why I prioritize "is it easy to clean" and avoid unnecessary clutter- I don't want to add to the chaos lol
Lol I feel you
It has to be something I absolutely love. Functional is nice too, like a gorgeous stone or wood bowl from my travels or something I just love that a friend made
Where would you find the stone?
Oh I’d buy it. Craft stores and markets are good sources where I live :)
Get something you love, have an interest in, otherwise your home will be impersonal and no different from a hotel room.
It's not just impersonal. You are likely to lose interest in it very quickly because you didn't like it much to begin with. Kicking off a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction and trying to fix it, usually with more of the same just updated. It's really no good. Those random knickknacks are for hotels, Airbnb and staging for property sales.
Get something you love, have an interest in,
If you have a connection with the objects that surround you, it's bliss. As the saying goes "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." William Morris
I’ve heard that. I agree with it too but I think (depending on your house’s size) that some places could look cool with that style
I use thrift stores for this kind of thing. It’s (usually) cheap and I get a lot of inspiration that is not confined to what is currently on trend in regular retail stores. I have brought home a number of things that felt like they were a bit of a risk style wise but were cheap enough I didn’t mind. If I change my mind I donate it back into the thrift cycle. I get a second hit of dopamine when I get rid of things too though so don’t do this if you struggle to let go of possessions!
My family does unfortunately have a habit of doing this lol
I’d go to an antique shop or flea market. Find something unique that speaks to you. Start a collection of something vintage that’s fun to “hunt.” Buying big box tchotchkes would not be appealing at all to me.
I’m not really answering your question, apologies for that, but I worked at the front desk of a hotel around the time that the stay at home orders were in place, so I was deemed essential but most of my colleagues weren’t; I was working the front desk alone. It had just gotten dark out and I heard 2 men walking in and noticed right away one of them was fidgety and the other one was clearly the more dominant of the two. I was on edge immediately. They inquired on pricing of the room, asking if they could pay cash, I declined and said that I would need a credit card and ID that matches the credit card. The fidgety one pulled out an ID that I shit you not looked like any other government issued card but the photo is a picture of a gray alien. I look at the card, pull my hand away, and look at fidgety guy who looks to be staring into my soul. I declined them a room and they left without much of an argument. I’ll be honest with you, I still am not sure if I was looking at an alien or 2 men who probably did something awful and were roaming the area looking to use someone’s stolen cards. Terrifying experience either way.
Wow. When did this happen? Also I think this would be good on a creepy story subreddit or something
I would guess sometime in May 2020. And btw, I could have sworn I was answering someone’s dumb, “who would you introduce an alien to as a representative of planet earth” post on askreddit. Good grief, I wish I could say I was drunk but I don’t even drink. Sorry about that, no idea how I ended up posting here as opposed to there.
No I think it was a very interesting story, just wouldn’t want mods being on your case
Buy what you love.
I try to but only things that speak to me. I love glass and books for my coffee table.
I have a lovely blown glass bowl (brown and white) that I’ve filled with Japanese float balls that I’ve collected one by one over the years. I found the bowl at a thrift store and it wasn’t perfect until I filled it with the balls.
Could you share a picture of it if you don’t mind?
Thrifting nick nacks is always better than buying from a big chain store, for the environment and just more unique treasures to find as well
I get it, but I think there are some small up and coming brands that may have some unique stuff. I myself am currently trying to start one and I have seen some pretty unique things but I can see the potential behind thrifting
For my coffee table I got an indoor fireplace. It's also a sculpture so it's got an artistic flair to it. You take the lid off and drop in a can of fuel and the flame burns about 2 hours. Great ambiance and when the lid is on and not in use it just looks like an art sculpture. I got it off of Wayfair. I love it.
Do you have a photo? Sounds like something I want to see
Something easy to dust and that won't break when the cat knocks it over at 2 a.m.
Lol does your cat always stay up that late?
If I like it, and my wallet allows it.
What would be the most you’d spend?
39.99 and I can use it in another room. The item can’t give off a season, holiday vibe.
The piece has to look good in multiple rooms for you? Do you currently have any pieces that fit that?
Yes, I have a couple nice glass pieces. I can change the look, with different surrounding items.
The only thing I keep in mind is if I love it. BUT I have to love it enough that id pay twice what they ask. If I wouldn’t be willing to do that, I don’t love it enough to buy.
Quality over quantity I see. Love it!
Plants are always a good choice. Pick something that suits the specific spot (lighting levels, humidity, etc) and that you can handle.
Either that, or functional items, or ones that are meaningful to you.
From where I'm sitting right now, I can spot: A couple of small lamps, a Bluetooth speaker (looks like an old radio), a scent diffuser, a wooden bowl that holds my jewelry, a few pieces of rock and driftwood I collected while hiking.
Do you have any plants in mind that you’d recommend?
It highly depends on the specific spot, your general location, and personal preference. No point getting plants you don't particularly like.
Head over to r/houseplants or r/indoorgarden for ideas and recommendations. They will be happy to help.
Theme, size, color.
What’s your favorite theme?
Two different ones, midcentury modern and dark academia which is quite different.
I like mcm as well!
Buy what you love! Personally I only buy things at antique stores or new pieces that are classics. I stay aso from anything trendy. I tell my clients to start collecting things they love and decorate with your collections. Also keep in mind proportions.
Do you have an agency or something?
Less is more. Also better for the environment
Personal and not plastic
I have a few artist made glass blown vases. They are small so not expensive. But they are a collectible with the artist’s mark. I have one signed lithograph again not expensive. Plus an oil painting from a local artist and one from an acquaintance.
Who’s the artist you got them from?
Margaret Wol small purple vase
Kassanooa (sp?) G Wolff - large vase from Murano Italy
Lynn Snow 389/500 - lithograph of Oriental Poppy II
N Frick local artist in Florida
My friend signed her painting Sana B
Large atlas bowl from Tiffany’s
Sotoka - jelly fish paperweight
Difficult to distinguish an A from an O in the signatures
I keep my eye open for when I am travelli g for something special to me. My decor is all meaninful or useful. I will sometimes go for a year or two knowing that I need a tray or a special frame and when I find it somewhere special, I grab it but I avoid mass produced because it doesn't give a lot of feelings and it just looks like a stage real estate property.
What place that you travel to has given you the best stuff?
south america/central has wonderful things. the middle east as well. Some scandinavian pieces from sweden and denmark/finland and norway. I know people who travel to north africa have incredible finds. in the US, the southwest where there is a marriage of Mexican, Native American, in southwest aesthetic.
You sound very well traveled
Some people pay for car payments, we prefer to travel :) Older or preowned cars, never new, furniture is inherited or vintage and we prefer travel eat and experience over other expenses. As kids become older, travel as gifts for them. When kids were little or whwn money is tighter we did a lit more US travel by car. Sometimes travelling to cheap countries is cheaper than vacationing in the US or Canada.
I would definitely suggest looking up “coffee table styling” on Instagram or Pinterest to get layout ideas. I had a hard time styling mine forever because it’s a round vintage brass tray top coffee table with the spider legs. It has a beautiful etched pattern on the tray top but it made it difficult to style. So I searched “round coffee table styling.” I finally landed on a layout that I love that doesn’t look empty but also doesn’t look excessively cluttered, and still leaves the pattern visible. Pretty & interesting coffee table book with coasters, a candle, a carved wood snake, and a candle snuffer on a white tray, and then a ZZ plant to add some greenery. I love it and honestly haven’t changed it in almost a year, other than changing out the candle seasonally.
Don’t mind my ignorance but what is a zz plant?
little vases or bowls from the thrift store that go well with the colors of the room, or coffee table books, vinyl, puzzles, etc.
Look for unique brass pieces at secondhand shops. Art from materials like stone provide a nice visual.
Do you personally have any brass pieces? If so, what are they?
I'm on the minimalist side so when I bring in decor, it has to be functional. If not functional then it has to have entertainment value for me and guests. Right now I have a wooden tray to hold coasters and a small sphere (lidded) candy dish. And a vase of dried eucalyptus for scent (I don't do candles or oils).
Looking for small wooden table top games but haven't found one that fits the vibe yet.
Where do you get your scents from?
Home Depot usually has fresh eucalyptus bunches for less than $5. I put them in the vase without water so they dry out eventually. You can also buy the tree (baby blue eucalyptus - it's the one with round leaves). Only $12.99 for a small pot. I got one two weeks ago.
Scale
I have a collection of candles. Going by your username, a basket of beautiful, artificial apples? Or a bonsai tree.
Like in bowl? That’d look pretty appealing
I like a candle in a cool vessel, a plant, coasters, a picture in a frame. Minimal.
Primarily the coffee table is to put things on temporarily. Like a mug or glass, a book you are reading. So not a lot of clutter. I like a box to store things away but still be accessible like nail clippers, nail file, tv remote, a pen…
I have Lego builds on my bookshelf. I would probably put my Bonsai tree one on a coffee table.
Do you have anything worth bragging about?
So far…
Dobby (Harry Potter)
The Succulents build from the Botanical collection
The Technic build where the Earth and Moon revolve around the Sun
The Bonsai Tree
I’m looking for the Taj Mahal to build next.
The Taj Mahal would definitely be a good one
Quit over thinking. Buy what you love.
I like to keep a little decorative box on the table to keep small things. Pen, paper, lighter scissors, glasses, remote.
I always find things when I have nothing in mind. I thrift and shop in vintage shops quite often. 80% of my decor is vintage.
Vintage from how long ago?
Vintage is at least 20 years old but less than 100 years old. My stuff is mainly from 60's and 70's. Some stuff is older. Some of my bigger pieces are new, like my sofa and bed, but I always keep my eyes open for a deal on more vintage pieces. My style is eclectic so I have more freedom to mix things up.
There's a lot of good advice here about buying things you love. My additional advice for learning what you love and finding it is to go to local art fairs and shows. If there are any art schools or glass or ceramics studios, they'll have shows several times a year. Restaurants also often display local art.
Is that where you’ve found your decor?
Mostly three-dimensional art. I live in the southwest, so lots of baskets and pots come from pueblos. Prints and paintings are from local artists or personal friends or inherited. Take your time. We're old and have collected things over decades.
A lot of small artists sell art books of their work. Even tattoo artists do, if you’re into that. Beyond books, I’d go to local craft or art festivals. Stay out of shops for decor. It makes it meaningless imo.
I like to shop for these things at thrif t/ antique stores. Buy slowly and onlyt things that speak to you / are in the color palette you are trying achieve. Most of the items in my home were collected over time.
Don't. It's a slippery slope you'll roll down once you buy knickknacks. Unless it hangs from a wall, it has to have a function to come into my house.
Plus it's so easy to clean bare surfaces.
Who was William Morris?
It must fulfill three qualifications for me: 1) have a story/meaning attached to it; 2) be beautiful; and 3) be either intrinsically valuable or useful.
What type of story do you think would speak to you the most?
Oh it can be anything really, and I have a very low bar for what constitutes a story. It doesn’t have to be anything so grand as being a clock handmade by the grandfather (though I do have one of those). I have a tea caddy that I way overbid for the first time I ever bought something at an auction. A drinks tray from a fun afternoon out antiquing with a friend. A brass pen my mom bought be because she was thinking of me out of the blue. A pair of club chairs I’d looked at six times over as many months and finally saved up the money to buy because I thought they were perfect.
My home is where I store my memories, important and everyday, each one residing within its own totem.
My philosophy is to only have things that either do something, or have meaning to me. Never add art just because it fits a blank spot in a room and happens to match the color palette. That's how you get spaces that look like hotel lobbies or rooms, because if you don't love the art, if it doesn't speak to you, there's no soul there.