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Are you tired of filling your cart with decor and then putting it all back, buying nothing because you don’t know what you actually need? Are you tired of wasting money buying a bunch of random decor that doesn’t work in your home? Do you wish someone would just give you a list of home decor items and staples you need?
Well, here is the decor staples checklist that everyone can use in their home!
Would You Rather Watch?
Want to Listen on the Go?
Two Common Decor Shopping Mistakes
There are two very common real-life stories I hear all the time.
In the first story, my friend, “Jenny”, heads to the store. She knows she needs some decorating pieces because she’s been staring at blank walls, shelves, and table tops for months (or even years) on end.
Jenny finally heads to a decor store and starts to wander the aisles. She sees a few things that catch her eye, puts them into her cart, and continues to browse. Before long, Jenny second-guesses herself, realizing she has no idea what she really needs or wants, and puts every single thing back on the shelf! Jenny leaves the store with nothing.
In the second story, “Tina”, decides to go shopping. She, too, has been looking at all the empty spaces in her house for a long time and just wants to fill them with something. As she wanders the stores, she finds a few things she thinks may work because they look like popular decor items she’s seen on Instagram and HGTV. She buys a cart of stuff and takes everything home.
Only once she’s gotten her haul home Tina isn’t happy with any of it. She can’t figure out where to put anything. So she schleps it all back to the store for a refund (or she stashes it somewhere and loses money on it). Regardless, she finds herself back at square one just like Jenny, no closer to a decorated lovely home than before.
In both cases, my friends were shopping without an idea of what they needed. But, because my heart desires to make decorating easier for Jenny and Tina – and for you – this post includes all the decorating steps you need, broken down into easy processes that make sense! So, now you can create a more stylish and organized home you love.
Quick How to Decorate Refresher – As it Relates to Shopping for Decor!
If you’re decorating in the right order, following my 5-Step Decorating Plan, you know the steps are:
- Find Your Unique Style DNA
- Plan Your Space
- Add the Curtains, Rugs, and Lighting
- Decorate the Walls
- Add Accessories
The home decor items on this list fit into steps 3, 4, and 5 and should be selected and bought in this order!
The Home Decor Items List You Need for Your Home
Here are the home decor items you need for just about any room in your home…
1. Curtains and Drapery
If the room you’re decorating needs privacy, add either blinds or draperies that are thick enough for that.
If you don’t need privacy, curtains will add style and layers to the room, which is necessary to soften spaces. Remember to hang curtains high and wide so they don’t crowd the window and the natural light.
2. An Area Rug
You can place area rugs on wood, laminate, or tile floors, even over wall-to-wall broadloom to anchor a space – or hide an ugly or worn floor! That’s what makes area rugs one of the decor staples. Like curtains, they warm up a room and create an inviting atmosphere. They also serve to anchor furniture arrangements.
3. Accent and/or Task Lighting
Every room needs some sort of lighting, and having various types of lighting, such as task lamps for reading or floor lamps to soften the space, is key to creating a designer-looking space. Choose 1-3 options in coordinating styles and finishes. And don’t rely solely on overhead lighting, even if you have a dimmer switch.
4. Artwork
You need at least one artwork or other wall decor such as a gallery wall or mirror. Artwork is such a personal choice. I prefer neutral colors or nature paintings. Maybe you like bright splashes of color. Because it’s so personal, choose what you adore and nothing else.
A nicely framed mirror can suffice if you prefer or can’t find artwork you like. Just remember what the mirror reflects becomes art, so use mirrors judiciously. Also, remember artwork comes after curtains and lighting, so you know exactly how much space you have for art and, therefore, how big your pieces can be.
The last several decor staples all fall under the category of Accessories and fit into the final step in the 5-Step Decorating Plan.
5. Throw Pillows and Throw Blankets
How many throw pillows and blankets you need will depend on your space and how much you like those things. I recommend at least one throw blanket and at least 3 to 5 throw pillows, depending on the amount of seating in your space. Not so many that your guests and family can’t sit down, but enough to add coziness and some softness to the room.
Bonus tip: I always suggest getting feather inserts for your throw pillows because they hold up to wear and tear so much better than their foam counterparts.
6. A Large Basket
You’ll want one or more large baskets for storing things like toys, blankets, workout gear, or anything else in the room that you want to be hidden and contained.
7. A Tray
At least one tray will come in handy – and look pretty – for carrying items like remotes or bedside items or to use as a base for a decorative vignette.
8. A Vase or Pitcher
Get yourself at least one vase or pitcher for flowers.
9. Greenery and Blooms
Having 1 to 3 fresh or faux flower bouquets and plants will bring life (or the perception of it) into any space.
10. Candles
Select one medium or large pretty scented or unscented jar candle and 2 to 5 candlesticks with candles for variety. You can use battery-operated candles or real ones, depending on your preferences.
11. Decorative Objects
No room is complete decor-wise without 1 to 3 decorative objects like figurines, bowls, abstract shapes, bookends, etc. Which ones you choose will depend on your style.
12. Books
And finally, 1 to 3 – or more – pretty books for display or used as risers for other decor accessories.
Shop for the Decor Staples
Since I know I’ll get asked this, here are a few of my favorite staples for decorating with.
Summary
When you’re choosing decor for your home, make sure you follow the 5-Step Decorating Plan, getting the large pieces in place first. And then, when the time is right, shop for and use these decor staples in each room in your home:
- Curtains or drapes for each window
- The right-sized area rug
- A lamp or two
- One large piece of artwork or a mirror
- One or more throw blankets, and 3-5 throw pillows
- One or more large baskets for hiding or corralling necessary items
- One or more trays for corralling items or as a base for a vignette
- At least one vase or pitcher for flowers
- A couple of candles – one jar candle and 2-5 candlesticks with candles
- 1-3 decorative objects
- 1-3 or more pretty books
That’s it. That’s the list of home decor items and decor staples everyone needs in their home! Download the handy decor staples checklist to take with you the next time you go shopping!
To make it super easy for you, I’ve created a checklist. Just tap the button below to download your free decor staples checklist!
Once you have an item, check it off. Then you don’t have to shop for it again. Or be confused by all the pretty things that will call your name at your favorite store! Now that’s being more deliberate with your decorating and shopping. 🙂
