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| Photos (top L, clockwise) Kim, Sarah Marriage, Brady Wahl |
You don’t have to actually throw these things away (donating is always nice!), but these items are things you should part with by the time you hit age 30. In your 20s it’s all about being frugal and finding your style, but in your 30s it’s time for something more permanent and sophisticated. House Beautiful and ELLE Decor asked some prominent designers which items should be swapped out.
1. A Futon. “Futons are le worst! The older you get the squishier your bed should be,” says designer, potter and author, Jonathan Adler.
2. Temporary furniture. “Often I see people waiting to move into the ‘forever home’ before they begin to decorate, and until then, simply buy whatever is on sale to fill up the space,” says designer Scot Meacham Wood. “But, by the age of 30, you should really be living intentionally—invest in some classic pieces that you can carry with you, but stop waiting.”
3. TV Stands. “Be gone, TV stands that were purchased with your TV!” says Lauren Buxbaum and Sasha Adler, Design Directors at Nate Berkus Associates. “It’s time to do something a little less functional and a little more decorative.”
4. Art or posters taped to the wall without frames. “By 30 you should invest in custom framing,” says designer Nicole Gibbons.
5. Florescent floor lamps. “They can be very unflattering,” warns Buxbaum and Adler. “Incandescent and soft lighting floor lamps are just as accessible, but they’re easier on the eyes, prettier in the space and do wonders for your complexion.”
6. Bare wood floors and postage stamp size area rugs. Rugs ground a room and bring so much warmth and life to a space. “Instead of reaching for the quickest solution, reach for a rug that adds texture, color or pattern—in the largest size your room can handle!” advise Buxbaum and Adler. “It's amazing how it can elevate the whole look of a room.”
7. Cheap bedding. “Really, there's no good reason to have cheap bedding whatever your age might be,” explains Wood. “But, once you hit your 30's, you should really be treating yourself better.”
8. An unmade bed. “It takes 60 seconds in the morning to make up your bed and it starts off your day with an accomplished feeling,” says designer Ryan White.
9. Plastic dishware and serving pieces. According to Buxbaum and Adler these just aren’t necessary, “unless it’s for the garden party.”
10. Kitchy picture frames. Yes, the ones of you and your bestie that say best friends. “In your 30s it’s time to invest in timeless pieces that you’ll carry with you forever,” says Gibbons. “Think classic silver-plated frames or other styles that feel sophisticated and coordinate with your decor.”
11. Accent Walls. “Rather than enhancing a space it feels like it does just the opposite,” explains Buxbaum and Adler. “There are so many other ways to create a focal point and make a statement.”
12. That collection of shot glasses from your college spring break adventures on display. “These are only ok if you’re still in college AND live in a sorority or frat house!” says Gibbons.
13. An empty fireplace mantle or bookshelf. Use flowers, art and accessories to add drama to any surface, advises White. “Buy interesting and fun objects to dress up your storage spaces.”
14. Fake plants or trees. Even if you don’t have a green thumb these just aren’t necessary. “Use air plants that only require a small about of water and attention to green up any room,” says White.
15. The pillows sold with the sofa. They are uniform and boring, “Buy different sized pillows and play with different colors and textures,” says White.
This article originally appeared on ELLE DECOR.
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