Decor & Styling

7 Classic Home Pieces You Can Purchase Affordably and Keep for Years

written by SARAH LYON

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Classic Home Piece"
Classic Home Piece
Source: Spacecrafting Photography for The Everygirl
Source: Spacecrafting Photography for The Everygirl

In today’s internet-fueled world, we encounter a sea of design inspiration practically every time we open our phones. And that’s great, of course, but it can then be tricky to determine exactly which types of pieces to prioritize when decorating. If you’re only allowing yourself to buy one new item this month, should you pick the nightstand or the area rug? We advise you to pay special attention to timeless items that you can snag affordably now and still enjoy many years down the line, no matter where life takes you. Like what, you may ask? Keep reading to find out—we’ve rounded up seven classic home pieces that will stand the test of time.

 

7 Classic Home Pieces You Will Have for Years

 

1. A Large Area Rug

Large Area Rug

Source: @alainakaz

Area rugs are a staple in nearly every room, so investing in one now will last you a long time. For a rug that can easily go from the living room to a bedroom to a formal dining room, go with a mostly neutral design that can easily fit within different color palettes. Choosing the right size is also key. A larger rug (like an 8×10) may seem excessive if you live in a small space now, but an oversized rug can actually help small rooms appear bigger. Plus, you’ll thank yourself later when you upgrade to a larger home or apartment.

Souk Wool Rug
West Elm
Souk Wool Rug
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Laina Performance Rug
Joss & Main
Laina Performance Rug

2 colors available

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Handmade Flatweave Cotton Rug
Safavieh
Handmade Flatweave Cotton Rug

5 colors available

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Reeva Handwoven Rug
Pottery Barn
Reeva Handwoven Rug

5 colors available

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Power Loomed Bordeaux Rug
Amber Lewis x Loloi
Power Loomed Bordeaux Rug
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2. An Oversized Mirror

I personally can’t get enough of beautiful ornate mirrors. Over the years, I’ve found so many of them via secondhand sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Large mirrors are wonderful because they can make such a show-stopping statement in any room. If there’s a mirror you love, you’ll always be able to find a home for it—trust me. Don’t be afraid to go for a piece that leans antique or glam while shopping—with the right accessories, these types of mirrors can be styled to fit any room design.

Even the way you choose to display your mirror will send a specific message. Lean your mirror on the floor for a laid-back look, mount it on top of your mantel if you love a Parisian vibe, or layer picture frames in front of it if you prefer a maximalist look.

Designer Malorie Goldberg of Noa Blake Design agreed that a good mirror will always shine from home to home. “It is really tough for a beautiful mirror to become anything else—they almost always stand the test of time and can sneak into pretty much any space,” she said. “The same mirror can live in a bathroom in one home, a foyer in another, and your daughter’s bedroom in the next one.”

Large Wall Mirror
Amazon
Large Wall Mirror

3 colors available

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Selene Floor Mirror
Urban Outfitters
Selene Floor Mirror

2 colors available

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Vintage Leaning Mirror
World Market
Vintage Leaning Mirror

2 colors available

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Edge Mirror
Crate & Barrel
Edge Mirror

5 colors available

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Gleaming Primrose Mirror
Anthropologie
Gleaming Primrose Mirror

5 colors available

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3. Nesting Tables

Nesting tables are a great example of classic furniture that can serve multiple purposes. Design influencer Shamika Lynch is a proponent of these small-space-friendly tables because they allow for so many layout possibilities. “You can bunch them together to make a coffee table or split them up and use them in different areas of the house,” she explained. “They’re great for entertaining, households with kids, side tables, and sometimes laptop tables. Nesting tables are definitely one of my go-to pieces for homes.”

Who knows, the set that you use as your coffee table in your studio apartment may end up in a future guest room or playroom! In one apartment, I kept a set of nesting tables in my living room and pulled them out as needed so that guests had a place to set food and drinks during parties.

Marble Nesting Tables
West Elm
Marble Nesting Tables
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Glass Nesting Tables
Wayfair
Glass Nesting Tables
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Retro Tripod Nesting Tables
West Elm
Retro Tripod Nesting Tables
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Waterfall Nesting End Tables
Pottery Barn
Waterfall Nesting End Tables
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Glass Nesting Tables
Wayfair
Glass Nesting Tables
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4. A Chic Side Table

Even as someone living in a small apartment, I don’t think anyone can ever own too many side tables. I currently keep a few cocktail tables in my living room—one sits next to the couch and another sits next to my armchair. In my past apartment, I also had one sitting outside on my screen porch, which was perfect for when I wanted to sit back and read outside with a cup of coffee. I also love the concept of using a side table as a nightstand if you’re looking for something sleek and willing to forgo storage.

Side tables can even look beautiful in the bathroom if you have the space. Simply place one next to the tub and use it to hold your favorite lotions and perfumes or a glass of wine when you’re bathing. Whether you purchase this type of item new or used is up to you. You can often repaint or refinish a side table down the line if it suffers from extensive wear and tear or if your aesthetic changes and you want to incorporate new shades. A plain wooden side table can easily be painted in a bright red lacquer if your style switches from farmhouse to eclectic, for example!

Round Bistro Table
World Market
Round Bistro Table
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Tripod Side Table
West Elm
Tripod Side Table
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Metal Cocktail Table
Pottery Barn
Metal Cocktail Table

2 colors available

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Round Rattan Side Table
Target
Round Rattan Side Table
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Metal Side Table
West Elm
Metal Side Table

3 colors available

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5. A Nice Floor Lamp

A floor lamp is an ultra-versatile piece that can travel from your living room to your home office to a nursery in the span of a decade. Opt for a style that’s neutral enough to match a variety of decor styles—perhaps something with a brass or wooden base as opposed to a more colorful option. While I don’t always suggest visiting big-box stores for pieces you plan to keep for the long haul, I will note that I’ve gotten some high-quality lamps from places like Target, Wayfair, and World Market, all of which have added flair to my space without breaking the bank. If you’re drawn to vintage-looking styles, secondhand sites are an excellent choice as well.

Tripod Floor Lamp
Target
Tripod Floor Lamp
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Vidalia Floor Lamp
Wayfair
Vidalia Floor Lamp

10 colors availble

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Flores Floor Lamp
Crate & Barrel
Flores Floor Lamp
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Aiden Floor Lamp
Urban Outfitters
Aiden Floor Lamp
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Marcella Floor Lamp
Urban Outfitters
Marcella Floor Lamp
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6. Table Lamps

The right table lamp also offers a lot of great long-term potential, according to NYC-based designer Jade McNeil. “I worked with a client who was having a hard time deciding on table lamps for her bedroom,” she said. “Her eyes were immediately drawn toward a more unique ceramic lamp, but she was keen on playing it safe. We talked through how she can use these in the future when she moves into her forever home by using them in a living room as accent lighting or even throwing them into a guest bedroom.”

Table lamps don’t need to cost a pretty penny to last for many years, and you can mix vintage and modern when it comes to your base and shade styles. If you find a base you love at the thrift store, it’s easy enough to order a corresponding shade from Amazon!

Column Lamp
West Elm
Column Lamp

2 colors available

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Ribbed Lamp
Target
Ribbed Lamp
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Faux Wood Table Lamp
Target
Faux Wood Table Lamp
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Telescope Lamp
West Elm
Telescope Lamp
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Allure Table Lamp
cb2
Allure Table Lamp
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7. A Side Chair

Side chairs also offer a wide variety of styling options. “These can easily be moved from the living room to a cozy bedroom nook,” McNeil explained. “The placement is limitless with this piece of furniture.” If you’re worried about getting tired of the style, don’t fear: There are lots of ways to give this piece a refresh. “Over the years, switch up the style of this piece with a new throw pillow and blanket or reinvent the style with the supporting furniture around it by adding a new side table, art, or lamp,” McNeil suggested.

Goldberg agreed that the right accent chair will certainly hold up as the years go by. “Most well-designed chairs eventually become vintage and the basis for replicas or close reinterpretations, so they rarely lose their je ne sais quoi.”

Woven Dining Chair
Threshold
Woven Dining Chair
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Wood And Cane Back Dining Armchair
World Market
Wood And Cane Back Dining Armchair

2 colors available

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Wishbone Chair
Amazon
Wishbone Chair

8 colors available

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Biscoe Wood Dining Chair
Threshold
Biscoe Wood Dining Chair

2 colors available

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Bistro Chair
World Market
Bistro Chair

2 colors available

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