No. 47

How to shop for furniture

Aug 05, 2025

I’ve waxed poetic about the challenges of being a designer who also has to live in one home (and not many different homes in many different environments, climates, cultures, with many different styles and color palettes). I can’t have it all: my dreamy woodsy treehouse, my crumbling Italian villa, my sea shanty beach home. But what I do have is a century old, Parisian escape in the middle of San Francisco. I designed this new home as such: removing some items that no longer suit our space, and making room for new items that gel with this new vision of life. My mother peered around corners right after our painters left, asking suspiciously why I didn’t use the same sage green paint we used in our last apartment (Vert de Terre by Farrow & Ball, since you asked). Our new home has its own energy and history, and sometimes we are required to step away from an expression of the self we used to cling so tightly to (ie, girl living in a green home) in the hopes of jumping bravely towards something that feels different.

Buying new furniture for many can be very stressful, but there are some really great ways to turn the dive into the abyss into a fun and deeply satisfying experience.

One of the biggest challenges with furniture is that we all desperately want to fill our spaces QUICKLY, and often do so at the expense of an item we don’t absolutely love. I have made a million mistakes here, just yesterday I was talking to a friend who asked me to give her an example of something I bought and then needed to replace eventually, and I gave her the very disappointing answer of: nearly everything!

While my last post illuminated the pros of collecting smaller items, many of us (especially those of us who live in cities and aren’t billionaires) face the same challenges when we purchase the larger pieces for a new space, or a new phase of life. My advice?

If you’re looking for something really specific, don’t buy anything AT ALL (if you can help it) until you can both pinpoint and afford the exact thing you want. There is no value in spending money on something you already want to replace as you swipe your card. Having a piece you settled for will only fuel the urge to keep shopping, while empty space actually has its own luxury - room to breathe. Help the environment, help your wallet, and unless it’s absolutely necessary, wait for the right piece to come along. My husband and I literally slept on a mattress on the floor for 3 weeks when we moved into our first place 6 years ago to make space for the right bed frame. Be patient, your time will come! The only person who needs your home to come together instantly is a designer - and if you’re not working with one (hi there!), give yourself permission to take your time.
Keep it balanced but punchy. Beautiful statement pieces are what separate a curated home from a catalog showroom. If your space feels flat despite your best efforts, you’re probably playing it too safe. Yes, luxury linens and a gorgeous throw can elevate a basic bed frame, but there’s only so much heavy lifting accessories can do. Aim for balance: let some pieces lean simple (but high-quality), then go bold with antiques and unique finds that pack serious visual punch.
Consider the profile. Something I’ve noticed increasingly among design-savvy clients is that they obsess over how a space looks but forget how it will be lived in. (Interestingly, this is never an issue with my male clients, who ask detailed questions about couch comfort and walking space.) Before you buy anything tall, consider your desired “profile” - high, medium, or low. Do you want a grounded, cozy feeling that draws you closer to the floor? Or does the space call for more formality? A lounge area feels intimate when everything - sofas, chairs, tables, lamps - sits low. But try that same approach in a formal living room and you’ll create some awkward moments (short skirts and low seating don’t mix well at cocktail hour). You probably already measure width and depth when planning your layout, but don't forget the vertical dimension. Height matters just as much as footprint when creating a space that truly works.
Don’t waste too much time thinking about what “vibe” you want, and try to spend a very limited amount of time on Pinterest. You need to all but sever yourself from the zeitgeist lest your home become instantly dated. I know it doesn’t feel like what you’re doing will go out of style if you’re copying things you see online, but I promise it will (it always does). Focus on loving each piece for its own merit, not just how it fits a cohesive aesthetic. When you choose items because they speak to you personally, your space will naturally feel timeless and distinctly yours.

There will always be items that are particularly hard to say no to as you collect and style a home, and these were some of my hardest goodbyes.

Chinoiserie tray top coffee table

Scandinavian wood chest - I have been loving painted Scandinavian wood lately, and this chest captures everything I love about the style: whimsical, colorful, and a bit magical.