The 10 Things Every 30-Something Should Have in Her Home Inline
Photographed by Mario Testino, Vogue, May 20141/11
Photo: Courtesy of ABC Carpet & Home2/11Accent Chairs
It’s time to graduate from the couch-only living room arrangement. Accent chairs add much-needed extra seating (no, poufs do not count) and, as most sofas tend to be a bit bland, lend a bit of design personality.
Thayer Coggin Wright armless chair, $2,076, abchome.com
Photo: Courtesy of hdbuttercup.com3/11A Pendant Light
Creating a thoughtful lighting scheme is one of the best—and most
impactful—ways to update a home. Instead of settling for the builder-basic overhead light that came with the house, install something that brightens up a room while also looking like a piece of art.Onyx pendant lamp, $649, hdbuttercup.com
Photo: Courtesy of Design Within Reach4/11A Dining Table
It’s time to move beyond eating every meal at the coffee table and embrace a proper dining room table. If your space is still too small to fit a full-size table, buy one with leaves that can be added when you have guests and hidden away when you don’t need them.
Kayu teak dining table, $1,994, dwr.com
Photo: Courtesy of thesill.com5/11Plants
If pets happen to be totally out of the question but you want something living to liven up the place, parenting a plant is a perfect solution. Whether placed on a windowsill, on a bookshelf, or in the bathroom, a little bit of green goes a long way. Worried about your black thumb? Ease into it with low-maintenance succulents.
The Succulent Collection, $40, thesill.com
Photo: Courtesy of Crate and Barrel6/11Cloth Napkins
Paper towels are for kids. Your updated, grown-up kitchen should be stocked with real linens, especially cloth napkins. Even if you skip the placemats and tea towels, you should keep a variety of solid-color and printed textiles in the kitchen drawers, ready for any occasion.
Olly napkins, $6 each, crateandbarrel.com
Photo: Courtesy of Dean and Deluca7/11A Fully Stocked Spice Rack
It’s high time to pay more attention to your kitchen, namely keeping it properly stocked and organized. A modern spice rack with all of the must-have spices not only looks great (even left out on your counter), but might also encourage you to get out of that takeout rut.
40 Tubes, $175, deandeluca.com
Photo: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma8/11A Full Set of Pots and Pans
It’s time to do away with the mismatched cookware of your postcollege years and invest in a proper set of pots and pans. They not only look beautiful, but a good quality set will make cooking more enjoyable and last for years.
Williams-Sonoma Signature Thermo-Clad stainless steel 10-piece cookware set, $800, williams-sonoma.com
Photo: Courtesy of West Elm9/11A Console Table
Whether in a bedroom or in your entry hallway, a console table fits in almost every type of space and offers extra storage for little things like keys, mail, jewelry, and more. Translation: Stop dumping your bags and junk mail on your beautiful new dining room table and put them here instead. And it’s not just a catchall, it’s also a prime spot to decorate with frames, objets, or your new succulents.
Terrace console, $499, westelm.com
Photo: Courtesy of Serena and Lily10/11Matching Bath Towels
Making things match in your home is a crucial part of the whole grown-up thing, especially in the bathroom. Having slightly mismatched towels is okay, but only if they have a similar pattern or colorway. When in doubt, start fresh with a clean, crisp matched set.
Fouta bath towels, $8–$48, serenaandlily.com
Photo: Courtesy of theline.com11/11A Throw Blanket
Having an extra blanket lying around on the bed or over the couch makes your space feel comfortable and cozy. It also acts as an extra–but not
too over-the-top—embellishment in a living room or bedroom. Paying up for one in a material like cashmere or wool might seem like a splurge, but this is definitely one piece that you will keep forever.Collected by The Line Corriedale wool knit stitch blanket, $1,125, theline.com
