An Interior Designer Told Me the 7 Home Essentials Every Space Should Have to Avoid Looking 'Outdated'

Plus, what she considers the "jewelry" piece of any home

Your home is supposed to feel like a sanctuary rather than a source of stress, which is why it’s important to invest in furniture and decor that won’t leave your space feeling dated and overcrowded. 

PEOPLE spoke with creative director and interior designer Laura Brophy of Laura Brophy Interiors and Natalie Rebuck, principal designer at Re: Design Architects, to discover what furniture it’s time to replace and the pieces you should be investing in. For Brophy, that means avoiding furniture sets — instead, you want to “make it feel a little bit more intentional, rather than you just walked into a store and bought a whole set,” she says.  Keep reading to check out the seven home essentials we found inspired by their recommendations starting at $10.  

Interior Designer-Recommended Home Essentials

• Modern Must-Have: Signature Design by Ashley Wynnlow Rustic TV Stand, $161; Amazon
• Save $150: Ebern Designs Nalewicki Corduroy Sectional, $580 (orig. $730); Wayfair
• Quick Bedroom Update: AllModern Kamile Solid Wood End Table, $74; AllModern
• Coffe Table Alternative: Kiteiscat Decorative Ottoman Tray, $35; Amazon
• Personality Pick: Mark D. Sikes Signature Vase, $39 (orig. $79); Pottery Barn
• "Jewelry of a Space": Torondo Dimmable Industrial Floor Lamp, $59 (orig. $99); Amazon
• Easy $10 Décor: 97 Décor Vintage Boho Wall Art Prints, $10 (orig. $12); Amazon

Related: Kelly Clarkson Quietly Added New Furniture, Rugs, and Decor at Wayfair — and They’re Up to 77% Off Right Now

Signature Design by Ashley Wynnlow Rustic TV Stand

$161 at Amazon

The one piece that makes Brophy “cringe” is an entertainment stand, which she describes as “something of the past.” She adds that they “look dated and heavy, and don’t feel current” — especially now that TVs are thin and light enough to hang on a wall or above a fireplace. 

To quickly update your living room, she suggests swapping it with a console or TV stand, like this rustic design for less than $200. It’s long enough to fit TVs up to 60 inches wide and comes with adjustable shelves for storing books, knick-knacks, and more.

Bonus Interior Designer Tip

Rebuck also adds that you should move away from a single aesthetic because “when every single piece is from the same era, it becomes one-note.”

Wade Logan Ashira Wide Reversible Modular Corner Sectional

$730 $580 at Wayfair

Another big mistake that Brophy says people make is wasting money on furniture that looks cool or vintage, but ends up being uncomfortable and not lasting a long time. Which is why she says “every home needs at least one incredible sofa.” 

This sectional has an ottoman to kick your feet up on (instead of on the coffee table). The simple pattern lets you add touches of your personal style, including statement pillows and a throw blanket. Reviewers are also impressed with how spacious it is: One shopper wrote, "even with two people over six-feet-tall and two dogs, there’s still plenty of room."

AllModern Kamile Solid Wood End Table

$74 at allmodern.com

“When I go into a space and just everything matches, I think that's something where it feels outdated to me,” Brophy says. To update your bedroom, you can start by swapping one of your nightstands for a complementary side table, such as this streamlined option. That way, the room looks cohesive but less like it came from a catalog. 

Kiteiscat Decorative Ottoman Tray

$35 at Amazon

If you have a small space, ditch your coffee table and swap it with an oversized ottoman. Just add a decorative tray on top, and you have something that Brophy says feels fresh. Plus, the tray provides a flat surface to rest your coffee mug and TV remote. This ottoman tray has rounded, uneven edges that give it a rustic look, and the neutral wooden material can easily blend into patterned sofas. 

Mark D. Sike Signature Vase

$79 $39 at Pottery Barn

You should “think of your furniture as something you’ll live with for decades, and ideally something your kids might want to inherit,” according to Rebuck. That doesn’t mean you have to invest in pricey one-of-a-kind pieces. You can start with small decor like this painted vase and fill it with fake plants, or let it stand empty next to your favorite framed photos.

Tornado Dimmable Industrial Floor Lamp

$99 $59 at Amazon

Lighting is the "jewelry of a space,” according to Brophy, and it’s the one area she encourages her clients to spend. Not only does it add “so much to the feel of a space,” but she says it’s “sometimes the first thing you notice” when you walk into a room. 

Reviewers are fans of this industrial-inspired floor lamp, which has been purchased more than 1,000 times in the past month. One shopper considered it the “superhero of home lighting,” praising how it has just the right amount of metal accents. It includes three lightbulbs, which are dimmable so you can control how bright you want a room to be.

97 Decor Vintage Boho Wall Art Prints

$12 $10 at Amazon

If there’s one area of her home Brophy wants to pay more attention to, it’s art over furniture. “I think art you can carry with you, and it really does just tell a story,” she says. This $10 option comes with a variety of prints that you can frame and hang on your walls to give you a better idea of what you like before investing more into your collection.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Read the full article here