How many people have stuff in their homes that they use just a few times and then end up throwing it away? Too many of us! If we took the time to think through our purchases in advance and to only purchase those items that we actually would want to keep for a long time then we’d have less stuff and we’d like the items that we have more.

I’m working on doing this myself. The only place in the house that I’ve really been successful with this so far has been the kitchen. I’ve gotten rid of all of the stupid plastic cups and cheap dishes and replaced them with items that I want to treasure forever. I’ve got some really beautiful pieces by John Derian and Bernardaud that I can’t imagine every wanting to give away.

I’m struggling a little bit to do the same kind of thing with the rest of my house. I’m tackling the bedroom next. Ideally I’d like to get some great sheets and blankets that will last me for a long time. They may not last a lifetime but they could at least last for quite a few years. It’s tough though because you need to not only get high-quality materials but materials that will be in style and will match your decor in the years to come.

Although I do think it’s difficult to choose long-lasting items, I think the result is worth it. I am starting to really appreciate what I have and my house is less cluttered with junk I don’t care about. And the process of shopping is actually a lot more fun now that I’m looking for things I really love.

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