11 home decor essentials

It’s different for every decorator, but these are the items I firmly believe are worth getting right for the long term. Consider them the bones that will grow old with you.


The table draws you into the beautiful chaos of paper, colour, and book matter. Open shelving creates library-like exposure and honours a collection of favourite classics. Photography by Pieter Estersohn.

1 Well-considered open and concealed shelving
Shelving is interior architecture: Whether you choose custom, built-in, millwork cabinets, or a more modular approach, it’s key to provide enough space to accommodate your life. Even if you’re not an avid reader, you will most definitely find things to fill the space over the years. Consider whether you want shelves for display, or if it’s a more pressing priority for you to create concealed storage to hide your belongings. Are you an antiquist (or junkist) who celebrates the object, or a minimalist who celebrates clean space? When left to my own devices, I prefer a bit of both: Art books are meant to be admired, but I keep my paperbacks, cookbooks, and Breastfeeding for Dummies in cabinets.