Saves + Splurges in Our Home

As we navigate different living spaces and stages of our lives, our wants and needs adapt. There are certain items that we truly require in order to fulfill a need, and any old item will do. Maybe it’s an item that we’ve had for years and is still doing the trick — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

That said, there are also moments in life where we feel like we are in a fortunate enough position to “upgrade.” This could be out of necessity or the fact that our use of the item has proven essential, so a better investment is warranted — or simply because our style is adapting, and we want something that is more reflective of that. 

After all, our home is more than just a place to live. We are spending more time than ever at home since the 2020 pandemic, coming in at an average of spend 17 hours a day in our homes. With this said, our environment has significant impact on our mental health, physical health and overall well being. The quantity and quality of items within our home are a direct correlation of that.

My hope is that this list of saves and splurges in our home helps inspire you to be proud of the trusty items that have provided you years of use regardless of the cost, seek out alternate and creative applications for items outside of their intended use and to not be shy about investing in items that you know will improve how your space functions or feels, overall benefitting you.

Splurge: Bathroom Hand Towel

A bathroom hand towel is a pretty standard item in any home. In our current apartment, we are ~blessed~ to have an original 50’s bathroom tile situation going on. The colors are a peach and burnt orange combo. Since this is such a bold and demanding presence, I thought I would double down and go for something equally as loud and fun that would complement the space. It was also something that I knew could add some personality to a more neutral bathroom down the line, if that is what our next space will bring. It goes without saying that I spent WAY more than any reasonable person would on a bathroom hand towel, but seeing this pop of green stripes in a sea of peach squares every day makes the most mundane activities such as brushing my teeth or washing my hands feel like a curated experience. It also helps that I got to support a small business in the process! 

Bongusta via Trouva: $37

Save: Drinking Glasses

I’m really proud of this one. These were purchased prior to our wedding to be used as small vases around the venue with the intention of keeping for everyday use after the fact. I found these at a Dollar Tree…for…you guessed it…$1 each! For $8, I obtained an entire set of drinking glasses. They are glass. They are thick. They are durable. And they are beautiful. I have not even entertained the thought of replacing them because even years later, they have held up and are such a classic design that I still love them. 

Dollar Tree: $1/each ($8 total)

Splurge: King-Sized Quilt

Do you ever see an item you love over and over again, but never entertain it due to the cost? This quilt was it for me! I had seen images of it on Pinterest and even featured in some interior design videos on Youtube for years, but never felt like I could justify the cost. Then it dawned on me how much time had passed and how much I still loved it every time I saw it and thought about it often. After reading reviews about the quality and detail, I decided to go for it. This is now one of my favorite items that I have invested in. It adds so much personality to our mostly neutral and earth tone color scheme whether it’s draped on our bed or over the couch in the living room. After I purchased it, I understood the reasoning for the cost. This quilt has withheld the test of time in regards to quality and style. I firmly believe this will be in our family for generations.

Schoolhouse, Stillwater Floral Quilt: $349

Save: Nightstands

How cute are these! I had been on a hunt for matching nightstands for at least a few months. Doing visual shopping searches from Pinterest photos, looking at Target, thrift stores, etc. No luck! Then I spotted these matching wooden nightstands on Facebook Marketplace. A lovely husband and wife cross posted these during a garage sale they were having and they were exactly what I had been looking for. You could tell these were a few decades old and still in excellent condition, just looking for their next home! I was happy to acquire them and believe they will be in our home for many years to come. Sometimes these finds are worth the wait!

Facebook Marketplace: $20/each

Splurge: Custom Artwork

As I grew into my late 20’s, I sought out more personalized and large scale art pieces to incorporate into our home. After searching for some time and not really finding anything that was speaking to me, I decided to create my own. 

One fond memory my husband and I share is when I would visit him in WI while we were in our long distance era. The trips were always quick, but never short of a great time. A few times, we found ourselves at a local bar called The Joynt in Eau Claire, WI. The Joynt was a dive bar that had a special energy to it and great live music. I was super intrigued with their coasters, specifically the artwork they had displayed on them. This was the same artwork that was installed as a full wall mural at the boutique hotel down the road that my husband stayed at when he was interviewing for his job. I still remember when he sent me the photo as he updated me on that weekend and the interview process. Obviously, he ended up getting the job, and that was the start of our next chapter together! 

This particular art piece became a symbol of his time in WI and all of the great times that we shared on weekend trips there. Not only that, but I genuinely loved the content! I knew this was something that we would both love seeing in our home, and it has proven to be quite a conversation piece as well. With the help of a friend that was still in the area (thanks again, Jess!), she was able to ship us some coasters. From there, I scanned the coaster high-res, got it printed large scale at a FedEx Print Shop and trusted a local frame shop to bring this idea to life. It was definitely an investment, but even years later, this is still one of my husband and I’s favorite pieces in our home.

FedEx Large Scale Print: $54

Local Frame Shop: $400

Save: TV Stand

I will start by stating the obvious, which is that this is not a “by definition” TV stand. Years back, my dad owned a duplex. One particular tenant left four military-grade army green steel drawers behind after moving out. I was in utter shock that someone would leave something like this behind. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, I guess. My dad had mentioned he needed to clear the space out for the next tenant and he was thinking about donating them. I quickly volunteered to take them off of his hands!

Over 10+ years later, they have been a focal point in every place that we have called home. In our current place, we have them stacked together to hold our TV. Some notable benefits: four HUGE drawers of storage, it completely blocks all the cords behind the TV, it creates a nice subtle pop of green and variety of texture in our space. Though this is not your stereotypical TV stand, it functions perfectly for our needs so I have never sought out buying a “by definition” TV stand to replace it. These bins were really the first time I challenged myself to think outside the box and make something function outside of its intended purpose. I think this goes without saying, but I’m still very passionate and excited about this find over a decade later!

Dad’s Property Basement: Free