Design professionals characterize the advantages of conscious decorating and offer the most effective advice on adopting this style confidently.
When decorating—whether refreshing a room or starting from scratch—it’s tempting to finish quickly, especially if you’re faced with blank walls and empty rooms. Often, that leads us to buy inexpensive, lower-quality items to make a space look “done.” But many designers are urging a different approach: slow decorating. This trend focuses on selecting pieces thoughtfully and resisting the urge for speed in favor of lasting quality—choosing items you’ll truly live with for years.
What is Slow Decorating?
Slow decorating is a thoughtful process that enables you to gradually create your dream space. Rather than rushing to fill your home with furniture, it’s discovering your space and your own design preferences over time. « Slow » also doesn’t necessarily mean slow in terms of duration, but the purposeful mentality behind each purchase. As designer Baratta explains, slow decorating is aware that styles evolve—encouraging you to invest money in pieces that last.
Like the slow fashion, slow decorating also emphasizes quality over quantity. It appreciates handcrafted items—either antique, reused items, or quality-built new items—over cheaply produced disposable furniture and accessories. It also reduces wastage and encourages sustainability, as fewer items get damaged and discarded over time.
Benefits of Slow Decorating
Less Pressure
By not rushing, you avoid stress and pressure to choose one style or complete your house in one go. You will feel more confident as your own taste grows naturally with time.
Budget-Friendly Planning
« Slow decorating enables you to accumulate savings to buy quality pieces rather than overextending your budget to buy everything at once, » Lindsey Putzier of Lindsey’s Eclectic Interiors writes. Fewer indulgences may be more costly upfront, but they tend to save you money in the long run by not constantly having to replace.
Timeless Aesthetic
Slow decorating promotes enduring style. Combining vintage finds, texture, and some splurges makes more budget-friendly pieces shine and sets the tone for a sophisticated, long-term look that will not rely on fads.
How to Embrace Slow Decorating
1. Start with Must-Haves
Anchor spaces with must-have furniture—like sofas and rugs—that are classic and well constructed. From there, add secondary pieces slowly intentionally.
2. Look for Completely Assembled Furniture
High-quality pieces often come pre-assembled. Items requiring assembly are more likely to lack longevity, especially from big-box retailers.
3. Save for Special Pieces
It’s okay to splurge on foundational items (sofas, beds, tables) and shop smart for the rest. If you’re in a transition phase—like with children—choose durable, used, or secondhand items until you’re ready for a forever piece.
4. Embrace Eclectic Style
Blend different eras and styles in one space—by pairing a mid-century sofa with antique side tables, for example—to achieve a tailored, layered look that defies fashion.
5. Highlight Material Quality
Investigate the materials in your furniture. Choose non-toxic, natural materials—like wool, which is long-lasting and low allergy—for healthier, greener living.
6. Live in Your Space
Spend time in your own space before purchasing high-ticket items. Knowing how you live in the space ensures additions in the future will actually work.
7. Choose Local and Handmade
Support artists and makers by shopping handcrafted accessories like vases or textiles. These types of items add personality, memory, and moral value to your living space.
8. Shop Sustainable Brands
Choose brands committed to sustainable practices, fair trade, and transparent sourcing. Avoid companies that make vague “green” claims without accountability.
9. Think Long-Term Care
Select items that are both beautiful and functional for your lifestyle. If a piece is tricky to maintain, you’re more likely to ditch rather than cherish it long term.
10. Balance Budget and Quality
Slow decorating does not need to be perfect or only utilize expensive pieces. Combining well-designed pieces with lesser purchases—while taking good care of them—is about creating a space you adore and can maintain.
