10 Things Every Modern Home Needs

This post about 10 Things Every Modern Home Needs was updated July 2023.

When you’re furnishing a home, you don’t want to just buy pieces that will fill space. Invest in items that can serve multiple purposes, work in various rooms, and can be moved as you do.

That’s why, before you go and buy things for your home, give this list of 10 must-have items a read to find the most versatile, go-anywhere pieces that every home should have.

1. A Pair of Lamps

Some things work better in pairs, and lamps are one of those things we suggest buying in two’s—it’s just more versatile.

Obviously they work great either side of the bed, but because they create immediate symmetry in a space, we love using them on either side of a console or on a pair of matching end tables. And if for whatever reason there isn’t a great spot for both in the same room, they can always be split up!

That’s what we mean by versatility. If you move homes or rearrange, a pair is much easier to work around the house than just a single.

2. An Occasional Chair

We’ve talked before about how every room needs a little bit of drama, and a fantastic occasional chair does just that. But what qualities should you be looking for in an occasional chair?

Typically, standalone chairs have an unusual shape, an exposed leg, and bonus points for a fun pattern. We’re especially smitten with our Oval Back Louis XVI Armchair (above), but you could also reupholster a flea market find in a fantastic fabric or rescue a great antique out of your grandparents’ attic.

3. A Well-Made, Comfortable Couch

There are a lot of areas in the home that we recommend taking risks and choosing something that makes a statement, but in the case of your sofa or sectional couch, we recommend buying for comfort, classic lines, and hardwearing fabrics.

This is somewhere you’ll be spending a lot of time, whether you’re having a movie night or hosting cocktails for the girls, so you want something that’s, above all, comfortable.

We highly recommend our Hartwell Leather Sofa if you’re looking for something that combines a sleek, chic design with outstanding comfort.

4. A Piece of Artwork You Love

Artwork is something that is very personal and intimate, more than any other part of your home, we think it reveals so much about your personality, history, and interests. That’s why we always recommend buying something for love.

Don’t worry about whether it coordinates with your room, or the artist is well known, or even whether it’s an original piece of art. Just find something you love and buy it. A great piece of wall art can carry a room and create a focal point. It can be moved from room to room and from home to home, and as long as you love it, you’ll be able to make it work.

5. A Great Mattress

We’ll admit, this isn’t the sexiest recommendation, and you may not get a thrill from splurging on one. But how can you love your home and enjoy spending time in it if you aren’t getting a good night’s rest?

A wise person once told us that you spend half of your life in a mattress so you might as well make it comfortable, and we couldn’t agree more. Find a mattress that puts you to sleep faster than melatonin and you’ll thank us later.

6. A Heavenly Set of Sheets

Now along the same vein as a good mattress, we think great bedding is a must-have for any modern home—especially a set of heavenly-soft sheets.

Not only does a great set of sheets feel great to sleep on, but they’re the base of a beautiful bedroom. Even if it’s just a set of clean white percale sheets, they’re a worthy splurge in our book.

7. A Pair of Side Chairs

Like a great pair of lamps, we think a pair of side chairs are much more versatile than just one lonely chair. They can be used nearly anywhere, but our favorite places include on either side of a console or flanking a doorway or French doors.

Pull one up to your dining table when you have more guests than seats, pull it up to a secretary when you need an impromptu workspace, or split them up in different areas of the house. Here, we combined two of our Tuva Dining Chairs to fill out the empty space around this cabinet.

8. Something Living

Every room needs something that’s living, whether that’s a house plant or a bouquet of flowers. We think this small flourish can make a huge impact in how a room feels.

But, if you don’t have a green thumb, we highly recommend adding faux greenery into your home: From faux moss balls to botanicals, the artificial plant industry has come leaps and bounds in just the past few years and many times even our pro decorators can’t tell what’s faux and what’s real.

9. A Console Table

A console table can mean any number of things, but, generally, we think of it as a narrow piece of furniture meant to be pushed against a wall.

Some are open completely, some have drawers, some are packed with storage and cabinets. These pieces are versatile, like our Capri Wood Console Table above, meaning they can be placed practically anywhere around your home.

They work beautifully in dining rooms, living rooms, under the television for storage, in an entry, in a hallway, and in offices too. They’re go-anywhere pieces that you’ll easily be able to work into your space if you ever move.

10. A Collection

Remember how we talked about drama? A furniture collection is something we think every home needs, and this can be anything your heart desires! Suzanne Kasler is the queen of the beautifully executed collection, and you may already have one without even realizing it.

It could be a set of thrifted blue and white vases, pottery from your favorite artist, a big grouping of art pieces, even your children’s artwork that you’ve framed. Instead of spreading treasured pieces across the house, bring them all together on one wall or tablecloth to create a striking focal point!

For more design inspiration, visit our Pinterest Boards, or check out a few of our other favorite home decorating posts below:

• How to Refresh Your Home for the New Year
• 7 Decluttering Lessons We Learned from Marie Kondo
• 10 Things Every Room Needs

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