Myth & Matter: Form v. Function
Imagine being pretty AND useful. What a concept!
It’s a common trope that if something is beautiful, then it must not be practical. Or that its sole purpose is to “look pretty.”
On the flipside, we’re often handed very functional items and told, “It’s not meant to be pretty. It’s meant to do a job.”
This is a common paradox: we choose based on function and too often leave the form behind, forgetting beauty and connection as a result. I think beauty is a function though, and our homes should be required to provide it.
Ditch the Script
Every so often, I’ll gander through big box stores and see 3, 4 or 6-piece matching furniture sets designed to take the guesswork out of filling a room. There’s not much story in these sets, and they’re usually beige, greige, grey or brown. It’s easy to see why people gravitate towards these unassuming living-room-in-a-box sets: They technically give you everything you think you need.
But I’d argue beauty and connection are core needs, and pre-fab rooms can limit our fullest expression.
While I can and do help clients style furniture sets like this, I’d like to make the case for ditching the big-box sets altogether and instead choosing pieces you connect with and find beautiful.
TLC
First of all, we care more deeply about things we have personal attachments to. Think about your most treasured possessions. You surely keep them clean and polished, display or store them with care, and take great pride in them. For many of us, we relegate this connection to things like collected art and heirlooms, but I’d argue that anything we bring into our homes should carry as much meaning.
Filling a room with functional pieces works, but selecting beautiful pieces of furniture with intention sets you up to take greater care of your space in the long run.
It’s Actually Romantic
Whether we think about it or not, we constantly dump our energy into our furniture. Choosing pieces that not only feel great to use but also look great to use too amplifies the energy of beauty and connection.
Think of it this way: the next time you have the longest day ever, imagine collapsing onto an old, rickety bed. You can’t remember where you got the frame, but it does the job. It’s nothing special. You’re just glad this day is over and you can sleep it off here.
Then, imagine the same long-ass day, but this time, you open the bedroom and lay your eyes on the bed of your dreams. It’s beautiful in all the ways you like and it’s fine-tuned to your comfort. You suddenly feel gratitude that you have this piece to hold you in this moment. You sink into the bed with a deep exhale, knowing this day is behind you and you’re held in beauty and comfort as you recharge your batteries.
Romanticizing your space amplifies the energy of gratitude and appreciation.
Cultivate a Story All Your Own
If you’re not sure how to furnish a space without buying coordinated sets, here are some strategies that work for me:
Create your own Recipe
Jot down what the functions of this room are.
Example: a family room to watch TV, read, hang with friends or let kids play.
Then notate what furniture items are needed to support these functions.
Example: seating, coffee table, tv console, storage.
Start with ONE thing you love.
Choose one piece that you absolutely love and let the rest of the room form around it — maybe that’s an inherited bookcase, a custom sofa or a thrifted armchair.
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to build a room in your imagination. It’s too overwhelming. Instead, find a piece that speaks to you and meets your functional needs, and put it in the room. Give yourself time to get used to it, appreciate it, and then ask, “What would look good or feel good with this next?”
Create a Space Case
Literally, take stock of the size of your space. You know if your room is small, medium-sized or large. Picking out furniture that fits the size of your space will do wonders for how it feels to walk in. Sometimes the box sets become awkward because they’re either too big and bulky for a small space, or they don’t adequately fill the room.
Selecting one piece at a time lets you adjust as you go to create balance and harmony in the room, which leads me into my next point:
You don’t have to fill the room overnight. You can start with one swap at a time, one piece at a time.
Going slowly helps us budget effectively and tune in to the true needs of the space and the family. Sometimes people find they’re much happier after they remove some items rather than adding or replacing piece for piece!
Take your time, really. A collected home is SO much more interesting than a big box copy/paste.
Your Home. Your Story
At the end of the day, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with utilizing readily available furniture sets. As I said before, they serve a function well, and for many people, this is what works best. I just wrote a piece about how to alchemize the foundations you already have, so you can check that out here. I’m such a fan of working with what you have and crafting a style all your own based on that.
Our furniture can be both beautiful and functional, and laying the foundations of your space is step 3 of my 7 step style method called The Foundry Formula. You can download the framework here and put it into practice in your own home. It will help you translate your vision to reality.
If you’d like a custom-designed formula for your space, contact me here, and we’ll work together to formulate a design plan just for you that you can follow it on your own timeline and within your own budget.
The story of your home is yours alone to tell, and it all starts at the foundation.
With Warmth & Wonder
Liz | Alchemy of Home
P.S.
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