If there’s one thing we’re seeing an awful lot of during the global pandemic, it’s the inside of our houses. That being the case, I consider it my duty to share my thoughts on house decor.

When I first see the inside of a friend’s house, I immediately notice their decorating choices before anything else. I have found that there are two types of people: those who fill their house with generic objects they found at Pier 1 and those who add to their space with personal items. Maybe it’s not my place to judge, but houses filled with items that have a story are far superior to houses out of a Pottery Barn Teen catalogue.

Simply put, houses with generic decor are boring. What does a $12 decorative plate from Target tell me about the inhabitants of the house? Not much, other than the fact that they lack both $12 and taste. Why would anyone buy a random plate to put on their wall? What angle are you going for? Are you feigning some kind of interest in ceramics? And what exactly can I deduce from a wooden heart that says “Live, Laugh, Love”? Nothing beyond the fact that you purchased the most generic “feel good” wall hanging you could find. There’s a scene in The Great Gatsby where a drunk old man notes that Gatsby has thousands of books in his library, but none of the pages have been cut. This shows that Gatsby has merely purchased the books for show, not because he is personally attached to the books or has any intention of reading them. This resonates deeply with the feelings I experience when I see meaningless nonsense strewn on some people’s walls.

On the other hand, when I enter a house stuffed with personal items, I can immediately feel the character of the family occupying the home. Let’s assume I see more ceramics, such as a tea set on display in a cupboard. If I ask about it, someone may tell me that it belonged to their Finnish grandmother and they keep it to hold on to her memory. Now, that’s interesting!

“But Emma! I have no access to family mementos!” Not a problem! You don’t need family heirlooms to give your home some spice. Maybe you have original artwork or antiques that you found at shops. Even though these items have only just entered your life, they have a past that’s more interesting than being mass produced in China. Seeing artwork in my own house makes me happy because I know that it is the product of artistic inspiration rather than a generic wall print that I could find in a hotel room.

“But Emma! How am I supposed to afford expensive antiques or works of art?” Still not a problem! There are MANY ways to obtain interesting decorations. Even if you’re not that talented, hanging up a childhood drawing looks put together if you add a frame. Plus, it reminds you of when times were simpler (when there wasn’t a global pandemic). Many random mementos from past experiences look good when hung up, whether that be a map of Paris or your NHS certificate. One of my personal favorites is simply collecting wildflowers from ditches and putting them in a vase I found at a garage sale.

In the end, who am I to say what you put in your house? It is true that generic products are often much more accessible and cheaper. My only hope is that when I enter your home, I can detect a hint of personality in what I see.