These 6 Purchases Will Last a Lifetime, According to Home Design Experts

The “Buy It for Life” movement (BIFL) emphasizes purchasing high-quality, durable products instead of cheaper products that wear out quickly and break easily, or become outdated due to changing style preferences. It’s the antithesis of fast fashion, and in home design, it means choosing functional and decorative items built to endure physically and aesthetically. 

“When we think ‘buy it for life,’ we’re focused on pieces that have enough stylistic and material longevity that they will withstand multiple iterations of your home and lifestyle,” says Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett, founders of Kobel + Co. 

At the core, it’s about quality over quantity and pushing consumers away from fast fashion, overconsumption, and cheap, disposable products. In the home, it embraces ideas like slow decorating, and opposes filling walls, shelves, and empty spaces with stuff. 

Benefits of Buying for Life 

“Cost-wise, buying a piece of furniture repeatedly is more expensive than spending the money once up front,” says Jarret Yoshida, interior designer and founder of Jarret Yoshida, Inc. The aesthetic factor is also simple: higher quality goods look better. Plus, pieces purchased with longevity in mind avoid trends and are more easily incorporated into many homes and styles, preventing the need to refresh a space that looks dated (again, saving money).  

Eco-consciousness and sustainability are foundational underpinnings of the BIFL concept. Reusing and reducing consumption can save money and spare waste; high-quality materials and manufacturers limit the environmental impact through production, lifetime, and disposal.

“With all the toxic chemicals ending up in our landfills and waters from production processes, our clients and the general public are increasingly aware that being green means a healthier world for them and the children they love,” Yoshida says.

A fourth factor resonates more personally: “There’s a real emotional reward for buying it for life,” Yoshida says. “We’re constantly tempted with beautiful things all day on the internet. Patiently waiting until you find exactly what you want in a way that satisfies you well beyond the moment–there’s nothing like it.”

6 Designer-Recommended Decor Items That Last a Lifetime

The idea of a lifelong purchase can be intimidating and seem too good to be true. We asked design pros what materials and products they recommend buying for life—here are six.

1. Seating

Interior designer Lindsey Putzier recommends investing in high-quality upholstered goods with sturdy frames like sofas, sectionals, and chairs made from kiln-dried wood frames and eight-way hand-tied springs. According to Putzier, these are the highest-quality constructions around and have been for a long time.

“These frames are exceptionally sturdy and honestly difficult to break,” Putzier says. “Solid wood furniture is designed to last since there are no layers to peel or crack over time. Compare that with a plywood and cardboard frame, and there’s no doubt why kiln-dried wood will last a lifetime.” 

As for the springs, the eight-way tie gives support and helps keep the cushion shape. “It’s much easier to replace a cushion as needed than it is to deal with a sagging sofa. The upholstery itself may wear out on these items, but the piece can withstand multiple rounds of reupholstery whenever needed,” Putzier says.

2. Dining Tables

“For our clients, dining tables are often the most expensive item,” Yoshida says. “But I always tell them that this piece will probably be the only multi-generational item you pass down to your kids. It is an item that you use nearly daily, so spend the money and get what you love.”

A dining table offers a surface that sees a lot of activity, but it can also be constructed to look good and withstand use for years. Yoshida recommends durable wood or stone rather than glass or a fragile finish like lacquer, which can show scratches. 

3. Wool Rugs

“When you’re looking for a rug, always get wool, whether it is merino, Nepalese, or regular old Australian sheep,” Yoshida says. “Wool has lanolin in it, which makes it hydrophobic and incredibly hard to stain.”

Yoshida says wool rugs have been the “go-to fiber for centuries.” And according to Putzier, when you compare them to the 5-10 year lifespan of most synthetic fibers, you’ll see why wool is a promising material to buy for life.

4. Case Goods

“Case goods, such as dining room buffets, hallway credenzas, or entryway tables, are all great examples of buy it for life items,” according to Robins and Bennett.

They identify three key factors for investment-worthy and timeless case goods: It should come from a quality craftsman or vendor, be made of classic materials like wood or stone, and have traditional lines.

“Not only will they stand the test of time from a functional perspective, but these are pieces that can be used over and over again through multiple iterations of your home and decor,” the interior designers claim.

5. Built-in Elements

Buy it for life isn’t limited to furniture and decorative items. Wellness design consultant Jamie Gold recommends keeping the perspective top of mind when choosing or replacing major built-in elements of the home, like cabinetry, countertops, and flooring.

“Design trends come and go, but kitchens and bathrooms should live on for decades, if not forever,” Gold says. “If you dislike a couch or dining table in the future, you can sell it, give it to a family member, or donate it to charity. It’s much harder (if not impossible) to do this with most built-in elements of a home.”

Choosing durable, non-toxic, and low-maintenance materials has the potential to improve your day-to-day life, and they ideally prevent the need (or desire) for renovations. 

6. Custom Window Treatments

Although we might typically think of soft furnishings as fairly disposable, Putzier says custom window treatments can be a BIFL item—and it doesn’t need to be trendy.

“Pick a fabric you love with colors in it that you have loved for a while. It doesn’t matter if it’s in style at the moment,” Putzier says. “Take the window treatments with you. A good custom workroom can remake them to fit your new windows, even if that means getting a little creative!”

What to Look for When Shopping for Long-Lasting Decor

Buying for life often requires more planning, patience, and money (up front). Here’s what the designers say you should know about shopping with longevity in mind. 

Prepare to Pay More 

“Keep in mind that higher quality items will be more expensive,” Putzier says. “Depending on the urgency of your needs, it’s often better to wait longer and save up money for the higher quality item than it is to waste money purchasing something low-quality that won’t last.”

When you’re working with a smaller budget, Putzier recommends thrift stores and online marketplaces. 

Investigate Secondhand Finds

It’s hard to feel confident in a secondhand purchase when you don’t know the maker or the product quality. Before you buy, Putzier says to see what you can find online about the items you’re interested in.

“Look for brand markings inside drawers on wood pieces and underneath seat cushions on upholstered items,” she says. “There are a lot of great vintage (and current) higher-end items out there. It might take a little more searching.”

Invest in Age 

“Don’t be afraid to start with a piece that’s already lived a little life! An antique that has already stood the test of time, both functionally and aesthetically, will undoubtedly continue to serve you for years to come,” Robins and Bennett say.

“Honestly, I really like steering our clients towards vintage items (under 100 years) and antique items (over 100 years),” Yoshida says. “If they have survived for 40 years or more and still look solid, they’re going to last the rest of your lifetime.”

And while age is a testament to resilience, it’s also a practical style choice. “Beyond just their durability, incorporating vintage and antique items into your home means that your overall scheme won’t look super dated 20 years from now,” Yoshida says.