How to Design a Layered Home

I don’t know about you, but I want my home to feel magical. When I step over its threshold and under its roof, I want to be transported to a space that feels original and personal—a place that uniquely delights, inspires, and calms me. 

There are so, so many manufacturers today who design impeccable product lines. Their pieces are striking, gorgeous, and memorable. But filling your home strictly with new pieces can create a visual impression that is cohesive, yet flat. Handsome, yet mass produced. 

The feeling is akin to the blind date with the beautiful man who can't propel himself past the conversational landmarks of "Where are you from?" and "What do you do for a living?" On the surface it appears as though the date should be a prime success, but the conversation is 1-inch deep. No shade to our beautiful, fictional man, but surely there's more to the story.

What you want for your home (and perhaps for your love life, but there are others blogs for that)—what drives that magical threshold feeling—is an emotional connection created from a layered home.

If the term sounds foreign, settle in and let me introduce you. A "layered home" is a space designed with elements from a variety of sources that each contribute, in meaningful and distinct ways, to making your home more original, compelling, and comfortable. Consider the reliable onion metaphor. With each layer you peel back, the more you discover. In the same way, you want your home to be like (though never smell like) our trusty vegetable, always being surprised and delighted by its depth.

When you incorporate interior hand-me-downs, original objects, and heirloom pieces alongside new products, you let in a sincere sense of individuality and connection. All of a sudden generic spaces are sparked with deeply personal appeal.

There’s a recipe of new-and-old that you have to write for yourself. Made from 7 ingredients, this product potluck is different for everyone. Some people prefer deeply modern, clean spaces that are chock full of new products. Others would thrive in a thatcher’s cottage from the 1700s, decorated solely in inherited and found heirlooms. 

No matter which side of the spectrum you’re drawn to, what I’ve found is that a layered home—one that involves a touch or all of the ingredients—provides the richest sense of character and completeness. Each adds a new facet to the mix.

So as you’re designing your new home or revisiting a space, pause a moment before “Adding to Cart.” Where can you add in a dash of new and sprinkle of old? How can you layer natural elements with original works of art? With a little experimentation and creativity, you can create your own magical threshold moment.

7 Ingredients for a Layered Home

NEW PRODUCTS

New pieces are the pristine products. Fresh from the freight truck to your foyer, you likely purchased direct rom a retailer and are giving them their first go at life. I’m most drawn to new products where I need comfort and function (a sofa, a recliner) that can be hard—but not impossible—to get from other product types.

INHERITED PRODUCTS

Inherited pieces are passed down generation to generation. Your grandmother’s armoire, your grandfather’s library collection. These elements spark connection by giving us a sense of where we came from—a sensation of lineage and belonging. 

PERSONAL PRODUCTS

Personal items are those that are uniquely yours. Perhaps its photographs of your kids, a letter from a friend, a jewelry box from your husband. These items strike the most clear connection because they’re most uniquely linked to you. No one else would prize them as you do.

ORIGINAL PRODUCTS

Original pieces are those that are created by hand. These items provide a sense of novelty and exclusiveness. A table crafted by a carpenter. A painting by a local artist. A ceramic vase thrown on a local wheel. In a sea of a million mass produced products, these elements make your home feel distinct and unrepeatable.

HISTORICAL PRODUCTS

Ah, antiques! These historical discoveries are the gems that help our homes feel timeless and grounded. They’re packed with character and provide that similar jolt of exclusivity you have with original items. This discovery is now yours and yours alone—how lucky you chanced upon it.

REIMAGINED PRODUCTS

Reimagined products are old pieces that have been given fresh life. A reupholstered chair, a refinished desk, a reframed piece of art. All of these have a prior story, but you’ve added an addendum. 

NATURAL PRODUCTS

Last but certainly note least are the natural elements—the pieces that quite truly give our homes life. Trees, plants, blooming branches. Amidst the inanimate objects, they add a layer of growth and warmth.