The ‘Buy It for Life’ Movement Focuses on Products That Literally Last a Lifetime—Here’s How to Try It Out Yourself

We all love a good home decorating trend, but swapping out sofas or artwork on the regular not only gets super expensive—it’s also pretty bad for the planet. So enter the latest trend in home design: the “Buy It For Life” movement. It aims to do the same thing that the capsule wardrobe does—encourage you to invest in classic, quality pieces that’ll stand the test of time and still grace your life decades from now.

But how do you strategize your home purchases so that you get things that you’ll love for decades to come? Try these tips to help you assess the next things you purchase—so you’ll get something that’s built to last.

Look for Intriguing Design

You might be thinking “buy it for life” means picking very basic pieces that’ll fade into the background—but it just means picking home furnishings that really stand out to you and will be beautiful for years to come. “Pieces with unique design details that highlight the handcrafted attention to detail are our favorites,” says Liz Goldberg, founder of Carolyn Leona Design. “Think soft corners, spindle legs, and insert doors and drawers with beaded fronts and great quality metal hardware.” 

Take a Close Look at the Construction

There are a lot of different ways that furniture is built—and some construction methods are more likely to withstand regular use than others. For wood furniture, look for dovetail or mortise-and-joint connections, which are stronger and more likely to last than screws, staples, or dowels, says Martina Servos, founder of Lemon Grass Interior Architecture.

In upholstered furniture, you may want to consider leather or a high-performance fabric that’ll be more durable, and look for high-quality foam or down-wrapped inserts that’ll last. “The difference in eight-way hand-tied upholstery and handmade case goods versus mall-quality furniture is day and night,” Goldberg says.

Choose Materials Wisely

Many people following the built-to-last ethos swing toward choosing furniture made of solid wood. “Solid wood furniture is a great investment piece as it’s built to last and has easy maintenance,” Goldberg says. “A natural wood finish in a room brings it to life.” Hardwoods like oak, maple, and walnut tend to be stronger, and less likely to warp and wear than softer woods.

But you don’t have to stick only with solid wood for a built-to-last piece of furniture. Medium density fiberboard (MDF) may have gotten a bit of a bad name, but there are applications where it makes sense and can last as long as solid wood furniture, Servos says. “Personally I like working with MDF—it does not warp, the surface is smooth and it is durable. Given the issue of diminishing forests, MDF makes perfect sense to me.”

Consider Vintage Items

You’ve probably heard that old saying, “they don’t make it like they used to,” and that definitely applies to home furnishings. “A vintage item is worth the purchase, as quality was typically A-plus,” Goldberg says.

Pieces you’ll find at flea markets, secondhand stores, antiques dealers—and in your grandmother’s house—are often made of solid wood and well-constructed. “Older furniture often is well made, and the craftsmanship is worth holding on to—even if they need a little repair or TLC,” Servos says.

Don’t Worry About Matching All the Furnishings in a Room

Those all-in-one furniture sets have been going out of vogue for a bit—and the buy-it-for-life movement embraces choosing pieces as you need them, and choosing items that you love and that give your home a unique look. “Furniture should not all feel the same—a room needs a quirky element and details that are unique to make it come to life,” Goldberg says. “Each space should reflect the homeowners. Adding pieces that remind them of their childhood home or a special piece they saw on a vacation tells their story.”

Take Good Care of Your Furniture

One of the big secrets to longevity? Taking good care of your furniture. Dust furniture regularly, and use coasters so you don’t end up with rings or water damage. Upholstered furniture needs regular vacuuming and fast response when stains inevitably happen.

Be Ready to Restore

Even the highest quality furniture may need a facelift after years of use—especially upholstered items like sofas and chairs. Reupholstering will be important when the fabric or the cushions start to be a bit worse for the wear—and it allows you to give your quality pieces another chance to shine. “If it’s a chair or a sofa, I encourage my clients to look for a cool new fabric that reflects their taste,” Servos says. “That way we sync an older item with today’s style language.”

For wood furniture like dressers or consoles, you may only need a polish and a new set of hardware (or even, an updated finish on the hardware) to give a classic piece a modern refresh.

Choose What You Love, Not What’s in Vogue

Trends may come and go—and seem to do that faster and faster. But from the furniture to the artwork and accessories, it pays to choose things that you love and that are personal to you. You’ll probably still love that artwork that reminds you of your favorite vacation 20 years from now—but a print you picked off a website may not have that same connection for you.

Find Fresh Ways to Mix it up

Choosing to “buy it for life” doesn’t mean that your home design is set in stone for the next 50 years. You can refresh smaller items like throw pillow covers, candles, flowers, and other accessories seasonally or as your mood changes to give your home a fresh new look—without going on a spending spree.