Your first home deserves furniture that evolves with you—here’s what to look for

Your first home is an opportunity to figure out what furniture you actually want to live with, what will stand the test of time, and what simply doesn’t need to fill every corner but make every space feel complete. As House of Things expands to Mumbai after establishing itself in Udaipur, co-founder Astha Khetan shares her thoughts on buying fewer, better pieces, resisting trends, and creating a home that evolves with you. For Khetan, creating a beautiful home comes down to choosing pieces with character, craftsmanship, and staying power. She shares why first-time homeowners should buy thoughtfully, invest wisely, and let their homes tell their stories.

Harper's Bazaar India: What do first-time homeowners usually get wrong when buying objects for their first home?

Astha Khetan: I think the biggest mistake is trying to make a home feel “finished” too quickly. There’s a natural excitement when you’re putting together your first home, and it’s tempting to buy everything at once, to fill every corner, match everything, and have a complete look from day one. But a home becomes beautiful when it evolves with you and your lifestyle.

I always believe in buying fewer, more considered pieces and allowing the rest to come together over time. Choose objects that resonate with you individually and as a couple, rather than buying an entire room off a checklist. Your first home should tell your story, not look like a showroom.

HB: “Basic furniture” can look affordable at first. Where do you think homeowners actually end up compromising when they choose it?

AK: The compromise is rarely just about how a piece looks. It’s in the materials, craftsmanship, comfort and, ultimately, how it ages. Something that feels like a bargain today can often become the piece you want to replace in two or three years.

I’m a great believer in understanding what you’re paying for. A beautifully made piece, using honest materials and thoughtful craftsmanship, tends to acquire character with time rather than simply wear out. And when you’re setting up your first home together, there’s something lovely about choosing pieces that you hope will stay with you through different homes and different chapters of your life.

HB: What should a young homeowner look for in a piece of furniture that they’ll still love five or ten years from now?

AK: I would look beyond what is trending at the moment. For young homeowners, I’d suggest looking for good proportions, beautiful materials, craftsmanship and a sense of individual taste.

I also think there should be something emotionally resonant about a piece—a detail, a texture, a memory or simply a form that speaks to you. Trends come and go, but pieces with character have a way of staying relevant over time. And don’t underestimate comfort. The furniture you truly live with is the furniture you return to every day.

HB: How can someone make their first home feel thoughtfully designed without spending a fortune on every single piece?

AK: You absolutely don’t need to spend a fortune on everything. In fact, I think the most interesting homes are rarely the ones where every piece is expensive. It’s about knowing where to make your investments and where to be more experimental.

I would spend on grounding pieces such as a beautiful sofa, dining table and comfortable bed, and then bring personality in through lighting, textiles, art and objects. Mix old with new, handmade with contemporary, and investment pieces with things you’ve discovered on your travels or been gifted.

A home should have a little flair and imperfection. That’s what makes it feel curated rather than perfectly devised.

HB: What’s one piece of furniture you believe is worth investing in for a first home, and why?

AK: A dining table, without hesitation. It becomes such a foundation; it’s where you have your first meal as a couple, where friends and family gather, where birthdays are celebrated and where conversations stretch late into the night.

I would choose one with beautiful proportions and materials that will age gracefully, rather than something dictated by a particular trend. A good dining table can move with you through different homes and become part of your family’s history.

To me, that is the real luxury of investing in design: buying something today that has the potential to become tomorrow’s heirloom.

Lead image: Pexels

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