When you want medical advice, you go to a doctor. A haircut? Ask a hairstylist. And when you’re figuring out what to buy for your home – you ask a designer.
At Homes & Gardens, we’re constantly asking interior designers what to buy – whether it’s a trend call, a hosting essential, or a last-minute gift. But with 2025 already halfway done (and their regrets already tallied), we flipped the question: what’s the best thing you’ve bought for your home this year?
Below, six designers spill the purchases they still think about. Because it’s one thing to buy something for your home – and another thing entirely to love it. Here’s what they’d buy again in a heartbeat.
1. Custom radiator cover
Radiators are warm, loud, and often the ugliest thing in the room. But instead of pretending they aren’t there, Studio Hollond founder Phoebe Hollond decided to give hers a proper facelift. In her kitchen, she installed custom radiator covers, transforming what was once an eyesore into a moment.
‘They’ve transformed my life,’ she says. Phoebe sketched the sillhouette herself, upholstered the wooden fronts in horsehair, and topped it all off with a built-in shelf. 'It’s such a nice way to incorporate extra decorative elements like flowers and candles.’
Phoebe’s cover might be custom, but you don’t need to be a designer (or have a designer budget) to pull it off. Etsy is full of small makers crafting decorative radiator covers inspired by antique interiors. Just measure your radiator and order a made-to-fit style that blends right in. Top it with a vase, a tiny framed portrait, or a sculptural candle to make it feel like it was always meant to be there.
2. Novelty glassware
Your everyday drinks – juice, water, or something stronger – deserve more personality. Eva Amurri, actress, content creator, and star of The Westport Project, gave her daily hydration a makeover in 2025 with Anthropologie’s aptly named ‘Icon’ glasses.
‘These juice glasses were an impulse purchase but have turned out to be my favorite drinking glass in my kitchen now!’ she says. ‘There are dozens of motifs to choose from, and I find they’re the perfect size for an ice cold margarita as well!’
Choose your icon – pretzels, pickleball, cherries, horseshoes, or our favorite, bows. With so many designs to choose from, you might as well get one for every mood.
3. Burlwood nightstand
The beauty of burlwood is that you never quite know what you’re going to get. Technically a deformity in the wood grain, it brings a characterful, retro-style warmth to any space. Franky, founder and CEO of Jolie, choose the bedroom with the Warwick Bedside Table in Mappa Burl from Soho Home.
‘A soft shade of wood can bring a real sense of grounding to a bedroom,’ she notes. ‘The burl veneer sheets are matched up to mirror their exact position in the tree, and I find this symmetry to be an unassuming but lovely detail!’
Franky’s exact nightstand is currently out of stock, but we tracked down a similar two–drawer style with vintage flair at Walmart that looks far more expensive than it is. Style it with something sleek – a sculptural table lamp, for instance – and don’t be afraid to buy a pair. Burlwood always looks better in good company.
4. Uplifting wallpaper
'Have you ever fallen in love with a wallpaper?’ asks Eva Amurri. ‘I did when I spotted this Hygge & West beauty, and since I put it in my mudroom, it still sparks joy every day.’
Instead of blanketing the whole room, Eva used it as a pop behind cubby shelves, adding personality to a practical space without overwhelming it.
This is Eva’s exact wallpaper. It comes in several colorways (we love Midnight and Bellini), but she chose Spruce – a warm, nature-inspired neutral that brightens up even the most utilitarian corners.
5. Elevated umbrella stand
Top of the list of things we should probably all own by now: an umbrella stand. A sculptural perch for your shield as you come and go – not just practical, but potentially a standout moment in your entryway.
Jacu Strauss, Creative Director at Lore Group, swears by his. ‘Honestly don’t know how I ever lived without one,’ he says of the Milo Umbrella Stand by Seletti, which replicates a Grecian bust in full sculptural glory.
Opt for a stand that doubles as decor – after all, it’s going in your entryway and will be seen daily. This sturdy stoneware pick from Target is elevated as ever and can moonlight as a vase once rainy season’s over.
6. Sculptural side table
‘One of the best pieces I’ve bought recently was this little side table from Charles Orchard,’ says Phoebe Hollond of another standout 2025 buy. It lends a litte retro-resort-circa-1960 – and according to her, it’s just as functional as it is fabulous. ‘It’s not only beautiful and wonderful to have in the bathroom, it’s practical,’ she adds.
With faux-painted bamboo legs and a woven cane bottom, the piece sits neatly beside her bathtub, holding everything from shampoos to matchsticks. ‘It’s the perfect size and looks fab,’ Phoebe says. ‘I use it for soap, conditioners, and lighting a candle when I soak in the bath.’
Every detail on this Charles Orchard design deserves a moment. Phoebe mentioned the cane shelf and rattan legs (which come in several colors), but don’t miss the tabletop – it’s waved to mimic a cloud.
7. Animal print rug
We’ve been loving animal print rugs this year to subvert ordinary interiors – and clearly, we’re not the only ones. One of Franky Rousell’s favorite home buys of 2025 was just that. The founder and CEO of Jolie went feline – specifically, tiger.
‘The Nordic Knots Tigris Rug in Beige/Brown has been a great addition to my home,’ she says. ‘I love it because it’s neutral, but still adds interesting layering and depth to the space.’
Add a ferocious feel to your living room, bedroom, or entryway with this hand–knotted wool rug from Nordic Knots (the one you’ve probably already saved on Instagram).
8. Adaptable storage furniture
Large furniture is a serious commitment – financially and spatially – so it should grow with you, not against you. ‘When furnishing my children’s bedrooms, I always try to pick furniture that can stick with them as they grow up, and eventually move out on their own (sob!),’ says designer Eva Amurri.
‘I found this gorgeous, blonde wood piece for my daughter’s room,’ she adds of the Leanne Ford–designed bookcase for Crate & Barrel. ‘I love how it fits the vibes perfectly for now or later.’
No one grows out of good design. This sculptural piece proves it with an exaggerated arc and airy open shelving that’s adjustable, adaptable, and built to last.
9. Tulipiere
A regular vase is fine – but it’s probably not making the best things of 2025 list. A tulipiere, though? That’s centerpiece material, according to Lore Group’s Jacu Strauss.
‘I also bought a huge tulipiere by Norman Trapman for Pols Potten,’ he says of the sculptural piece designed to resemble a coral reef. ‘I’ve used it for projects, and now I finally have one myself – it’s a great centerpiece.’
Tulipieres aren’t just for tulips – any cut bloom will do – and they’re definitely not just for spring. This one, shaped like a giant artichoke, reads more high-fashion objet than floral vase. Add a few stems (or don’t – it holds its own), and give this centuries-old silhouette the airtime it deserves, reimagined for now.
10. Leather sling chair
Theresa Ory, principal and founder of Theresa Ory Interiors, is leaning into low-slung leather this year – not because she was searching for it, but because it found her.
‘I came across a fabulous vintage Katavolos leather sling chair while looking for a desk chair for a client on Chairish,’ says Theresa. ‘Thankfully, William Katavolos designed the style both as a desk chair and as a swivel.’
In the end, ‘My client got her chair, and I got to enjoy mine yesterday afternoon.’ A win–win.
Similar William Katavolos originals typically go for $5–6k. But the look lives on: this handcrafted version on Etsy mirrors the architectural spirit, with a sculptural iron frame and rich leather sling. The perfect industrial-cool foil to edge up a trad interior.
11. Striped table lamps
'This year, I brought in a few pieces that made me fall in love with my house all over again,’ shares Jade Joyner, principal designer at Metal + Petal, an Athens-based interior firm. ‘Top of the list: a pair of striped ceramic lamps from Visual Comfort.'
She loves them for their unexpected punch, which is graphic and architectural all at once. ‘They live in my library, and they glow like sculpture at night,’ she muses.
Jade’s exact pair is no longer available – but when the runner-up looks this good, who’s complaining? This Wayfair find pairs bold, curved red stripes with a unique papier mache construction, giving confused corners major personality.
We might not all be styling sets for magazine shoots, but we’ve all fluffed a cushion or two before posting. If you’re looking to get your space camera-ready in a pinch, here are 10 things interior stylists always bring to shoots.
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