Week 1: History of Home Decor Trends (1950–present)
RESEARCH QUESTION:
What makes someone click ‘Add to Cart’?
THE CENTRAL IDEA
When someone sees a beautiful decor image online, there are several different reactions:
“That’s pretty.”
↓
“I like that room.”
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“I could imagine that in my house.”
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“I want that particular product.”
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“I need to know where it’s from.”
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“I’ll buy it.”
Your job as a future curator is to understand what happens between each step.
The important distinction is:
A beautiful room creates inspiration. A well-presented product creates desire.
① Visual hierarchy
When you look at an image, your eye doesn’t process everything equally.
It tends to notice certain things first.
For example:
large sculptural lamp → coffee table → vase → book → small accessory
A strong image has an intentional visual hierarchy.
② Contrast
Contrast creates attention.
Examples:
- dark wood + cream upholstery
- rough stone + smooth ceramic
- oversized object + tiny object
- warm brown + cool blue
- matte + glossy
- simple background + sculptural object
Contrast makes something noticeable. And noticeable products are more likely to be explored.
③ Context
A product photographed by itself says:
“Here is a vase.”
The same vase sitting on a beautiful console says:
“This is what your home could look like.”
Context is enormously powerful in home decor because people aren’t really buying objects.
They’re buying an imagined version of their home.
④ Recognition / familiarity
People often gravitate toward things that feel somewhat familiar.
Completely unfamiliar:
“What even is that?”
Completely ordinary:
“I’ve seen that everywhere.”
But something that is: familiar + slightly distinctive can feel particularly desirable.
This is one reason certain decor styles become commercially powerful.
They give people enough familiarity to feel safe while still giving them something new.
⑤ Aspiration
People aren’t necessarily buying a $40 lamp because they desperately need illumination.
They’re buying a feeling.
Perhaps:
- sophisticated
- calm
- cozy
- elevated
- collected
- luxurious
- artistic
- organized
- effortless
So your job isn’t merely: “Find a nice lamp.”
It’s: “Find a lamp that communicates the feeling we’re selling.”
BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
You’ve browsed beautiful home decor online. You’ve added items to your cart. And then… you’ve left.
We all do it. Cart abandonment is around 70%—meaning 7 out of 10 shoppers leave without purchasing.
But here’s the thing: it’s not always about price. Sometimes, it’s about psychology. Here’s what research says makes people actually click “add to cart.”
1. The Image Must Be Good
Home decor is visual. If the photo is poor—bad lighting, weird angle, unclear scale—the sale is over before it starts. Shoppers need to see the product clearly and imagine it in their own space. Lifestyle images (products in real rooms) consistently outperform isolated shots on white backgrounds.
2. Reviews Are Everything
Would you buy a throw blanket with zero reviews? Probably not. Reviews and real customer photos reduce uncertainty. They tell you: “This is real. This is good. Someone like me bought this and loved it.” Products with 20+ reviews and real-life photos convert significantly better than those without.
3. Trust Signals Matter
Trust badges—secure checkout, free returns, money-back guarantees—reduce purchase anxiety. They say: “If you don’t love it, you’re not stuck.” For home decor, where you can’t touch or feel the product, this reassurance is crucial.
4. Friction Kills Sales
Every extra step in checkout loses buyers. Hidden shipping costs? Account creation? A long, complicated form? These are dealbreakers. A simple, transparent checkout process is one of the easiest ways to increase conversions.