I consider myself an entry-level Swiftie, but Taylor meant it so much when she sang, “This is our house, we make the rules.” Setting the rules for my own house was hands-down the best part of living alone in my twenties with no roommates or significant other. I could leave a dish or two in the sink if I felt like it, or decide to paint the walls at 11pm on a whim, but best of all, I could surround myself with only things that made me happy.
When we first moved in, we were overwhelmed with all the “practical” things we needed for daily life (forks, plungers, trash cans, etc.) and it seemed to eat up our entire decor budget. We quickly realized that if we were going to turn this place into our dream home, we needed to find a way to blend style and function.
It all made sense to me when I was in the aisles of a thrift store and I was weighing my two options: a set of standard, boring glasses or four of the most beautiful amber coupes I'd ever seen. Of course, some could argue that the boring glasses were the smarter choice, but not if you decided to buy the coupes for everyday use and not just special occasions.
So I established house rule number one: I would only drink out of wine glasses in my apartment. I'll explain why this simple exchange brings me so much joy every day and actually makes a lot of sense.
You can display them all.
I brought the coupe glasses home with me and even used them as kitchen décor during the first year it took to furnish my apartment. (Pro tip: if you're low on cabinet space or live in a tiny rented home like me, you can display the glasses on an open shelf or on top of a cabinet for stylish and practical storage.) What's even more fun is how easily you can change up the feel of your kitchen by swapping in some of your favorite new glassware.
It makes the everyday feel special.
Drinking water from a wine glass may seem silly at first, but even small tasks can make it feel a little more special. Preparing a meal for one can sometimes seem like more effort than it's worth, but if you can make dinner a fine-dining experience, eating at home will become a pleasure, not a chore.
Plus, water just tastes better in a beautiful container, and you're more likely to stay hydrated drinking from a specialty glassware rather than a heavy, cumbersome, and expensive water bottle (sorry, tumbler lovers!).
Saving money is easy.
I love thrifting and antique shopping, so most of my glassware is second hand – a great way to build a unique and sustainable collection. If you're looking for great glassware to buy online, here are some of my favorites:
Great for starting a conversation.
If you're looking for an easy way to impress guests, I believe my glassware collection is one of the first things they notice when they come over. A friend once told me my apartment “looks like a castle” because we always “drank out of goblets.” That comment made me laugh.
Another friend, knowing how much I love collecting constellation glassware, gifted me a special set of constellation glassware, each one holding a story and a memory that brings me joy every time I drink from them.
