If Marie Kondo has taught us anything, it’s that we need to cut down on all the stuff. By the time we hit 30, we’re dragging along junk from high school, college and our first studio apartment. Once you start to get rid of the stuff you don’t want, you can start to splurge on special pieces that really take your space to the next level of grown-up, minimal luxury. That’s where Letitia Elizabeth and her lifestyle brand come in. Her brand celebrates all that is sustainable, luxurious, minimal and oh-so feminine in our home textiles. Each piece in her collection is handcrafted and sourced from fair trade and ethical factories. And Miss Elizabeth herself is giving us seven tips on how to achieve that minimalistic, luxurious life.
1. Curate. Letitia said that her holistic approach to decorating isn’t new-age granola. For her, it starts with taking a look at your space and thinking about what you want to get out of it, “because it really is a sacred place.” So, don’t just go buying up all things marked “clearance” without any rhyme or reason… even though it’s tempting, we know.
It’s a slow process, but it’s also a fun process. Letitia says: “Traveling to new places, enjoying a flea market or two on the weekend, finding out from friends or blogs about the newest emerging designers and brands, that’s an authentic way to decorate.” That’s the ideal way to curate your space at a pace that’s comfortable for your time and budget.
2. Minimalism will cut your stress. According to Letitia, “Minimalism allows you to appreciate what you do have versus occupying your brain with what you still lust after in life.” For Letitia, being able to live minimally is a luxury, because it’s freeing. She talks about this a lot on her blog Becoming Lola.
3. Keep your daily rituals. It’s one thing to do your spring purge and enjoy your minimal home for a few weeks, but it’s another thing to be able to enjoy it all year. For Letitia, it’s all about daily habits — making the bed, cleaning up her desk and keeping her closet organized. She’s inspired by the French term mis en place, which means “everything in its place.”
4. Know when to take the splurge. Let’s get real. Most of us simply can’t afford to drop cold hard cash on a full-home makeover of all things artisan, but it’s all about baby steps. Letitia said, “A true splurge is something local or handmade that tells a story that you can treasure for years to come.” That’s why with her collection, she aims to create “modern heirloom pieces.”
Some specific pieces that she says are worth the splurge? Hardcore kitchenware, a conversation-starter couch, lusciously soft bedding, a beautiful reclaimed wood coffee table, a magnificent bed frame and tons of pillows. Bedding is huge for Letitia. She says, “A good estate sale, DIY, custom or finding a designer you love is your best bet. Then let a DIY upholstered headboard be the icing on the cake.”
5. Know when to save. Want pretty pillows, but don’t wanna drop all that dough? Letitia suggests getting cheap inserts and covering them in the finest textiles. “My Letitia Elizabeth collection has the main line where pillows are included, but our diffusion line is just the pillow covers, so those on a budget can still enjoy our one-of-a-kind prints.”
Rugs can also do a lot for the style and comfort of a room. If you’re on a budget, Letitia suggests the always-faithful IKEA. Wanna dress up your walls? Try DIY sticky wallpaper.
6. Find the perfect prints. Letitia and her art director design all of their own prints. It all starts with a mood board. This season was inspired by the waves, sunsets and textures from Letitia’s recent trip to Miami. She said, “That sense of serenity and calm in stunning ocean cities, like everything is going to be okay — I want my pillows to instantly evoke that when you gaze at them.”
Letitia’s perfect print is “ethereal, refined boho, whimsical, playfully bright, feminine, versatile, serene with just a smidgen of glamour.” Start creating your own mood board or Pinterest board to discover what your perfect print might be.
7. Learn what’s really eco. This was a big step for Letitia as she started to build her textile design skills. She said it takes a ton of research, and she’s still learning: “I’ve realized the things we thought were healthier really aren’t when you look close enough.” For example, she’s learned to source local, organic cotton because it’s the only way to truly know how and where it was made. Even natural fabrics can be treated with unnatural chemicals, so she’s always on top of every facet of her company to make sure that they’re keeping things ethical all around. She said, “This is how I plan to keep my collection and brand sustainable for the long-term until the industry follows suit. Sometimes you just have to get scrappy and make your own industry!”
We can’t wait for more brands to jump on board with the Letitia Elizabeth ideology, but until then, we’re stocking up on luxurious textiles to deck out out couch and bed in ethical, sustainable design.
How do you live a life of minimal luxury? Share your secrets in the comments!
