By Sangeeta Kocharekar Interiors 01.04.2025

“Why I Use the ‘Touch It’ Rule When Buying Anything for My Apartment”

The simple rule that's changed the way I shop for homewares – and why it might transform your space, too.

The weekend between last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, I went away with friends. Naturally, we started talking about what we might buy while everything was discounted. My friend Margot had her eye on a quality, non-toxic frying pan.

She started browsing pans online. Though many were discounted, they were still a couple hundred dollars. By the end of the weekend, we’d convinced her to make the splurge and get the one she wanted. A few weeks later when I saw her, I asked her about the pan. “I love it,” she said immediately. She used it nearly every day.

It got me thinking: Why do we hesitate to spend on the items we use every single day – yet have no problem splurging on things we’ll only use a few times a year?

I recently came across an article about the Touch It Rule, coined by Suzi Siegel, author of Tiny New York, a book about living in small spaces. The rule suggests that if you touch an item in your home at least once a day, it’s worth investing in the best version possible.

For Siegel, objects that fall under the Touch It Rule include mattresses and bedding, office chairs, desk lamps, coffee makers, and even toilet seats. “Don’t settle for a plastic toilet seat – you deserve better,” she writes. For those who cook often, she suggests you buy the exact knife you want and, of course, the perfect frying pan.

“If you cheap out on any of these things, you’re cheating yourself,” she writes.

I’ve only recently subscribed to the rule – likely because I stopped sharing with flatmates and had to buy all my own furniture and homewares. Also because I quit drinking and so started spending a lot more time at home. Oh, and my TikTok For You Page is all stylish homes, so that’s probably played a part, too.

The rule resonated immediately – it articulated what I’d been thinking all along. But to expand on it, here are a few other things I recommend you think about when buying pieces for your home – based on my own experience and as someone who writes often about interiors.

Don’t fall into the Special Occasion Trap

If the answer to ‘Will I touch this item every day?’ is ‘no’, you might be falling into the Special Occasion Trap. It’s a term I made up for spending more on items you’ll only use for special occasions. In a home context, it might mean spending more on crystal champagne glasses, holiday party decorations, or a candle you only burn when you have guests.

While it’s great to want to show your space in the best light and make your guests feel welcome, remember you’re the one spending the most time in your home. Making yourself feel comfortable or, even better, pampered, in your space should be as important as wanting others to feel that way.

So, how else can you avoid the Special Occasion Trap? Treat every day like it’s worth celebrating. You only live once, so drink from that delicate glassware, burn the fancy candle, or set the table like you’re Marie Antoinette. Romanticise your life a little – you deserve it.

The Touch It Rule doesn’t have to mean expensive

My interpretation of the Touch It Rule is that the ‘best version’ of the item doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most expensive. With most appliances or some furniture and homewares, yes, it’s likely the most expensive version is the best. But in some cases, the best version could be one you have the most connection with.

It might be a salad bowl you picked up at a flea market in Venice. Or a blanket knitted by your grandmother. Or a bedside lamp you’ve had your eye on for years. Ideally, the ‘best version’ means the highest quality – or something with a joy-sparking memory attached. Even better if it’s both.

Think of the ‘cost per use’ argument

There’s a lot of talk in the fashion world about ‘capsule wardrobe’, investing in pieces you love and that are made well and pair well with other items. The thinking is that while you might be spending more on the items, they’ll last longer, so you’ll actually be saving money. Plus, you’ll end up donating fewer clothes, which is better for the planet.

The same is true when you buy homewares and furniture. When I moved into my first solo apartment, I could have bought a second-hand couch I thought was okay at the time, but would have maybe tired of and wanted to upgrade. I didn’t and got one I loved: a 2.5-seater white couch from MCM House. I don’t see myself replacing it for a long time.

My advice: when you’re buying for your home, try to think long-term. Is this the version I love the most? The version I think will last the longest? Is its design timeless enough that it’ll still look fresh and not dated in five years’ time?

Reflect on the bigger picture

Finally, I suggest you consider how an item contributes to the overall feeling of your home. Something you enjoy using every day can elevate your experience at home. You’ll feel more at ease, and so will your space. It’s not just about functionality – it’s about creating an environment that supports your well-being.

I see the Touch It Rule, in its essence, as encouraging a more mindful approach to curating our living spaces. It’s about recognising that the daily interactions we have with objects at home can significantly impact our quality of life. Investing in pieces we touch daily creates a home that, of course, reflects our style, but also, arguably more importantly, nurtures our well-being, one touch at a time.