Knick knacks, tchotchkes, brick-a-brack. Whatever term you use to define them, you know what they are and you know exactly where to find them at the thrift store. Knick knacks have traditionally gotten a bad rep for being "dust collectors", "clutter", or in some harsher cases, straight up "junk". To the average eye, these smaller, novelty decor pieces can feel mismatched or disjointed from the rest of your home. If you have a minimalist, Scandinavian style throughout your home, why then do you have a collection of ceramic cat figurines? What do vintage Pyrex mixing bowls have to do with a Modern Coastal kitchen design? 

In a world where we're constantly being fed images of perfectly styled homes, the beauty of knick knacks is that they often DON'T go with anything. They stand out in homes where furniture was possibly purchased as an identical set, or the paint color in a room picks up the colors in those throw pillows *just perfectly*, or the art on the walls was purchased from a big box retailer to tie the "theme" of the room together. Essentially, knick knacks go against our adult brain, which tells us that everything must be cohesive according to style. It's allowing us to have that inner child moment of saying, "I think this is cool, so I'm going to keep it and put it on display." 

So, what is the point that I'm trying to make here? It is my theory that these items are what truly make a home YOUR home. Knick knacks, or "smalls" as many resellers have started to refer to them, are little reflections of you. Despite their small stature, there is something that compels you to purchase them, almost like little pieces of art. We don't think too hard about them when we find them, we just instinctively pick them up based on a feeling of aesthetic pleasure or joy. 

Seeing these items throughout your own home brings a smile to your face and invites your guests to know a little bit more about you, possibly even prompting a conversation. Adding smalls to various rooms can also take a coffee table or bookshelf from a utilitarian piece of furniture to a defining corner of your home that feels cozy and welcoming. And, while they likely require some extra dusting, they will elevate your home to feel styled, collected, and comfortable. Just like your inner child always wanted.