Being Your Own Curator

In museums, a curator is responsible for selecting, arranging + caring for pieces in a collection. They decide what belongs together, what tells the right story + what should be preserved for the future. The role is thoughtful, deliberate + always evolving.

In many ways, a home deserves the same approach. You may not think of yourself as a curator, but if you choose what comes through your door, you already are one. The daily decisions, from where your books are kept to which chair is pulled forward when guests arrive, all contribute to how the space feels.

Collecting From Your Travels
Some of the most meaningful pieces in a home are those brought back from places you have visited. A hand carved table from a coastal market, a ceramic vase found in a small mountain town, a framed sketch from a street artist in a city square, each carries the memory of where you were + who you were with. These pieces do more than fill a space. They add layers of personal history, turning a room into a record of your experiences rather than just a display of décor.

Curating vs Copying
It is easy to look at someone else’s style + try to recreate it piece for piece. But true curation is not copy + paste. It is about editing. Keeping what adds meaning, removing what doesn’t + letting your taste develop naturally. The goal is not perfection on day one, but an authentic reflection over time.

Building Your Own Collection
A curator does not acquire everything at once. They wait for the right piece. Your home should follow the same rhythm. Allow your furniture, art + objects to gather slowly. Be willing to leave spaces open until you find something that feels like it belongs.

One day you will look around + see not just a house, but a story. A space that could not belong to anyone else because it has been built choice by choice, season by season. That is the beauty of being your own curator.

Karen Cairo
Saint + Souvenir founder + curator