Three questions to ask before buying any home gadget

We get asked constantly: is X worth it? Usually the honest answer is depends on your home, which is unsatisfying but true. So here is our actual decision framework.

Three questions before buying any gadget

1) Will I still use this in 90 days, or is it solving a one-time problem? 2) Does it replace three single-purpose items, or add a fourth? 3) If it breaks in year two, will I be annoyed enough to fix it, or relieved to toss it?

The 90-day rule

Most clutter in a home was bought with good intentions and used twice. If you cannot picture using something in three months, it is decor, not a tool. Decor is fine — just be honest about the category.

Random fact

The average household contains over 300,000 individual items. Most friction comes not from owning too much, but from poor retrieval — not knowing where things live. Fewer, well-placed things almost always feel calmer than more storage.