I’ve always had a weakness for things I don’t particularly need. A pretty teapot, an old book with a lovely cover, a little trinket from an antique shop whose original purpose I couldn’t begin to guess. I’m especially fond of the last category, although I suspect it’s responsible for quite a few unnecessary purchases over the years.

I know we’re supposed to be practical about these things, and for the most part, I try to be. But I also think practicality can be terribly overrated.

Not everything we do has to save time, serve a purpose, or make our lives more efficient. Sometimes it’s perfectly reasonable to spend an afternoon baking something you could have bought at the bakery in five minutes. I also see no reason to save the good dishes for company when you’re the one who has to look at the ordinary ones every day. And why shouldn’t we set a beautiful table when we’re eating alone? I rather like the idea of treating ourselves as guests worth making an effort for.

Of course, I’m not suggesting we abandon all common sense. There are bills to pay, cupboards to organize, and probably a few things in our homes that really ought to be donated. But I would hate to become so practical that I stopped appreciating things simply because they’re lovely.

I think my favorite might be the idea of owning something whose purpose is entirely mysterious. Every home ought to have at least one object that makes a visitor ask, “What’s that for?” and gives its owner an opportunity to say, “I haven’t the faintest idea.”

I’m curious, do you have something in your home that serves absolutely no useful purpose, but that you’d never dream of getting rid of?

I’d love to know what it is.

Autumn Rosewood