When I was teaching, I didn’t have a lot of time to invest in our home. I wanted it to be pretty, but it took all of my extra time just to keep it clean and functional. Once I started staying home, all of that changed, and now, one of my favorite decorative brands is Rae Dunn.

To the onlooker, there is nothing amazing about the pieces in the line; they’re white, ceramic pieces with large words written on them. Sometimes they have color, sometimes they don’t. However, once you find that first beloved item, you find yourself searching for more and more until you have a serious problem (if you don’t believe me, just ask my best friend, my mom, or my grandma), If you are lucky enough to find them in one of the few stores that carry the line, the items are affordable. There are a ton of different ones you can choose from, and I’ve owned and sold a lot of them. Here are 5 Rae Dunn items you need as the weather cools down and you begin to enjoy Fall and Winter, as well as 5 Rae Dunn items you should skip.

5 Things You Need:

  1. Sweater Weather mug: with its red accent, the mug and its saying are perfect for both Fall and Winter.

2. Cozy blanket: the warm, Sherpa blanket is the perfect way to welcome cooler weather, and the gray color will match most interiors perfect.

3. Salt/Pepper stacker: There are a lot of things I could say about this piece. It’s cute, it’s small, easy to use while you’re cooking. You need it.

4. Home clock: it’s not much bigger than the mugs, but it’s absolutely adorable and functional as well. It’s my favorite piece the line has released so far.

5. Coffee/Tea/Sugar cellars: they are easy to use, and easy to keep clean. They also don’t take up much room on the counter, and the wood lids go well with multiple types of décor.

5 Things You Don’t Need:

  1. Mixing bowls: These are totally a no go for me. They’re so heavy, they scratch, and I just don’t feel like they can hold up to my Kitchenaid mixer. They’re basically only good for display, and then it becomes a hassle to take move them every time I want to use my mixer. Save yourself the hassle, and when you see them in the store and think, “oh those are so cute”, just keep walking.

2. Pillows: They’re cute but pricey, and when they’re displayed, they kind of become overkill.

3. Butter dish: There’s nothing necessarily negative about this piece, but if you’re like my family, you rarely use butter dishes, so this just becomes clutter. Plus, because of the style the lid is always clattering against the bottom, and I constantly worry it will break.

4. Teapot: So cute, and so worthless. It’s a gorgeous piece, but it’s large and takes up a lot of room. Save yourself the trouble and get a pretty, functional one instead.

5. Canisters: I had a set of these, and loved them in the beginning. Then, I realized they don’t seal well, the sizes don’t correspond or make any sense, and they’re hard to clean. They’re also difficult to use because they’re either too small (the “baby” canisters) or so large that you can’t get your hand all the way to the bottom to use them. They’re just not practical or functional. Get the cellars instead.

Do you collect Rae Dunn? If so, what pieces do you love, and which ones could you do without?