Quote Of The Day By Cher 'I Always Wanted An Apartment That Was...'

Cher is most well-known as an icon in the music and film industries, but she's always been a bit of a homebody, too. Born as Cherilyn Sarkisian, things weren't always so star-studded for the goddess of pop. Her mother frequently struggled with financial issues, and her father was far from stable — he was an avid gambler and even dropped Cher off at an orphanage when she was a young child. Her mother was able to retrieve her, thankfully, and promptly filed for divorce. 

Her home life certainly wasn't glamorous, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams. When she was just 16, she made her way to Los Angeles with hopes of making it big in entertainment. Make it big she did. After being hired as a housekeeper by Sonny Bono, she honed her talents, signing backup on his tracks. The two eventually evolved into an iconic duo, developing "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" as a way to bolster their careers. It was a hit, but the pair eventually split, leaving Cher to develop her own solo career.

Cher's list of accomplishments is long-ranging and expansive. She became a well-respected actor, a chart-topping pop musician, a passionate philanthropist, and a fashion icon, cementing her place in the entertainment industry for decades. 

It's certainly safe to say Cher succeeded because of her artistic talents and drive, but much of her long-lasting appeal lies in her inspirational story, bold personality, and style. That's why she's the source of House Digest's quote of the day.

Cher's full quote reads: "I always wanted an apartment that was one big bedroom, because that's really where I live, starting from the days when Sonny and I could only afford a bedroom."

This story comes from a 2010 Architectural Digest tour of the pop star's Los Angeles high-rise, revisited nearly 16 years later for her 80th birthday. Her home isn't quite as glitzy as you might expect from a star so frequently outfitted in sequined and boundary-pushing outfits, but it is impeccably styled. It's clear that her home is a sophisticated oasis away from the chaos of her life in entertainment — ornate wood furniture, lush neutral fabrics, and statues of Indian deities create an overall impression that's nothing short of zen. In the interview, she details her design inspirations, decision-making process, and routines in the space, and the overarching theme is relaxation and luxury.

Cher's quote can act as a reminder that, even years after making it big, it's important to stay true to your own wants, needs, and desires when designing a space. Regardless of your outward-facing persona, your space is yours, and it should reflect what you're seeking in your life.

Cher's quote is just an anecdote on the surface. It expands a bit more on her early days in Los Angeles and the struggles she faced while she and Sonny Bono were building their names, but it reveals a deeper truth, too. Our experiences stay with us and shape what we need in our lives, and one of the most revealing places where these desires make themselves apparent is in how we decorate our spaces.

During Cher's upbringing and early career, chaos, both positive and negative, abounded, and for quite a while, her financial situation was far from what it is today. It makes sense that she would work to create a luxe, relaxing living space once she was able to. Her decision to embrace simple colors, spiritual iconography, and cozy furniture pieces highlights this. As Cher puts it in the Architectural Digest tour, "[M]y homes, and now this among them, have become so very important. In a word, they are my sanctuaries."

While few of us have been tasked with decorating a massive luxury high-rise, we can all apply Cher's advice to our own spaces. Figuring out what you need your home to provide for you might require a bit of soul-searching, but try to think about what you're missing in your life before committing to a design. Does your busy work schedule create a demand for respite after long hours? Are you looking for trendy, whimsical accents to brighten up your daily routine? Your home can become whatever you need it to be, and design is the first step in that process.

• "You have to know your limitations and then either rise above them or make peace with the fact that you're never going to." — from "Cher: The Memoir"
• "My mom said to me, 'You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man.' And I said, 'Mom, I am a rich man.'" — from a 1996 Jane Pauley interview
• "I mean that I don't usually quit. I have to be crawling on the ground — and even then, I'll crawl on the ground and keep going. Because it's just who I am." — from a 2024 Oprah interview
• "I think I am a product of my mother's sensibilities and my mother's values. There has been lots of battling and lots of love and it's never an easy road for us. But in the deepest recesses, I do have my mother's values." — from a 2013 Sydney Morning Herald interview
• "I don't know where people go to get that rule, 'Thou shalt be one thing and one thing only for thy entire life.'" — from "Cher: The Memoir"