Quote Of The Day By Reese Witherspoon: 'The First Thing I Figure Out When Furnishing A Room Is...'

Reese Witherspoon is a world-famous actress known for portraying several iconic characters, including Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde." She received an Oscar for best actress in 2006 for her role in "Walk the Line" and was nominated again in 2015 for her work in "Wild."

But Witherspoon doesn't only shine on the screen. She's the head of an influential book club called Reese's Book Club, which showcases books with female leads to more than 3 million readers. She's also built a production company responsible for several major women-led TV and movie hits, including "Big Little Lies" and, more recently, the critically acclaimed TV series "The Morning Show," in which she also acts. 

While building an empire, the mother of three has also found time to write several books, including a thriller, memoir, and children's books. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Witherspoon's early success, busy life, and Southern upbringing all make her a well-rounded celebrity with a relatable side. As such, she's able to share clever pieces of advice that apply to anyone, not just Hollywood superstars. And that's why Reese Witherspoon is today's quote of the day. 

The full quote reads: "Whenever I see lifestyle magazines where everything's so clean, I wonder, 'Where's all the junk?' The first thing I figure out when furnishing a room is where to put the junk. Two words: secret storage. The key ... is to hide everything. I'm talking about closets everywhere, drawers on everything, and ottomans that are really storage chests. Baskets for Lego. Shelves for games. Just please don't open any cabinets in my house." 

This quote comes from Reese Witherspoon's 2018 memoir and lifestyle book "Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits." In the book, the actress and entrepreneur opens up to readers about her Southern roots and how they infuse her lifestyle. It's a reflection on being a Southern woman, which her grandmother compared to "whiskey in a teapot": delicate, yet strong. While the book focuses on Witherspoon and her life, it can also inspire readers to bring a bit of that Southern flair into their own lives, no matter where they live. 

With this quote, Witherspoon explains that, despite being rich and famous, she's got mess to deal with too; she just chooses to use storage to keep it all concealed. So if you see Instagram photos or magazine shoots showcasing beautiful rooms without a single piece of junk, don't let it make you feel bad. Everyone has those things — they're just better hidden in some homes than others, and they're part of what makes a house a home.

Reese Witherspoon's quote is an apt reminder that real homes are meant to be lived in, unlike perfectly staged interiors. What Witherspoon fondly describes as "junk" are items that bring joy and fun to a family. It doesn't have to be Legos and games; it could be painting supplies, puzzles, books, or whatever you and your loved ones enjoy. Accumulating those things is inevitable, and you shouldn't aspire to erase them from your life, even if the mess is occasionally on display and not perfectly hidden.

Take a page out of Witherspoon's book and, when you design an interior, think about storage first. Instead of focusing on trendy furniture or fancy wall art, look for ways to conceal the junk so that your home is built for living in rather than just looking at. Witherspoon mentions using ottomans, drawers, cabinets, chests, baskets, and shelves. You can also add hidden storage solutions for anywhere in your home, whether it's a stool that can store blankets or a toy bin that fits under your bed. If you're on a budget, hide clutter and stay organized with a curtain on an open shelf. 

Tailor your storage solutions to your family. If you love arts and crafts, find a table that doubles as a workspace and storage for supplies. If you host board game nights, get a coffee table that opens into a chest. If you're learning to bake, add hidden cabinet storage to your kitchen to keep everything off the counters. Focusing on storage instead of trying to aggressively get rid of "junk" allows you to live more comfortably in your home. Everything you need will be within reach, but you won't feel overwhelmed by clutter.

• "Finding pleasure at home — whether in a family dinner or a book club or a backyard barbecue — can give us the strength to go out into the world and do incredible things." — from "Whiskey in a Teacup"
• "Life isn't about perfection. There is no rule book. Life has many different chapters, and every chapter deserves celebrating." — from "Whiskey in a Teacup"
• "I like beautiful things that are durable because I have three kids and three dogs. Life is messy. Really, really, really messy. But I like the mess. I think that's a Southern thing — recognizing that kids and animals are going to come tromping through spaces and it's important to plan for it." — from "Whiskey in a Teacup"
• "I don't think I realized [in my 20s] that no one else makes you whole. You have to take responsibility for your own happiness." — from a 2014 Glamour interview 
• "I think you start to realize there's a finite amount of time that you have to accomplish what you want to accomplish in this world and that worrying about other people's opinions of you is a waste of your precious time." — from a 2023 Harper's Bazaar interview