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This Ultra-Cool Decor Item Is Actually Hiding in Your Garage (You Won’t Look at Sports Gear the Same Again!)

Cullen Ormond
Cullen OrmondAssociate Home Editor at Apartment Therapy
I write house tours for Apartment Therapy, but my work can also be found on The Kitchn and Cubby. My favorite part of my job is interviewing people and seeing how their unique personalities are reflected in their spaces — whether it's a full home tour, a kids' room, or a super-cool kitchen. I started working in the home field as an editorial fellow at Dwell in 2019 and I've been hooked ever since. I’m passionate about sharing people’s beautiful and unique homes with the world.
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published Sep 14, 2024
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Living room with large windows and two tables.
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Credit: Erin Derby

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge sports person. Game days have never been something I gravitate towards, and I’ve never taken up loyalty with a team. But using sports-related gear as a chic home accessory? I never thought I’d say this, but sign me up. As Apartment Therapy’s Associate Home Editor, most of my days are spent looking at how other people are designing their homes — so when I notice a pattern, something lights up in my brain. 

If I had to be a sports person, I might choose tennis, as it’s arguably one of the most stylish physical activities. Lately my news feed has been dominated by the 2024 U.S. Open coverage, and I’ve loved seeing the athletes’ and spectators’ outfits. With the sport’s spotlight on fashion, it’s no surprise that people might want to include these stylish elements in their homes (just look at these tennis-core-inspired photo frames). 

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Credit: Erin Derby

So when I saw tennis balls displayed as decor items in not one but two Apartment Therapy House Tours, I was immediately intrigued. In product designer Mikei Huang’s maximalist Brooklyn apartment, there’s a reading nook with open shelving, and sitting center stage is a blue serving tray with a pyramid of pink tennis balls. 

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Credit: Erin Derby

Color is abundant in Lili Song’s eclectic New York City apartment, but it’s impossible to miss the bucket of bright yellow tennis balls sitting next to her workplace table. The open display makes you feel like you’re simultaneously looking at an art piece but also that a tennis match could begin at any second. 

Lili and Mikei weren’t the only people who used tennis balls as decor. As I was watching Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski’s Architectural Digest tour, I noticed that on one of the open shelves in his office rests a bucket of tennis balls among other objects of affection like medals, photographs, and books. 

This may or may not be a design trend on the rise, or it’s just me being hyper-aware of patterns in people’s homes. Whatever the case, it’s a choice that struck me as clever and chic — especially if you have a dog. Plus, truly anyone can achieve the look — all you need is a couple of tennis balls (and tennis balls might even help with your laundry, too).