Budget-friendly stores for fabulous home decor.
One of the things I’ve noticed as lockdown continues is that people are buying! And I mean really going for it. My Instagram feed is stuffed full of interior addicts showing off what seems to be daily deliveries of tiles, rugs, and cushions with pom-poms.
For me personally, the only thing I’ve bought since lockdown is a ridiculous amount of food and some clippers to tame the unofficial husband’s hair. I can understand why people are doing it though. The thrill of online shopping is the perfect substitute for the buzz we are missing from normal life. I’ve just replaced my buzz with more wine.
But all this has made me think about my own shopping habits. In our quest for a more sustainable world, I really admire those Lisa Dawson types that can create fabulous interiors from second-hand shops and recycling centres. But I was born without the eBay gene. I have zero chance of happening upon the perfect piece of furniture in a skip. However, I do love old pieces, particularly for furniture and rugs. So when I buy second-hand and vintage I’m the fool that has to pay an absolute fortune for it.
But when it comes to accessories I tend to buy new as this is where you can easily update the look of a room. In the last decade, loads of our favourite high-street fashion stores have tapped into the interiors market and bought out gorgeous home ranges.
So let’s take a look. Here are my favourite budget-friendly home decor stores.
H&M
For me, this store and their home collections win all the prizes. Their products are beautiful, good quality, and good value and they have a huge focus on sustainability. So what’s not to like? If you love the pared-back Scandi look then their range is likely to appeal. You’ll find lots of natural and tactile materials such as wood, linen and rattan. And the colour palettes are soft and muted.
Another thing I really love is that they don’t have pages and pages of products. Each category has a sensible amount of items that are all well-curated and beautifully photographed. I really struggle with sites like Wayfair that just have page after page of thousands of products that allegedly match your criteria. It makes me feel like my brain is turning mush.
HOME SENSE
This is my second home and go-to shop for cushions, baskets, throws and ceramics. Pre-lockdown I would visit at least once a week, that’s because their stock changes daily. So to get the really good stuff you’ve got to be a consistent shopper. For some, this is the joy of Homesense but it can also be really annoying. If you see a fabulous cushion in your friend’s home or on social media and they tell you they got it from Homesense, don’t even bother rushing out to try and get one for yourself. It will be long gone. And I wouldn’t recommend it for something you might need more of in the future like a set of crockery or towels.
But if you are shopping for a one-off item like a planter for your new fern or a vase for your mantelpiece then it’s a complete winner. The items are affordable and usually on trend so this is the place where you can afford to experiment and regularly update your look.
ZARA
The Zara Home website truly is a feast for the eyes and one of my absolute faves retailers at the moment. As you’d expect from a European fashion store the styling and photography are totally on point. The images are really inspiring. So even if you are not shopping for specific items it’s worth a visit just to get some creative vibes going.
The overall feel of their range right now is quite boho and laid back with a focus on organic and natural materials. Nearly all their furniture is wood, wicker or rattan.
If you want something a little more formal and classic then their Royal Collection may appeal. Its high glamour pieces styled in character properties with an art deco influence. It’s all very top-end hotel-like with lots of metal, reflective finishes and beautiful detailing. Even if it’s not your style it’s so pretty and worth a look.
DUNELM
Now this one is a bit of a mixed bag. You’re not going to immediately swoon when you hop onto their website. But if you are shopping for a specific piece of furniture and budget is tight, then it’s worth a punt. They generally focus on classic and traditional styles but occasionally you’ll find something a bit more unique and on trend. So whilst it’s not my go-to shop I would always check in here just in case.
IKEA
And finally, I have to give a shout-out to Ikea. They will always be a firm favourite of mine in the affordable decor arena. Of course, it goes without saying they offer Scandi-style furniture. It’s contemporary, fuss-free and will create a light and airy feel in your home. But I also love how they are getting on board with the maximalist trend. You see a lot more pattern and colour, particularly bright and darker palettes creating a look with more individuality and flair.
The trick with Ikea is to use just a few key pieces for furniture, to avoid the complete flat-pack home look. But with the accessories, you can go for it as much as you like. And if you are good with DIY or handy with a paint brush you can also customise your Ikea pieces. I’ve often added little details like oak feet to a bookshelf but there are some jaw dropping transformations out there. So have a Google of Ikea hacks if you haven’t already.
So assuming we survive this pandemic the next thing we have to survive is the mother of all recessions. This is according to Rishi Sunak, who I’m a bit in love with by the way. Even when he’s delivering bad news and telling us our economy is doomed I still find him weirdly reassuring and calming. So whatever our shopping habits are now, we no doubt will all have to get a little bit more savvy when it comes to furnishing, decorating and styling our homes. So maybe I will have to dig deep and discover that eBay gene after all.
Are you a savvy shopper? What are your favourite budget-friendly home decor stores?
Did you know my interior design packages are also budget-friendly? You can take a look here.
Stay safe, Sarah x
