Like never before, we are realizing the value of HOME. The personal touches, picture frames, decor, the smell....all play a role in setting the stage for the place that your family snuggles up in at night (and now all day everyday). But what is that stuff? And how can you prioritize? With so many retailers offering COVID-19 sales, I have been doing a lot of virtual consults for clients wanting to just add some finishing touches to their homes, but obviously on a budget. Good news, these things don't need to be expensive (hi Target!), however you do want to balance quality with some pieces. So today I'm breaking down the things I tend to splurge on, the things you can find at any price point as well as the things I just never really spend a lot of money on. Because let's be honest, we have to be saving some money for the immediate hair and nail salon visits when this is all over.
SOFAS + SECTIONALS
I'm sure you would all agree that these are not something you want to have to buy every 2 years. I don't necessarily agree with the, "you get what you pay for" mentality but you should definitely spend some time researching quality products. Either physically sit in them OR read one million reviews prior to purchasing. I recently purchased a Maiden Home sectional for my home and have been nothing but impressed. Quality without breaking the bank.
SIDE CHAIRS
There may be designers out there that don't agree with me on this one but side chairs are something I never like to spend a ton of money on. In my mind, side chairs are meant to be accents in a space, which means have some fun. If you pick something a bit more trendy in style and end up hating it - just replace it down the road! I also find that side chairs are something that don't get a ton of use. If I'm lounging in my home, I'm going to pick the sectional or big sofa every day, leaving the side chairs for guests or 'quick sits'. Because of this, I'm dumping these into the "fun design, less quality, lower budget" bucket. See below for some good neutral options!
COUNTER + BAR STOOLS
I'm going to be extremely vague on this one because I can go either way. If you are in an open concept kitchen where everyone hangs and eats at the island, spend some money on some awesome statement stools. Unlike side chairs, people sit in counter/bar stools A LOT and for long periods of time. Do I think you need to spend a ton of money to get some awesome stools? No. See below for some of my favs right now! I also hate heavy stools that are hard to quickly move in and out (meaning I have to use 2 hands). Typically the higher priced pieces are going to be made from higher quality materials such as solid wood or a steel frame (heavy). So make sure to check the weight before purchasing!
ACCENT TABLES
When working on a project, I usually find the coffee table first. This is typically the piece that anchors the rest of the furniture, what you interact with most and needs to be pretty functional in both size and shape. Given these points and durability (hello kids and non-coaster users) - I recommend spending some money on this piece. Then I start to sprinkle in side tables found from lower end sources such as Wayfair or even your local At Home stores. Oh and garage sales! You would be SHOCKED at what you can find! Design tip for accent tables? Don't go all match-ey match-ey! Mix round with square, wood with metal, traditional with modern. It adds dimension and character!
LIGHTING
When it comes to pendants or chandeliers I typically find something I'm obsessed with and is usually pretty expensive. Then I spend some time digging and can usually always find something similar for much less. Especially with chandeliers, they are high up so I tend to worry more about getting the scale right than anything!
HOWEVER - there really is nothing better than a good oversized table lamp. It is a great way to anchor some artwork, frame a large head board or make a statement in an entryway. Unfortunately, larger lamps are significantly more money. I have tried with all my might to find some good options from Wayfair or Target but the scale is just not there. Add lamps to the unexpected splurge bucket - you'll thank me later! Below are a few that I think can be mixed with any style and have more of that statement feel!
MIRRORS
I get it, glass is expensive. But a mirror for your home shouldn't be. Nobody is going to come into your home saying "wow, the quality of that glass is impressive!" Frankly, the mirror I use most often in projects is this guy from Target. I will say that the big box retailers typically don't carry larger scale mirrors. If you are needing something larger, reach out to a local glass shop! They can make any size mirror you want and at a fraction of the cost of many retailers. AND you don't have to have a panic attack worrying about shipping the bad boy.
ARTWORK
Who knew you had so much wall space that needed filled?! Family photos are a must for a home but they should be balanced out with some art as well. Art shows personality, color and can pull together a palette nicely if done properly. I'm not going to tell you how much to spend on art because it ranges SO much. Some people are art people while others would rather get 50% off at Hobby Lobby. There is no wrong answer as far as budget is concerned but here are some tips:
1. Pay attention to framing. A $50 canvas wrapped print from Hobby Lobby can look like $600 if you spend a little extra money framing it. A clean floater frame does wonders!
2. Don't be afraid to just buy the print! There are a ton of great sources for art prints, meaning that they ship you either the rolled up print that you then go get framed or a downloadable file that you get printed locally and then framed. Of course this takes a bit more time but the price points are fantastic. I love this one by an artist in Thailand! This is also a great solution for larger sizes as those can get extremely pricey on the retail side. Juniper Print Shop is a similar concept and has gorgeous stuff.
3. Buy the Frame TV immediately. Our prayers of a TV that looks like art has been answered and I'm convinced everyone will own one in two years. Nothing bothers me more than a beautifully designed space with a massive black TV on the wall. Thank you, Samsung....thank you.
-Cheers!