Decorating a home or apartment is a fun project, but it's also daunting. Whether you're starting with a blank canvas or looking for a statement piece to upgrade an area, it can be hard to know where to start. That's where the internet can be your best — and worst — friend. Enter a few words into Google, and you'll open up pages and pages of every kind of bookend, end table, or table runner you can imagine. Now your search has gone from a treasure hunt to a needle-in-a-haystack hunt.
To avoid search-result overload, we've rounded up our favorite furniture and decor sites to take some of the headache out of home shopping. So kick back, relax, and click your way to a better apartment — without ever leaving your couch. Now that's living.
Ok, it may sound crazy to go shopping from a kid's website for a kid-free house, but hear us out. If you can look past the child-sized armchairs and toy bins, you'll find plenty of pieces that work at any age. Plus, a lot of the furniture and decor are priced a bit friendlier than similar stuff targeted at adults. Check out their lighting, rugs, and even bedroom furniture and bedding (it runs up to queen/full) for items that will be make your friends ask, "Where'd you find that?" (We won't tell)
Photo: Courtesy of Land Of Nod.
West Elm
A great place to hunt for reasonably priced (but well-made) furniture, West Elm regularly offers sales and promotions throughout the year to help you snag a dream item for less. It's also a great go-to for room accents or tabletop pieces — for you or for gifts. They also have regular collaborations with other companies and artisans, like Fish's Eddy, Caribbean Craft, and even Casper.
Photo: Courtesy of West Elm.
The oh-so boho retailer's home section is perfect for tiny spaces and apartments. From storage that's as pretty as it is functional to lightweight tables and chairs perfect for tiny corners, you'll find lots of innovative ways to stash your stuff. You'll also find amazing textiles, from wall hangings to duvet covers, that will give any room an eclectic, lived-in vibe.
Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters.
Crate & Barrel's younger, sleeker sister, CB2 is a go-to for affordable accent pieces as well as more serious investments, like couches and tables. While those bigger pieces might not hit Ikea-level pricing, you can find some mid-range options that will be with you for years to come.
Smaller goods, like pillows and occasional furniture, tend to be accessibly priced and come in a range of styles that can be a good way to update a space.
Photo: Courtesy of CB2.
Blame the lasting effects of Mad Men: The mid-century modern look isn't going anywhere soon. And we're not mad about it — the sleek shapes and retro silhouettes can make a sparsely decorated room look like minimalist cool instead of just depressing. But the perfect pieces to add to your collection can easily run into four figures and beyond. Enter AllModern, the sister site to Wayfair, where you can nab a Don Draper-approved piece for up to 55% off every day. We especially love the wide variety of couches available for under $500.
Photo: Courtesy of AllModern.
While it's not for the faint of heart, Craiglist can be a great place to shop for home decor — if you know exactly what you're looking for. Specific search terms can help winnow down the tons of results you'll get, and it can be a great way to score one-of-a-kind vintage pieces you won't see anywhere else.
If you're willing to play the long game, a number of apps and websites, like Craigs Alert, allow you to save searches for pieces you might be willing to wait for.
Photo: Getty Images.
Target has really stepped up its home decor game in recent years, meaning you can grab pieces that look way more luxe than they actually cost. Shopping online has its perks since a lot of Target's wares are web exclusives. Still, it can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to find the perfect piece just through search. We recommend checking out some of our favorite collections, like Nate Berkus or Threshold, as well as keeping an eye out for some of Target's amazing collaborations, like the seasonal releases from Oh Joy!
Photo: Courtesy of Target.
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