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Shopping Style

100909_style01.jpgWhen it comes to shopping for home decor, furniture and home design items, many of us prefer to go with a partner. We want to secure that "second opinion" or necessary "talking you off the crazy train" when it comes to plunking down cash for home accents. On the flip side,

 
 

a lot of people prefer to shop solo, enjoying the freedom of snapping up a great decor piece without "running it by someone else". It's interesting to hear how people prefer to shop for their home since it's both an emotional and practical experience. We want to know what you all prefer? Do you grab your best friend for decor excursions or enjoy spending time on your own while hunting for goods?

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inspiration, design, shopping, buying furniture, emotional design

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Comments (24)

Is that a Weego Home in Santa Monica?

posted by Bridget212323 on October 9th 2009 at 4:33pm
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I have finally come to grips with the fact that I *HATE* shopping with other people. Somehow you get this image in your head of a happy Mother/Daughter or group of girlfriends laughing and scooping up bargains. In the end though, what I find is that you end up buying things you don't really love -- or passing up pieces that you do, and you are either rushed through somewhere you want to go or end up spending an hour in a shop you hate.

Actually, I was about to put an invite out on Twitter to see if anyone wanted to come explore a new store with me after work -- when I realized that I'd just rather meet them afterwards for a movie or a pedi.

posted by mlleErica on October 9th 2009 at 4:38pm
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I don't like shopping with other people. Too many opinions can be paralyzing. And my friends don't necessarily have the same tastes, so I'm kind of not interested in their opinion. That sounds bad. :) Love you guys!

I have a few exceptions...my husband and my sister in law. My hubby just gets me and actually pushes my creative envelope in a good way and my sister in law is often on the same page and if she doesn't get it, she can still appreciate it from my perspective.

http://www.modernests.com

posted by MODERnestS on October 9th 2009 at 4:42pm
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I agree with the above, plus I'm pretty sure most people find me annoying to shop with. I do laps around the store, touching everything, pick things up, put them down, all the while thinking thinking thinking.... and then I might not leave with anything. I prefer solo missions where there's no pressure.

posted by canadian in swedish clothing on October 9th 2009 at 4:49pm
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I hate shopping with other people. Too limiting. Invariably, they will linger when I want to hurry through, or they will get antsy while I'm dawdling. It just doesn't work.

posted by slowdown on October 9th 2009 at 4:50pm
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I avoid shopping at retail stores for home accessories at all costs: its far more difficult to control the amount of money flying out the door while in "spending mode" for stuff that I don't really need, and I don't want the same things in my home as everyone else in town...

Sticking to online shopping & eBay helps control my spending as well as freeing up my spare time for more pleasurable pursuits.

posted by bepsf on October 9th 2009 at 4:54pm
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I only have one friend I can shop with for home decor/furniture. We have very different tastes, but the same philosophy of buying quality pieces one by one. But in general, I prefer shopping alone so I can browse at my own (usually slow) pace.

posted by palindrome on October 9th 2009 at 4:58pm
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I don't often intentionally shop for home decor, but I LOVE to shop with my sister or with one or two other friends. Too many, though, and it's not a shopping trip, it's a wander-and-chat trip.

My favorite part about shopping with my sis is that she'll (eventually) forgive me for asking her opinion and then choosing the complete opposite. Hearing someone else show active dislike for something can help me realize that I really do like it and to heck with them. Drives her crazy, but she does it to me, too.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on October 9th 2009 at 5:02pm
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I mainly like shopping on my own. I process items better in my mind when I can wander and think and I don't tend to have a problem knowing what I like.

I do enjoy shopping with my mom and sisters, but more on the clothing/everyday errands type of stuff. We always have a great time on Boxing Day - it's a family tradition (but I'm not looking for home items, mainly clothing).

posted by ellenacious on October 9th 2009 at 5:21pm
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I show everything I like (when shopping online) to my best friend. If she hates, I love it. If she loves it, I hate it. I use her response as a barometer for how nutty or awesome my choice is.

posted by kimg924 on October 9th 2009 at 5:46pm
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1) I always shop alone. I rarely find what I have pictured in my mind, so most of my shopping is considering the pros and cons of what is actually available. I find it difficult to do that and socialize.

2)I never buy anything the first time I see it. I measure it, consider it, take a picture, get the price and then go home. I give it at least 24 hours (and sometimes much much longer) before I return to buy. Home items are meant for the long term. I need to mull it over before I commit.

posted by RichardinLA on October 9th 2009 at 5:47pm
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Going to flea markets with a friend can be fun but I tend to loose focus of what I am really looking for plus I can scan really fast where as some friends want to turn over every single piece which drives me batty.

I rarely shop in retail stores unless I have a specific mission, shower curtain, blanket only for the real basics and I like to get in and out solo.

However, if a friend wants me to go with them to help select things that can be enjoyable.

posted by LoriSF on October 9th 2009 at 5:50pm
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Yes, I snapped the pictured photo of Weego Home on Main Street in LA.

posted by RebeccaATLA on October 9th 2009 at 6:35pm
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i prefer to shop by myself. I trust my instincts. If I have to think about it, forget it. I know what I like as soon I see it.

posted by Allicat on October 9th 2009 at 6:53pm
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Decorating by consensus is the reason so many rooms are beige.

posted by quiltmaster on October 9th 2009 at 7:17pm
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I almost always go alone unless it's going to be an exhausting and/or intimidating situation, such as a large flea market.
I enjoy shopping for my home and I'm a thoughtful shopper. I like to shop alone because I can't comfortably take the time I need with someone breathing down my neck.

and none of my friends have taste anyway.

posted by beakllerina on October 9th 2009 at 8:37pm
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RichardinLA, this is exactly what I do, unless I find the perfect perfect. I've learned that if I go home and forget about it then I wasn't in love with it. If I go home and the item pops into my thoughts and I think I need to go get it before it's too late then it's a definite yes. I give the process 24 hours. I've saved a lot of money by not buying on impulse and I really like the things I do purchase.

posted by bb99 on October 9th 2009 at 9:18pm
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I'm a very focused shopper so I don't end up buying much for myself if I'm with other people. I guess I prefer to shop alone for myself.

But I LOVE to go shopping with other people -- to bond, to get inspired, to see what they like, to talk about our respective tastes, and to spy on what they might want for Christmas or their birthdays.

posted by Slow Lorus on October 9th 2009 at 9:31pm
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NO WAY I'd shop with someone else. I consider myself to have a better opinion on home decor than anybody else I know and besides, most other people have trouble envisioning the finished outcome by just looking at one piece. Instead they judge that one piece, how much it cost (if it's overpriced - in their opinion), and whether or not they personally like it. Why would I want that?

posted by niabassett on October 10th 2009 at 9:09pm
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Shopping with someone else is a good way to make certain you'll second guess yourself.

posted by mjs7640 on October 10th 2009 at 9:56pm
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For the most part, I have to agree with mlleErica. It can be extremely nerve wrecking to spend an hour browsing a shop that has nothing you want and then have a friend only want to spend ten minutes in a shop you are dying to browse. With today's technology, I'd be more likely to snap a picture of it on my cell phone and text it to someone before I bought it. And it can be annoying when someone tries to talk you out of something that is your style but perhaps not theirs - so they are going to lean towards what they like instead of what you like.

I swear shopping together ruins many friendships and relationships. Just keep the receipt in case the significant other completely hates and you want to care about their opinion - almost anything can be returned.

posted by ChrisGal on October 11th 2009 at 7:40am
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I like to shop with the BF, but typically, I'm shopping with a purpose and have narrowed down the options. I tend to do the research alone.

posted by MihoH on October 11th 2009 at 6:01pm
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It largely depends on what I'm doing and shopping for that determines whether I shop alone or with someone and I don't just shop with anyone either.

When I go shopping with my best friend, it's usually to places like Home Depot or Lowes for stuff he needs and what is great is that there are times I can go get something at the same time he's getting stuff so we can get what is needed and gout even faster (yes, it's almost like speed shopping). I can do that on my own as well but I love to just go browse as much as shactually purchase but it largely depends on what I'm after. At the moment I'm restraining from buying much in the way of stuff for the apartment as I don't need anything else at the moment and my space is limited.

That said, I love to shop with my Mom and we love hitting many of the same places, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Penny's, Sears when need be and Macy's as well and we love housewares and all that fun stuff. Love hitting antique stores, estate sales and the like and often we may not buy a thing, but the time browing is as much fun as anything. When we shop as places like the Antique Mall or Ross, we'll begin separately with her going through the woman's section, I the men's and we'll met in housewares.

But when I'm in research mode, like I am now for a new digital SLR (hopeuflly early next year), I will go alone and search out local stores to do a test drive (did that yesterday in fact and compared 2 Nikon DSLR's) so that's when shopping solo is best and I use that time to really look at what's on display and get inspired and hopefully translate that either my place or to simply be creative in whatever persuit I may chose to do.

posted by ciddyguy on October 12th 2009 at 2:39pm
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and looking back at this post, I can't type worth sh*t today. :-(

posted by ciddyguy on October 12th 2009 at 2:43pm
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