Decor & Acessories Shopping Ideas

As you’ve probably heard, Big Little Lies is coming back for season 2 and this time it’s got a 21 time Academy Award nominated powerhouse joining the already tour de force cast. [Season one spoilers below.] Meryl Streep will play Perry’s mother who comes to town “concerned for the well-being of her grandchildren following…Perry’s death,” per the casting breakdown.

How many white rooms with pops of Millennial pink have you seen today? How many of them had simple, bulbous light fixtures with exposed cords? Was there a lacquered tray on the coffee table piled high with design books? The answer is probably a lot, and I’m here to say: Take a break and treat yourself to some fabulous traditionalism. Katharine Graham’s story is complex and dark at moments, but ultimately triumphant.

I always leave Costco a bit traumatized by my receipts. When you’re spending $24 on paper towels alone, the bill adds up fast. But even though buying in bulk costs more upfront, it’s usually cheaper in the long run (that’s actually the whole point, of course). The question is: how much cheaper is it? Is it really worth it to have to stash all those big bottles and tubs just to save a few cents (not to mention the cost of membership)?

If we could all be so lucky to inherit a 17th century mansion in the Northern Italian countryside, Villa Albergoni is a good inspiration (and the real shooting location is for sale!). Yes, it’s got some 80s memorabilia in Elio’s room that you could take or leave, but it’s largely filled with antiques and objects spanning time and geography. I love how cozy it feels, even in its grandeur.

We all know spring is the season for growing: grass, flowers, trees…and to-do lists. After a winter of cocoon-like inertia, it’s time to get busy deep cleaning, organizing, fertilizing and mowing. So to get the ball rolling, we made a list of some of the most essential things you’ll need, then compared their prices at two mega-stores known for their bargains: Home Depot and Amazon. Here’s how they stacked up.

Taking an iconic comic and transforming it into a sexy murder mystery could have been a disaster. Sure, casting “hot” Archie was a step in the right direction. But then, to layer in this noir world around him and the rest of the unfairly beautiful cast was [kisses fingers] brilliant.

Target sells just about anything, from motor oil to mattress pads to milk. But of course Walmart sells a lot of the same stuff, too (plus some). Both of these stores aim to be your one-stop shop, whether you’re shopping in person or online, and this got us wondering: Are their prices as similar as their inventory? We compared prices at both stores, evaluating some of the most common household goods and personal care items to see which one will offer the biggest bargains.

Home should be a respite from the pressures of the outside world. Now, IKEA is aiming to make taking care of yourself a little easier, thanks to its latest collection. Called HJÄRTELIG, the collection hopes to inspire people to take a moment to reconnect with themselves and nature through simple materials and durable, useful pieces.

When we first heard about the Lilly Pulitzer and Pottery Barn collaboration with all three of Pottery Barn’s retailers, we didn’t know what to expect–aside from the obvious. And “the obvious” being lots of bright Lilly prints for everywhere in the house, from bedding to furniture to, of course, plenty of summer-ready buys for poolside or the beach. But we had to wait ’til the collection released on Friday, March 16 to get a full look at everything.

Easter catch you off guard this year? Don’t panic. You can still pull together a beautiful basket, on a budget, on your way home from work tonight. Have $15 and an extra 15 minutes? Head to your local drugstore and you’ve got this. We hit up our local CVS and built two different baskets: one for a younger kiddo, and one for the older set. Both check off all the appropriate bunny-themed boxes, and are filled with fun and colorful items — not to mention the all-important candy.

Recently, my parents sold my childhood home and bought a grown-up condo. Gone is the lovely, comfortable suburban dwelling that housed countless birthday parties, homework cram sessions and dance recital practices. Their new home doesn’t have to be kid proof; it can just be cool. And no show’s design has been quite so cool as Mad Men (my dad loves mid-century furniture, so it’s fairly obvious inspiration). The set of Mad Men was notoriously well researched and designed.

If you’re the kind of shopper who heads to Amazon with a specific idea in mind of what you’re looking for, you’re not alone. However, a little known secret to finding interesting, more unique items is actually through a portal shown every time you log on. It’s called “Interesting Finds” and is accessed by clicking the “Explore” button at the top of the screen.

If you like The Real Housewives of New York, you already know how gorgeous Dorinda’s Berkshires manse is. If you pretend to be above watching reality television, let me tickle your fancy with this fact: Her inspiration was Marilyn Monroe meets Frankenstein, per TownVibe Berkshire. If that’s not badass, I don’t know what is. Like Dorinda, her home is stately on the outside and full of color on the inside.

With the monster hit of Avengers Infinity War still going strong at the box office (topping $2 billion worldwide), I’d like to celebrate Tom Hiddleston in his role as…Jonathan Pine, The Night Manager! And by celebrate him, I mean focus solely on the Egyptian interiors of the Nefertiti Hotel in Cairo.

With the Met Gala’s theme last month being “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination”, I got to thinking about how the Catholic Church has influenced other areas of design. The lives lived within the Vatican are a beautiful juxtaposition of minimalism and maximalism as seen in the architecture and interior decor. Symbolism and story are woven (literally) into the textiles of the Church.

Netflix’s new original movie, Ibiza, has everything: Strong female friendship. Hijinks. That guy from Game of Thrones. EDM music. Phoebe Robinson spitting one-liner darts left and right. Well-designed interiors may not be the focus of this movie, but they certainly don’t disappoint. The design was so on-point in places that I ended up needing to scour the Internet for lookalike wall hangings and accent chairs.

How is it that we forget how miserable summer can be until we’re profusely sweating just from sitting outside for our lunch break? Summer isn’t all beach trips and rosé on rooftops, people! This season has the potential to be a hot, humid, sweaty mess. You could blast the AC for the next three months—but it’s expensive and not great for the environment—or you could use your awesome design skills to hack your way to a cooler home.

It only took 14 years, but we finally have the superhero film we deserve. The hero being mid-century modern design. Picking up right where the first installment left off, the Parr family is on the forefront of the fight to make superheroes legal again. During that process, they are set up in a mid-century design lover’s dream house. And lucky for you, Zillow created a listing so you can really get a sense of the home’s super features.

I might be a little biased, since one of the first things Aliza Kelly Faragher told me was that my name, which rhymes and has always made me weirdly self-conscious, holds a lot of power in spellwork and spiritual practice. Let’s just say it was a good way to kick off a conversation with Allure magazine’s resident astrologer and the author of the forthcoming book, The Mixology of Astrology: Cosmic Cocktail Recipes for Every Sign (it drops August 7).

Society6 has long been one of our favorite places to find eye-catching prints. The website allows artists to upload their own work and put it on everything from posters to duffle bags to coasters. Starting this week, however, there’s a new way to shop some of Society6’s most popular prints: on Target’s website. The collection will be available exclusively on Target.com through the fall.

If you have Champagne taste and a beer budget, today is your lucky day. Cuisinart’s Dutch oven, which looks a lot like Le Creuset’s, is on sale — today only — for $55. (It’s impressively marked down by 69 percent from its list price of $180.) Worried it won’t be as good as the Le Creuset? The 5.5-quart oval, which even comes in two fun matte options, has 4.3 stars on Amazon.

Breaking floral news! You can get a ridiculous bargain for one of the longest-lasting flowers out there—seriously, alstroemerias stick around nearly forever. According to the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer, “For a limited time, we are able to offer this 20-stem bunch for the astonishing price of $4.99, only a dollar more than our everyday, 9-stem bunch. But get ’em while they last—ethereal beauty like this doesn’t stick around forever.

We’ve all been there. You just bought the sofa, bed, desk—whatever—of your dreams, only to find out that it doesn’t fit in your space. Or worse, in your doorway. And it goes both ways. A too small piece can be just as annoying to deal with, time and energy-wise. Instead of hoping for the best when you’re unboxing or waiting for that white glove delivery, take matters into your own hands.

All this talk about self-care and “me time” begs a question—where exactly are you giving yourself this attention? At roughly 700 square feet, my apartment’s not small (at least by New York City standards), but the freestanding tubs I see people bath-bombing and throwing back bubbly in are not a reality for me at this point.

Let me preface this by saying I have never been a flower person. I’ve always told romantic interests to skip the flowers—and meant it. I just don’t see the point in spending disposable income on something that’s so plentiful outdoors and dies as soon as you bring it indoors. Then there’s the whole bit about changing the water and cleaning up rotten stems. For me, you can file flowers under “waste of money.

Somewhere along the lines of decorating my first real apartment, I started fangirling pretty hard for Anthropologie—stalking their in-store home sale section on the reg and bemoaning the $149 flat-rate fee of furniture delivery, which they plaster all over the place as if it’s a good deal. Maybe if you’re in the business of buying $5,000 beds. But that fee has stopped me from pulling the trigger on so many sale tables, lamps, and chairs over the years just on principle.

I consider myself something of a candle connoisseur. I’ve smelled a ton over the years and lit plenty, from Diptyque to Yankee and everything in between. Tapers, votives, you name it—there’s some kind of candle in practically every room of my home. But I’ve never given much thought to my burning technique, that is, until a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee. Turns out the country music capital also knows a thing or two about getting (candles) lit.

Even if you don’t know who Jo Malone CBE is, you are certainly familiar with her name. The entrepreneur’s first brand, Jo Malone London, has made her a household name–and her candles and perfumes a household smell. (We couldn’t resist.) Malone would eventually sell the brand to Estée Lauder, and stayed on as creative director until 2006. Her second brand, Jo Loves, launched in 2011, and is full of scents that are both classic and unexpected.

Have you ever longed for the ease of being able to turn lights on and off without getting up–but felt overwhelmed at the idea of figuring out how to sync smart plugs and products with your phone? This Amazon deal of the day on Etekcity outlets might be your ideal buy. Typically priced at $40, until midnight PT, you can grab them for $21.

Now is about the time that fall lovers start bringing out—or going out and buying—cute home accessories to cozy up their spaces in anticipation of autumn. Whether you already have some fun fall-related decor or you’re starting from scratch, don’t spend a ton of money transforming your home for the season.

There’s nothing wrong with using outdoor furniture indoors. In many ways, it’s actually a smart move. Pieces created with outside use in mind are typically built to withstand things like wind, moisture and extreme temperatures. So if you have kids or pets, these items should be better suited to hold up to wear-and-tear. Some outdoor items have gotten a bad rap in the past for being not so stylish or crafted from less-than-cozy materials, which made them unfit for inside the home.

Believe it or not, foam sponges—you know the cheap ones, like this 2-for-$1.29 pack from Target that you use to hand-wash your dishes and wipe down your kitchen sink—can be used in all sorts of unexpected ways around the house. To prove our point, we rounded up a handful of fun ideas for repurposing kitchen sponges, so you can keep your home clean and under control—all on the cheap.

Last year, I found a BOGO coupon for pumpkins at my local nursery. I ended up with four pumpkins valued at $88 for just $44. I felt like I hit the jackpot—my stoop looked great, but I didn’t have to shell out more than my weekly grocery bill for a handful of pumpkins that would only rot in a few week’s time. When I spotted the same coupon in a local flyer this year, I clipped it and set it aside.

I just upgraded to a king-size bed, and sadly, I think my nightstands are going to have to go. This is New York City after all. It’s all about compromising. There just isn’t enough room for everything you want. All is good on the lighting front—I have a floor lamp that’ll suffice for reading in bed. But what about all the stuff I jam into that tiny nightstand drawer?

I’m constantly trying to predict what’s going to be the new “For Like Ever” poster. I’ve written about a potential typographic contender before, which I loved for its simplicity and reference to a Talking Heads song. And now I think I’ve figured out another heir apparent: Block Shop and their woodblock paper prints. This L.A.- and Jaipur-based studio’s stuff is everywhere, from house tours on AT to Instagram and Pinterest.

The Trader Joe’s hits just keep coming. I’ve written a lot about their fantastic seasonal pop-up items—most recently wheat stalks—which are my go-to favorite for lazy decorating on the fly, and on the cheap. Their latest offering is dried lavender, which you can find in bundles right inside the front door, and throw in your cart while you do the regular weekly grocery shopping. Buy these while they last at the store, because they’ll last forever at home.

The perfect touch can transform a room from sterile to cozy in an instant. To add comfort to a room, designers often recommend looking to texture and color and integrating earthy elements—and ceramic pottery integrates all three elements seamlessly. There’s a reason homeowners are stuffing their spaces with unique ceramic castings: Large colorful pots are the perfect home for your jungalow plants, and their smaller siblings hold single blooms that bring color to a minimal spread.

Sentimental holidays, like Mother’s Day, are always a great time to reconnect with family and focus on heartfelt gifts. But it’s also a time to remember those loved ones who have passed on, and the good times you were able to spend together. And because that loss can feel extra apparent on these celebratory days, I love giving sentimental gifts that help people feel a renewed connection to lost loved ones.

Who says you have to wait for a wedding to have personalized stuff at your party or place? If you love hosting brunches or have frequent house guests, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little something special on the dinner table, in your powder room or as a takeaway for the all the people that pop by? Well, it’s totally doable and for a not-so-crazy price tag. Just in time for the holiday season, meet ForYourParty.com, my dream soiree—and everyday—online custom decor shop.

I threw two holiday parties this past Sunday—a brunch with close girlfriends in the morning and an evening get together for some work friends. No, I’m not a total masochist. It’s just with everyone’s insane holiday parties and travel schedules, somehow this made sense to me. The earlier your party is, the better the attendance. Never again, but I think the one big thing that got me through it was Trader Joe’s (and the fact that the second party was a potluck).

We’ve discussed other body parts as decorative motifs on home decor products before, from breasts to butts. But I think the latest incarnation of this trend has got to be hands. It’s kind of unclear when and where this all started. Classic antiquity? I kid, I kid. Seriously though, palm-shaped chairs have been something you could stumble upon at flea markets for a while, if you were lucky.

Lighting doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. I mean, don’t get it twisted. Lamps, pendants, sconces—they all still need to be functional, but if you can find something that looks cute and might get a chuckle or two from a houseguest, while still dutifully illuminating an area, I’m sold. And so, I bring you the latest trend to check all of those boxes: Animal lamps.

In the recent past, wallpaper has become a favorite design tool to add color and pattern to homes, the kind of element that used to be something renters—usually not able to make permanent changes—avoided. But as wallpaper’s popularity has increased, so have the removable wallpaper options. Perfect for those who like to change their minds often or who can’t do anything permanent to a rental.

Swedish retailer IKEA has been testing the waters of smart design for several years with the subtle introduction of tech home products like wireless charging furniture and Trådfri smart lighting. Now, the mega home furnisher is rolling out a new way to do Saturday mornings: window shades you can operate without even leaving your bed. The shades can be controlled by remote or synced to your Google Hub, Alexa, or Siri system for added convenience.

As much as I love the Sarah Sherman Sameuls and Shea McGees of the world, we don’t all have the budget (or even the homeownership, in my case) to splurge on a fantastic Cle or Granada Tiles kitchen backsplash. A girl can dream right? And save, of course. But until then, I’ve been toying with the idea of a stick-on solution. My kitchen is tiny, so it wouldn’t take much.

Imagine if all of your favorite Disney princesses were modern day badass ladies. Thanks to e-design company Modsy, we can actually see what the homes of Moana, Elsa, Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, and Mulan would look like if they were here in 2019 and not fictional characters.

Have you looked on Amazon for decor items recently? And I mean really looked. Since launching their private label home goods last year, Amazon’s offerings have really come a long way. Obviously, you can get other brands on the site too. But if you’re looking for something budget friendly that’s a little more under-the-radar, start with the site’s exclusives.

IKEA isn’t exactly the first place you think of when looking for wedding decor, but I’d argue that that’s actually a good thing for two reasons. First, the price is right, and there’s no “wedding upcharge” there—which is a real phenomenon and exists for everything from cake to candles and beyond with many vendors. Second, much of what IKEA sells doesn’t feel totally specific to a wedding, so you can actually use things again and again.

Real talk: Costco has upped its home decor game in the past couple of years. I don’t know if they got new buyers or what the deal is exactly. But the once almost entirely utilitarian, borderline cheesy items they had for the kitchen, bath, and rest of the home aren’t so bad anymore. Honestly, they’re kind of good. Maybe the best way to put it is that there are a few trend-forward gems in what tends to be a pretty basic mix.

Two is always better than one, and the same rule applies to coffee tables. Over the last year, there has been a spike in styled living rooms that have taken the usual formula of one big coffee table and broken it up into two separate pieces. Nesting coffee tables don’t just apply to big living rooms that have the extra square footage for additional tables.

Of all the design elements you can add to a room to give a space a “finishing touch,” nothing quite does the trick like a nice set of curtains. Along with just making a room feel “done,” curtains are also a great way to add in sumptuous and soft textiles. The bummer is that curtains can be pricey… particularly if you have big windows or tall ceilings, two things I have in my New Orleans rental apartment.

Drew Barrymore is a woman of many talents. She’s been a Hollywood mainstay since she was 4 years old, she’s authored best-selling books, she has her own line of wines, and is an official beauty guru thanks to her Flower Beauty line (shoutout to my personal faves the Flower Pots Blush and Light Illusion Foundation). And now, she’s poised to take the world of interiors by storm with her brand new line of furniture and decor, Drew Barrymore Flower Home.

The world is waiting with bated breath as “Game of Thrones” returns on April 14 for the final season. Who will sit on the Iron Throne? Exactly how long will this season’s battle sequence be? What amazing hair styles does Daenerys Targaryen have in store for us? On Sunday, we will be back in Westeros to find out.

Shop less expensive versions of 2019's most stylish and popular lamps and light fixtures.

Like your Instagram posts, but prettier.

This week, Airstream debuts a mini-trailer, Zaha Hadid has a new jewelry collection, Philippe Starck makes radiators smarter, and more. Airstream’s classic silver bullet trailer has a new cousin—the smaller, lighter Basecamp. It comes with a tiny kitchen outfitted with mini fridge, microwave, sink, and stove, a teeny bathroom with toilet and shower, and sleeps two in the convertible sitting/dining area.

Trays are a great thing to have around—perfect for serving food or drinks, or just for corralling your stuff on a counter or tabletop so you look more organized than you actually are. Whatever it is that you want your tray to do for you, you’ll find the perfect choice among these 11 stylish options. These Kaleido trays by Hay can be arranged in all kinds of combinations to hold all kinds of things. A simple, easy-to-clean tray at a friendly price point.

The plights of the winter warrior are plenty, but one in particular is figuring out how to keep your hands from turning blue and numb in freezing temps while still staying connected. These 11 touchscreen-compatible gloves are here to solve that problem for you. Fleece is a great option for gloves as its warm and low-maintenance. This fun pair, which also comes in three other colors/prints are on sale and running out fast, so snatch them up if they’re calling your name!

Rebecca Atwood, the Brooklyn-based textile designer whose work is filled with dreamy painterly patterns, can now adorn your walls. Her collaboration with removable wallpaper company Chasing Paper launched on Wednesday. We first got wind of the collaboration last month on Rebecca’s Instagram, but now it’s finally here. The limited edition collection pairs Rebecca’s watercolor prints with Chasing Paper‘s peel-and-stick paper.

An old brand learns new tricks. Today, Williams Sonoma launched its first ever home decor collaboration in its 60 year history with luxury lifestyle brand AERIN. AERIN, for those unfamiliar, was founded by beauty industry royalty Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estée Lauder. It debuted in 2012 with candles, cosmetics, and home accessories, and quickly expanded into furniture, rugs, and lighting.

Rattan home decor items for those on a budget.

When it comes to IKEA products and furniture, some items can feel a bit, well, over-exposed. Like if you see it one more time on Instagram or even in an Apartment Therapy house tour, your head might explode. Or is that just me? All kidding aside, there are more than a few IKEA pieces that have become cult-classics. And it’s not just because they’re cheap. They actually live up to the hype either in terms of form, function or both.

If you thought jewel tones were best reserved for cold weather decor, you are sorely mistaken. Inspired by the natural shades of gemstones, such as amethyst, sapphire, and ruby, jewel-toned homewares are a colorful way to jazz up your space anytime of year. Still not convinced? We rounded up some stylish, jewel-toned decor items at Amazon to prove our point. From an emerald-hued serving tray to a canary yellow accent chair, here’s what we found.

Anthropologie is a treasure trove–but a pricey one. That’s why we jump on their sale discounts when they happen, especially when it comes to home decor. The retailer’s current sale is even more exciting than usual: all sale items are an additional 50 percent off, resulting in huge savings and very happy homes. The only catch is that all sales are final, so you’ll have to trust your judgment or head out to your local Anthro store this weekend.

Shopping vintage can be incredibly rewarding, yet equally as frustrating. Not only can it feel like a treasure hunt to find the perfect vintage piece, but oftentimes quality or style can be lacking. Rugs especially can be difficult to source, although several sites have popped up to meet the demand for authentic, gorgeous vintage rugs. That’s why we were intrigued to learn that genuine vintage rugs were being sold right under our noses on Urban Outfitters.

You can employ a couple of these compact bad boys to store everything from a freestanding pantry on your kitchen counter to a beauty supply organizer under your bathroom sink.

If you thought outdoor rugs were only reserved for backyards and patios, you’d be mistaken. Lightweight but durable, these versatile rugs are usually made with tough materials—like sisal and recycled plastic—making them great for high-traffic areas of your home. And with all the stylish and affordable options on the market, bringing an outdoor rug indoors should be a no-brainer. Still not convinced?

The Anthropologie “look” is instantly recognizable for being bold, colorful, and quirky–especially when it comes to patterns. That’s why we’re thrilled by Anthro’s latest launch: a collection called 52 Conversations, full of 52 archival prints from the retailer’s history. The collection is wide-ranging and includes clothing, decor, and kitchen accessories.

In case you haven’t heard, Way Day is officially on until the end of Thursday, meaning that you have a limited window of time to shop the site’s best deals of the year. With discounts going as high as 80 percent and flash deals happening throughout the 36-hour window, there’s a lot to take in. To make things easier, we’ve been scoping out the best sales all day—and are particularly excited about the rug deals happening on Wayfair and its sister site AllModern.

Mid Century Modern Teak Table Lamps – $275 – Pair of mid-century modern sculptural walnut wood and brass lamps with original lamp shades. 42.75″ tall. In fantastic condition. – SHIPS From Maxwell: Dear Readers, What are you looking for? We’ve just cleaned out and relaunched our marketplace as Bazaar – the best place on the web for vintage designer furnishings and accessories directly from others in our community. These are my top picks for today.

If you’re in the midst of spring cleaning and feeling ready to refresh your home, get excited: Wayfair’s largest sales day of the year just started. Dubbed Way Day, Wayfair’s answer to Prime Day, it was first introduced last spring with 24 hours of major discounts sitewide. This year, Way Day is back and even bigger than before, with sales on over 100,000 products across all categories.

It’s no secret that replacing standard dresser or nightstand knobs with more stylish options can do wonders to transform a piece. But finding the perfect drawer pull—or figuring out how to score a whole set of them without spending too much money—can be a bit of a challenge, especially if time is of the essence and you just want to finish decorating your bedroom, like, now. Luckily, all of these drawer pulls are eligible for two-day shipping (thanks, Prime!