We Asked a Designer to Spend $50 at Aldi, and Here’s What She Bought

Kelly Dawson
Kelly Dawson
Kelly Dawson is a writer, editor, and media consultant. Her writing has appeared in almost every major American design publication, most notably as a longtime contributor to Architectural Digest and Dwell, and she's also been published in places like The New York Times, AFAR,…read more
published Mar 18, 2025
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Chandler, AZ. - Aug 01 2024: Aldi is the common company brand name of two German multinational family-owned discount supermarket chains operating over 12,000 stores in 18 countries, including the U.S.
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Shopping with friends is one of life’s little pleasures. Not only is it a great backdrop for conversation, but it can also be a way to expand your interior design style. Perhaps you’d ordinarily pass over a colorful vase that your friend picked up, for instance, and then suddenly it’s worth a second glance. 

And while she might not be someone you know in real life, designer Imani Keal is more than happy to be that friend you can lean on online. 

tan sofa on pink chair

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As a small-space design expert whose Washington, D.C. home was featured on Apartment Therapy, Keal is the type of friend who would give her honest opinion on your shopping haul so that you end up with a space that’s right for you. 

To pretend that I am lucky enough to peruse Aldi with Keal myself, I gave her $50 to “spend” there in order to see the wisdom behind her cart. “I have a few dollars left over, so I’d probably also get some orange juice,” she jokes. Here’s how Keal put her money to good use. 

Oversized Mango Wood Serving Bowl
$10

“At $9.99, this mango wood bowl is the perfect catchall to use by the front door for keys and AirPods, on the coffee table for that elusive AppleTV remote, or in the kitchen to hold fruits and veggies,” she says. “Outside of its functionality, the shallow shape makes this cooler than a regular bowl!”

$10 at Aldi
Spring Faux Floral Stem - Peony
$4

“Get a bunch of the artificial flowers to make a bouquet for your bookshelf, bedside table, or desk,” says Keal of these $4 stems that come in many different floral varieties. “If you pop it in a nice vase, no one would know they were fake!”

$4 at Aldi
Kids Character Stool - Pink Butterfly
$15

“I don’t have kids, but if I did I would put a little stool like this butterfly one in their room with a small, vintage table where they would draw, play, and watch their shows,” she says. “There’s so much whimsy that comes with decorating for kids.”

$15 at Aldi
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Decorating
furniture
shopping

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