Shopping

Hi, my name is Sarah Smith and I am a ridiculously devoted Menards shopper. Now, please understand: this doesn’t just mean that I like the store and shop there often. At this point, I may as well have my own cot in the lumber yard so I can just spend the night and be there when it opens again in the morning. Why you ask? Oh child, you just don’t even know, but let me enlighten you. Then maybe you can get a cot too —or wait — bunk beds!

You might regret putting these items in your shopping cart, according to people who have used them.

While browsing on Amazon, you’ve likely seen some products with a little blue flag that says “Add-on Item.” What does that mean? In a nutshell it means you can’t have it unless you buy $25 worth of stuff. Add-on items are usually lightweight and cheap—so much so that it costs Amazon more to ship it than it’s worth. Think Band-Aids, hair elastics and lip balm.

I spend way too much time and money at Target. I don’t want to talk about how it feeds my unhealthy obsession with Key Lime Lara bars (I swear they go on sale every other week, just to tempt me), or mention all the other non-essentials I wind up buying before I leave. While wandering through the store the other day, I realized there’s one section that I always forget about, but it’s chock full of handy, everyday items that are actually useful.

Making It, hosted by Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope… I mean Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler, has received a lot of comparisons to the Great British Baking Show. And I totally get it: The hosts and judges are there for support and comic relief, not to critique contestants and bicker with one another. Making It is exactly what 2018 needs. Like Poehler says in the intro, “life is stressful enough—let’s make a show that makes you feel good.

As the House Tour editor here at Apartment Therapy, looking at a wide range of homes is a requirement (and a delight!). And while many of those spaces I see online, I still have a penchant for flipping through the pages of a good coffee table design book for inspiration.

Even years after my very first trip to IKEA, I still get a thrill each time I step into the store. You’d think, especially given my job, I’d be so over everything by now, but nope. I love ALL THE THINGS (except maybe, as I’ve written about before, the art department) and can wander wide-eyed around all the departments looking at what’s new.

It’s well established that we love Harbor Freight and its great hardware selection and even greater prices, so we were predictably jazzed to peruse the Harbor Freight Black Friday ad, which was already revealed in October. It’s chock-full of deals, but these are our faves. Make your bargain-hunting plan today. Seriously, a mount that can handle a television “from 37 in. to 70 in. or 176 lbs” for less than $10—and it tilts? That’s a hell of a deal.

It’s hard to imagine how we did things before Amazon, which brings us anything we need in a very short timeframe. But there’s more to the site than super speedy delivery. For several years now, I’ve been indulging in my champagne taste on a beer budget, thanks to Amazon Warehouse and third-party sellers. See that price right next to the item you must have? That doesn’t have to be the price you pay.

As if we needed another reason to buy everything on Amazon, we go and uncover a whole new hidden section of awesome offerings: a unique Amazon store that’s devoted to nothing but new and innovative products created by startups, so you’ll never get bored shopping for stuff.

There’s no shortage of good deals to be had at IKEA, from the plant department to the annual kitchen sale. In fact, some of the best buys cost less than $15. But what if we told you that there were even better deals to be had if you dared to venture into the store’s As-Is section? What’s that you say? You already knew that? Here’s something you may not know: A little strategy can help you find better merchandise and save you even more money.

It seems like there’s nothing Amazon doesn’t sell, from the tiniest screws to the biggest appliances. And the site doesn’t just sell a couple brands of everything, they sell them all. Sorting through the selection to find the best of the best is a daunting prospect, but we discovered a few things that seem to have earned massive amounts of devotion.

Q: Hi! I have been searching high and low for cool, modern tablecloth options. I know tablecloths are basically just out of style right now. Many people have gorgeous dining tables and want to show them off. I have my great-aunt’s teak dining table, which often doubles as a work station, and a one-year-old. Guess who is winning?

Long summer days spent out in the sun really do a number on you — leaving your body drained, dehydrated, maybe a little sunburnt, and dare I say cranky? Stay irritated too long and you’ll wind up tossing and turning, instead of sleeping soundly, at night. Here’s how to revive yourself and reclaim your rest. Soothe Your Skin: This season is hard on the skin. If you’re feeling the burn, whip up some DIY lip balms, and lotions.

The beauty blogosphere has been buzzing recently about this fancy new hair dryer from an unexpected company, Dyson—that’s right, Dyson, the appliance company whose latest products inevitably land on our roundups of high-tech vacuums and fans. As we would expect from this tech-driven manufacturer, Dyson’s hair dryer uses innovative technology, including a powerful “digital motor V9” and smart heat controls that stop hair damage before it happens.

Despite taking measurements or creating mood boards, sometimes it’s still tough to imagine how an item will look at home until you get it in the space. Thankfully, technology can help. Today, vintage resale marketplace Chairish announced that their app will now have an augmented reality feature that puts pieces right in your room. The feature helps both shoppers and designers working with clients answer the age-old dilemma, “will this work in my space?

One of cats’ most impressive abilities is how they can find endless new spaces to occupy. How did they even get up there? Did you know she could fit in that? Where is the Marquess of Pawsbury now?Rather than sacrificing another shoebox or bookshelf, give your furry overlord new spaces to explore—or at least watch over—with these perches.

Are you part of a co-sleeping family, but things are getting a little too snug? There’s a mattress for that. Are you and your partner both over 6’5” and sleep in starfish position? Yep, there’s a mattress for that. Are you single and just want an endless expanse of bed all to yourself? There’s also a mattress for that. The Ace Collection has released a family sized bed that is 144 inches wide. That is 12 whole feet of bed.

Between beanies, coat hoods, and dry, winter air, my hair always ends up looking like the Cousin It version of itself by New Year’s Eve. As a curly girl, I was getting sick of forking over $20+ for hair treatments and trying DIY hair masks that left a funky smell (I’m looking at you, mayonnaise mask). So this year I started looking into other options and kept reading about how great aloe is for your hair.

I used to be one of those people that always preferred being cold to being hot. “You can always put on more clothes,” I’d insist, “but there’s only so much you can take off.” Then a few things happened, one of which was that I developed an auto-immune condition called Raynaud’s. As many as one in 10 people have this issue, which causes fingers and toes to overreact to cold, losing blood and turning white-blue. (Yes, it’s as painful as it sounds.

I’ve always been a bit of a book hoarder, but recently, my stack of coffee table books alone has begun to rival my collection of novels, biographies, and memoirs. And while the internet often makes it seem like you can’t purchase a gorgeous design manual or two without spending the equivalent of a week’s worth of groceries, that certainly isn’t the case. I’m letting you in on my little money-saving trick: shopping for coffee table books used off of Amazon.

From mid-century-inspired styles to sleek end tables, here are nine finds that won't break your bank account.

IKEA is a wonderland for shoppers on a budget, stuffed with everything you need to outfit your house—from complete kitchen setups to everyday essentials like lint rollers. But pitfalls lurk within that famous maze of showroom displays, and if you’re not smart about the way you shop, all those inexpensive buys can end up costing you a lot of time and stress. (And, once you see the total, money.) Here are some common mistakes to avoid.

Love it or hate it, “Fixer Upper” has left its mark on the design world, fueling a huge surge in the farmhouse decor style. It’s a challenge to find a retailer that hasn’t been affected by this trend–big name brands like Target and Anthropologie have all collaborated with Joanna Gaines to create their own lines of farmhouse-inspired decor.

Q: My family and I recently moved in to a new rental townhouse. The townhouse is lit almost entirely by overhead dual-bulb “boob” lights and some fan/light combos, all of which have marbled off-white frosted glass shades and all of which came with CFLs.

Once upon a time, the space underneath our bed was a scary space. As kids, we were often terrified that a monster or zombie was down there, waiting for us to fall asleep to crawl out of hiding. Today, something scarier is occupying that space: Clutter. Yes, we’re talking about winter boots, old magazines—you name it, it’s probably down there. The space underneath your bed is a great place to store items you may not use regularly, but organization is key.

If the slew of corny but bingeable holiday movies have taught us anything, it’s that it is always better to give than receive. Sure, we all want to receive something shiny and new (who doesn’t?); however, it’s also incredibly satisfying to see the look on a loved one’s face when they open a present they really adore. Of course, the same sentiment applies giving to charities. There’s no better time than the holidays to donate to charities that resonate with you.

With the countdown to the most anticipated holiday officially underway, one needs to be as efficient as possible in order to avoid any decorative mishaps. In years past, it may have been totally acceptable to decorate the old-fashioned way, à la “A Christmas Story’s” Old Man Parker, who infamously disregarded fire safety precautions while lighting the family tree.

Five Below isn’t in my usual shopping rotation. But there’s one right next to my local Target and Trader Joe’s (both of which are regular stops), and I ran in the other day in a burst of curiosity. If you’re not familiar, it’s kind of like a dollar store meets Spencer Gifts, with a smattering of novelty stuff meets impulse items.

If you’re closely following the wizarding merchandise of Harry Potter, then you know what’s been circulating in the home space—from Pottery Barn’s travel luggage to Williams-Sonoma’s updated kitchenware. But a new competitor has entered the Quidditch arena: Bed Bath & Beyond.

Costco shoppers know how easy it is to drop hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in a single shopping trip. Even with the discounts on offer, all those bulk packages of toilet paper, tubs of mayo, and multipacks of cereal can quickly add up. What you might be surprised to find, though, is that the megastore also stocks a bunch of big-ticket items starting at $10,000 that’ll make your $250 shopping trip look like chump change.

Los Angeles-based brands Parachute Home and Hedley & Bennett have teamed up for a artisanal-loving locavore’s seasonal dream come true. The collaboration consists of French linen and Turkish cotton dyed in organic, autumnal hues of butternut squash and beets. The limited-edition “Kitchen Essentials” collection launched on November 1, and includes two aprons, linen napkins, table runners, kitchen towels, and potholders. Items will be available online at Parachute.

If you feel like your room is missing a certain artistic touch, then it’s time to bring out the sculptures. But rather than getting actual busts or little figurines, help bring in that missing creative flair with end tables. Swap out your simple wooden pieces for geometric side tables that look like they belong in an art installation or museum.

Black Friday is still a few weeks away, but the Black Friday appliance sales are here NOW. Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Costco have already begun their Black Friday savings, giving you more time to comparison shop, save up, and get the best deals possible.

I’m a lazy holiday decorator. I’m completely fine with throwing a pumpkin or gourd on the table, and calling it a day. If said decorations work for multiple holidays, all the better. Which is why I love walking into Trader Joe’s. Groceries aside, there’s always some new, seasonal item found right inside their front door—pumpkins, eucalyptus, and alstroemerias to name a few— that I can buy and keep around for months.

For plenty of people, hardware stores are like a second home—full of inspiration and supplies for your next DIY or project. But if you haven’t broken into this world, walking inside can feel a little intimidating (kind of like wandering into a group fitness class when you haven’t worked out for a long time). Not to worry: we went to the Home Depot, and pulled together some of our favorite tips. Check out the video above, and read on for more.

Even if you mind your dollars wisely, sometimes it just makes sense to spend a little bit more on something you truly love. Splurging on a household essential that you will use every day, or adding a few high-quality, high-impact items to your living room, might make you feel a twinge of guilt, but there’s also a whole lot of satisfaction there, budget-be-damned, and no apologies required. (Not to mention, pricier items often last longer than their cheap counterparts.

I’ll admit it: Keeping a neat and orderly home isn’t my strong suit. I’m a mini tornado, and stuff regularly threatens to overwhelm me and my space. I need all the help I can get. Sometimes help comes in unlikely shapes and forms— in this case, it’s round, lives inside several of my storage cabinets, and makes life easier. I’m talking about Lazy Susans. Here are the reasons why I love them: 1. They make things easier to find and reach.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: I am very cheap, non-committal, and capricious, so making things look good on the first time around is very hard for me. We also all know by now that I’m “redesigning” my itty bitty Brooklyn bedroom—which will probably be a work in progress for the next 20 years of my life—in a style that can only be described as Scandinavian hoarder (a.k.a.

When you’re an occasional crafter (i.e. not quite ready to star on a show like “Making It“), a cutting machine is a big investment—the newest Cricut retails for $399! But the allure of these machines is real. With a cutting machine like the Cricut or the Silhouette Cameo, you can precisely cut through most materials (even leather and thin wood!), tackle simple sewing projects, draw intricate designs, make complex stencils, and create elaborate logos for apparel.

When I think of Anthropologie, I think of fun and riotous color, mixed patterns and lots of layers. A store where more is more and minimalism is a four letter word— and not necessarily a destination for practical items. I do love to occasionally browse all the store’s beautiful things, and ogle their creative store displays, but there’s actually one thing I go there all the time to buy, something that’s useful for everyone.

A new in-app feature from Amazon will now help you identify the type and size of any missing screw, bolt, nut, nail, or washer for your DIY projects. But is it better than heading to your local hardware store? The new feature, called Part Finder, allows you to scan a piece next to a penny and it will analyze the type and size of hardware you need to buy.

A while ago, I wrote a post about how to ventilate a kitchen when you don’t have a range hood or vent. A number of Kitchn readers recommended installing a reversible window fan which, when put on the exhaust setting, can effectively draw smells, steam, and smoke out of your kitchen. I don’t have a hood in my rental kitchen, and for a long time I just ran the ceiling fans in other rooms when I cooked something particularly smelly or smoky. It worked okay, but wasn’t ideal.

The homes that everyone loves on Apartment Therapy have style, but are comfortable and approachable – like you want to lay down on the sofa and take a nap – which is exactly what I felt when I saw Sunny and Ryan’s townhouse. Located in Bed Stuy, it mixes mid century with contemporary AND traditional oriental rugs in a fresh, welcoming way. Check out their “wonderful home and magnificent cat” and steal their look right here in our Marketplace.

As a renter, I love this product and think it's easier than the real deal.

Regular Post-it Notes have so many uses—letting your teen daughter know you’re at Luke’s, creating a path to avoid setting off the security alarm installed by the town goofball, claiming items you want after your wealthy parents pass away, and probably some non-Gilmore Girls related applications as well — but now there are Post-it Extreme Notes. We recently tested them out, so you don’t have to wonder.

Do you hate how Adirondack chairs feel? Maybe you enjoy putting your feet in the grass and leaning back to feel the sun on your skin. If this sounds like you, get your wallet out and grab some dirt. You can make your own grass-covered armchair and it is so easy! DIY projects are so much fun, but often times they can be a lot of work. When a DIY project has 20 steps, it makes you reconsider whether it was worth doing it yourself or just having bought the product.

If your cat lives a fancier life than you do, then they deserve a bed from Meyou Paris to match their style. These beds aren’t for basic little kitties. You’re going to be so jealous of these chic beds, you are going to want one for yourself. Have you ever wanted to take a nap in your cat’s bed? These furry little felines always have the cutest beds! If you’re looking for a chic cat bed that will fit in with your open concept home and modern space, look no further.

The home retailer is letting you swap gift cards for store credit.

If your love for HomeGoods knows no bounds, then you’re in great company, both here and on Twitter. We rounded up 13 too true tweets about one of our favorite bargain decor stores. Everyone wants to go out and drink and I just want someone who will come to Target & Homegoods with me and drink wine and is okay with being home in bed by 9 ???? — Erin (@ErinYzquierdo) March 16, 2018 You know you’re adulting when you’re psyched to browse HomeGoods in the middle of a weekday.

Has winter taken a toll on your bedding? If you’re looking to spring for a pre-Spring bedroom makeover, now’s your chance to switch it up at a discount. Target has a bed & bath sale running right now, and it’s only good for a short time. There’s a lot of stylish bedding and bath items on sale right now—30 percent off online only (sorry, these deals aren’t in stores).

It won't be around for long.

When it comes to big ticket kitchen appliances, saving even 5% on one item means holding onto a pretty tidy sum. So it pays to shop around and make sure you’re getting the best bargain out there. Retail giants Costco and Amazon regularly go head to head in the war of prices, battling it out for your business, and that includes fridges, stoves, and microwaves. So, we wanted to know: which is cheaper?

We’ve all been there. You’re running late for a busy day at work only to realize you fell asleep last night before plugging your phone in. That or you’re out and about the whole day, snapping photos or Boomerangs for your Insta feed and your battery is zapped by 3 pm and you’re desperately in need of a recharge with no plug in sight. The stress of that 10% battery life warning doesn’t need to take over when you’re prepared.

Now that we've made it painfully easy for you, get to shoppin'.

Not surprisingly, more and more people have been buying vinyl the past few years, and with that comes the important decision of investing in a quality turntable. There are quite a few things to consider: price, quality and user friendliness. But just as important is the overall look and design of the record player.

We love IKEA for its Scandinavian style and great prices, and today, it’s about to get even more affordable. To celebrate the Swedish retailer’s 46th store in the United States (this one is in Jacksonville, Florida), one of their most popular products of all time is on sale. It’s the BILLY bookcase! Designed by Gillis Lundgren (the company’s fourth ever employee), IKEA makes 25,000 of the simple staple every day.

IKEA kitchen sales are legendary. 3-4 times a year, for about a month, the store has a department-wide sale for up to 20% off — a huge savings off big ticket purchases for a renovation. IKEA’s current sale goes until Sunday, April 8, so we hit them up for all their juiciest bits of insider intel, all to help you get the most out of the opportunity. Read on, then head to your local IKEA, or plan ahead and get all your ducks in a row for the next one.

When was the last time you bought new pillows (and we’re not talking the decorative kind)? If you’ve been holding off on replacing your worn-out bed pillows that you’ve had since the Motorola Razr was the hottest tech on the market, today is the day to finally bite the bullet. Not one, not two, but five plush pillows—in a range of materials and fills—are currently on sale at Amazon—all of which are super posh and priced under 30 bucks a pop.

You asked us to test out Joybird's online-only sofas, so we hiked on over to LA and put 17 models through the ringer. Here's what we thought.

Whether you have a separate dining room or not, finding the perfect chairs to enjoy a meal on is not an easy feat for the budget minded design lover. When you’re on the hunt to find two to eight (or more!) comfortable and attractive seats, that quickly adds up. That’s why we were excited when we came across this chic bargain that’s almost too good to be true.

Good hardware can make everything from dressers to cabinets look so much more stylish. While it’s easier than ever before to find cool hardware, authentic period hardware can be difficult to sort from the reproductions. Though there’s nothing wrong with a repro in many cases, sometimes you just want the character that a real piece of vintage or antique hardware brings to a project.

Ever since reading Farhad Manjoo’s ode to the high-end toilet-seat bidet in the New York Times in 2015, I’ve been curious to try one.

Welcome to another installment of Beauty Bucket List, a series in which we roll up our sleeves to do some hard and fast testing of cult classic beauty products, because just hearing about how great something is just isn’t good enough.

If you’ve never made anything out of leather before, it can be difficult to know how to get started and where to shop for supplies. Looking at the prices, it’s no wonder sticker shock can turn many would-be leather workers away from the craft.

You may already buy things like bookcases and sheepskin rugs from IKEA, but did you know you can buy kitchen appliances there too? If you’re not sure about making such a big budget purchase at the big blue store, we did a little research to see how IKEA’s line of ranges compares to products from other manufacturers. Here’s what we found out.

Activated charcoal—an ingredient perhaps best-known as those black specks in our Brita water filters—has recently been showing up in everything from trendy ice cream to skincare products. Beloved for its detoxing abilities, this it-ingredient is credited with cleansing skin, whitening teeth and treating acne. To get in on the skin-clearing natural wonder, we picked up some food-grade activated coconut charcoal and put it to work in marbled soap bars and bath bombs that mean business.

Shopping for a fridge can be overwhelming – it’s such a big ticket item. It’s not something you replace often and it’s such a huge part of your every day life, so, of course, you want to pick the right one. It’s one of those pieces where you look for a balance between form and function — a mix that depends on your lifestyle, routine and decor style.

We love the look of a vintage-style mosaic tile floor in the bathroom. Like all true design classics, it matches with pretty much anything, and never really goes out of style. Compared to a lot of other options, it’s quite inexpensive — and when it comes to patterns, your choices are almost limitless. Here are some of our favorites. 1. Victorian Basketweave Black and White Porcelain Mosaic Tile, $70.99 for a box of 10 from Overstock 2.

Could you use a little more coziness when curling up for a nap? Privacy Pop has come up with the Bed Tent, a portable enclosure that works with your current mattress and bed frame to give you better rest. Much like its camping counterpart, the Bed Tent has two doors that roll up or zip closed, and two mesh windows on either end that can be opened or closed based on how much light you want inside.

Bed Bath & Beyond has been trying to think outside the (big) box this year. The retailer’s newest plan to boost its bottom line? Opening a bar and restaurant in Brooklyn. The New York Post is reporting that the company is planning to open a restaurant serving wine and beer as part of its BEYOND at Liberty View store in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Being a part of a military family means two things for Kathryn Bauer: renting and moving often. So she has a lot of experience creating comfortable, welcoming homes out of standard government-issue housing. When she and her family moved into their most recent rental in Japan, she countered the blank white space with personality-packed floral wallpaper on her cabinets. One year later she’s packing to move to a new home, and is back to tell us about her whole experience.