smallcoolnyc

15 Under-$300 Designer Picks From Drew Barrymore, Nate Berkus, and More

Morgan PryorShopping Writer, Lifestyle
Morgan PryorShopping Writer, Lifestyle
I cover shopping trends and must-have home products — from organizers to sofas to vacuums. I also put them to the test to see if they're really worth spending your money on. I’m based in New York, NY.
published Oct 23, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
A white couch in a white living room with colorful artwork and a colorful rug
Credit: Erin Derby

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Our Small/Cool event is back and better than ever! Inspired by our annual contest of the same name, Apartment Therapy hosts an NYC-based pop-up of over a dozen tiny rooms outfitted with trendy furniture and decor — and all of them are hand-picked by interior designers. From big names like Drew Barrymore and Nate Berkus to some of our own editors here at AT, each of them was handed a theme and a tiny area in our Sunset Park venue, and the results are seriously stunning. (Trust us, you have to see the space for yourself. If you’ve been itching for some stellar home inspiration, head down to Industry City before the event ends this weekend.)

“Sunny Style,” “Parisian Pastiche,” and “House of Hacks” are just a few of the spaces featured in this year’s lineup, and we’ve got all the details on the items filling up each room — and tons of them are on the affordable side. We’ve rounded up 15 under-$300 decor and furniture selections our designers brought into their rooms, so whether you can’t make it to Industry City this weekend or want to revisit all of the items you saw in person, we’ve got you covered.

Small/Cool NYC is a shoppable — in real life and online — home design showcase full of decorating tips and tricks from your favorite designers. Visit us from October 13 to October 29, 2023, on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) from 11 am to 7 pm ET at Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Check out our event schedule and the whole virtual experience online at smallcool.com and follow along on Instagram @apartmenttherapy. Thank you to our sponsors Beautyrest, Serta, Tuft & Needle, Spoonflower, Clare Paint, TaskRabbit, and Walmart for making this experience possible.

Beautiful Drew Chair by Drew Barrymore
$298

Like the rest of the internet, we can’t get enough of this constantly sold-out reading chair from Barrymore’s Beautiful collection for Walmart. The actress-turned-furniture designer created the coziest bouclé armchair. Pair it with a throw and a contrasting accent pillow like she did in her Small/Cool room!

$298 at Walmart
Original Dog Bed, Medium
$220

More than one of our designers added this stylish dog bed to their setups. Sleek and minimalist so that it doesn’t throw off the vibe of your space, this option from Tuft & Needle features a foam base that’s similar to the brand’s signature mattress. Get some inspiration from designer Anita Yokota’s placement of it partially tucked under the bed frame.

$220 at Tuft & Needle
Oyster Bowl in Various Colors
$55

Berkus created a bathroom with a “Traditional with a Twist” look, and we’re obsessed with all of the small details he placed in the space — including this gorgeous oyster-shaped bowl. Cast from the shape of a real shell and molded with brass, you can store jewelry or any other small items in this luxe piece.

$55 at Burke Decor
omg woodland large Duvet Cover bywhitneyenglish, Full/Queen
$224

Our Executive Home Director Danielle designed a maximalist room with tons of vibrant colors and patterns — and we love this natural woodland-printed duvet that she matched to a similar colored wallpaper.

$224 at Spoonflower
Tile Ceramic Side Table
$168

Interior designer Kevin Francis O’Gara’s retreat included this unique, show-stopping side table from Anthropologie. The glazed tiles will instantly capture attention, whether it’s placed inside or outside on your patio.

$168 at Anthropologie
Lennon Chaise Lounge
$249

This chaise is essentially an elevated bean bag, so it’s the perfect addition to a kid’s room — especially because it’ll stand the test of time and be a staple in their space for years to come, as AT founder and CEO Maxwell’s “Room to Grow” space proves.

$249 at Urban Outfitters
Eloise Table Lamp
$198$139

Who wouldn’t want their space to feel like a luxury vacation? Stylist Natalie Wong’s “Suite Dreams” bedroom has a ton of botanical and vintage-inspired flair, the latter of which was helped along by this stunning lamp from Anthropologie.

$139 at Anthropologie
AVAJI Upper Body Vase Regular price
$80$56

This unique vase will add a Grecian elegance to your space. It can be mixed with any design style, as designer Carmen René Smith’s vintage and modern mashup room exemplifies.

$56 at Burke Decor
Mini Perfect Pot 2.0
$130

Interior decorator and content creator Maitri Mody customized her Small/Cool kitchen with more DIY products like wallpaper and hardware, but renters will be glad to know that adding some personality to your kitchen can be as simple as a piece of colorful cookware, like this do-it-all ceramic pot from Our Place.

$130 at Our Place
Flamingo Table Lamp
$169

When I viewed designer DuVäl Reynolds’ fashion house-inspired space, my eye was drawn to a number of things — the plaid wallpaper, the layered rugs, the beaded chandelier — but my attention kept returning to this statement-making flamingo lamp.

$169 at Urban Outfitters
Way Basics Modular Vintage Vinyl Record Storage Blox Cube
$50$42

Whether you use it as a stand and storage for your record player and vinyl or a small space-friendly nightstand, this cube is a versatile piece that you can make your own. You can take a page out of designer Hollie Velten-Lattrell’s book and customize the wood by pasting on some printed wallpaper.

$42 at Amazon
Solid Woven Shag Rag Rug
$169$136

You can’t go wrong with this simple, budget-friendly rug — and we especially love the blue option that AT style editor Blair selected for her Small/Cool dorm room. Reviewers confirmed that it really is as soft as it looks, with one even writing that it’s “the softest, most quality piece [they] own.”

$136 at Urban Outfitters
Bust Ceramic Side Table/Nightstand
$229

The bust trend is still going strong, and if you want to make an even larger statement than a vase, check out this side table from Urban Outfitters. Designer Miles Willis McDermott added two of them to either side of his porch set-up, and when you get a glimpse of the space in person, the bust tables make a major impression.

$229 at Urban Outfitters
Wall Mount Flat Wire Basket With Bamboo Handle
$26

AT’s Executive Lifestyle Director Charli’s Small/Cool room focused on going vertical, whether that be with art or storage solutions on the walls. One of the latter she selected was this industrial wire basket from mDesign, which is a must-have for a small kitchen or bathroom.

$26 at MDesign
Entryway Rack
$184

This best-selling entryway rack can hold your shoes or your books and knick-knacks, depending on where you put it. AT Projects Director Megan included this versatile, moveable shelving unit from Open Spaces in her DIY-centered space.

$184 at Open Spaces

More to Love from Apartment Therapy