My Favorite Places to Shop
If you’ve read my Home Tour Vignette’s, you know that a lot of things in my home are from all over the world. I inherited a lot of my Grammie’s treasures that she collected while living over seas and have a lot of those things on display in my home. Aside from her things, which are invaluable to me, I also have a things that I’ve picked up along that way that have struck my fancy. Here is where I like to look for specific things when decorating a space.
Hobby Lobby: Hobby Lobby is really great for art, artificial plants, decor items, holiday decor and….pillowcases. Yes, you read that right: pillowcases. A few years ago I was shocked to find a section in Hobby Lobby that sold pre-made, zippered pillowcases. The ones I’ve bought are a knit cotton fabric which wash and wear great. They’re a little stretchy and look really great. And I think they’re around $15 each. Killer buy! Also, Hobby Lobby always has a 40% off coupon on their website that you can pull up on your phone when you’re about to check out. 40% off anything that is full price.
Home Goods: I love me some Home Goods! This store is part of the TJ Maxx family, except it offers all things related to the home. I love to look there for pillows, candles, curtains and housewares. They always have a gigantic selection of pillows (down-filled are my favorite, and make sure they unzip for laundering). Their candles are great, they always have a variety of scents and they look nice too, with an average price point of $9. Their curtains are usually a good buy and of good quality, but they don’t typically offer a great variety: basic colors and basic length, but they usually come in a pack of two for under $25 (that’s a screaming deal if you’ve ever shopped curtains). And of course, their housewares section is packed to the brim. It takes some time to rummage through the aisles of things, but Home Goods is a great spot for cookware, storage containers and kitchen utensils, not to mention tablecloths and towels.
World Market: ahhhh, this store lights up my soul, like a sister from another mister! Of course their schtick is to bring in and sell tchotchkes from all over the world, so naturally I hold a special place in my heart for this store. I’m reminded of so many of the things my Grammie collected from over seas and love the uniqueness of what they stock. I love to visit this store when I’m looking for something Bohemian in vibe: their pillows and curtains are always colorful and unique. I love their basket section and their wall art (although I typically find it a little on the expensive side for my liking). They have a huge assortment of international food items too which is a lot of fun if you’re hosting a party and want to bring in something different. Their lighting options are also on-point: a great price point and unique options.
Target: my Mecca. What can I say, Target is fabulous for just about everything. I highly suggest getting their app and utilizing their discounts through their Circle program (every little bit of savings helps, right)? These days what I’m loving about Target is their Drive Up and Go feature, which is especially helpful for busy people who don’t have the time to go inside. I can get some groceries, some home decor and some workout gear and have it brought out to my car! Genius! I love Target’s home scents: reed diffusers, candles and oils. I’m also a fan of their wall art and lighting sections, where you can mix and match lamp bases with shades. Target has a great selection of curtains in various lengths, which is great if you have tall ceilings. And their kids decor aisle is cute too, kitschy dinosaurs and unicorns with adorable prints and patterns that any kid would love.
Thrift Stores: when you feel like hunting. I love going to thrift stores: you never know what you’ll find. It’s a surprise every time! Since there are so many things in thrift stores, I like to focus my efforts. I always look at the art: frames are expensive, so if you find a frame you love (that’s the right size), even if you don’t like the print, get it! You can always take the old art out and put something new in its place. I typically stroll through the home decor items as well as the kitchen items. Old bakeware and glassware are typically as good as new at a fraction of the cost of new. I’m also a huge sucker for furniture, so I always look at thrift stores for furniture. I’m still haunted by some chairs I saw for a client at a Value Village once that she didn’t get….they were gone when she went to get them! I tend to avoid upholstered items unless I can recover it myself (or if I have the budget to get it recovered), but stools or wooden chairs or tables are a great buy if you find a shape you like. Just remember to pack your patience, it can be exhausting! And find a few stores that you like in good neighborhoods. It’s nice to become familiar with their layout and know where to go when you get in there. Also, I prefer to frequent thrift stores that are non-profit (i.e. not Value Village). Stores that support charities are more my speed!
Wayfair: Wayfair is the ultimate bunny trail; the have literally everything. And good prices too! Anything you could possibly want, they’ve got something. I’ve bought a few things from there before that I’ve been happy with, like rugs and small furniture. The downside is you can’t see it in person or touch it, so you never quite know what you’re going to get. I always read reviews of the items I’m looking at to get the scoop, and be sure to pay attention to their return policy. But otherwise, I think they’re a great place to check out for just about everything!
I hope my little list here gives you some place to start in your decor search! Comment below for any questions on where to find what you’re looking for! Happy Hunting!