the top sources for beautiful and affordable home decor

BUDGET
SHOPPING
GUIDE
the top sources
for beautiful
and affordable
home decor
introduction
Growing up with parents who instilled the
importance of spending less and saving
more, I’ve always been a budget conscious
bargain hunter. After renovating three
homes, paying in cash along the way while
substantially adding to the equity, I’ve
developed a guide to help others on a
budget make smart buying decisions to
achieve that high end, “put together”
look for the minimum cost.
how to use this guide
On each page you’ll find a list of my top
resources for that particular category, in
order of most recommended. While there
are alternative sources, these are always
the first places I look, and can find what
I’m looking for nearly every time.
I’ve also included direct links to my
favorite items that I own and love.
This document is hyperlinked* so you can
click on each store name or item to be
directed to their website.
Happy Shopping!
*some links may contain affiliates, which have no impact whatsoever
on their inclusion in this guide.Thank you for your support!
table of contents
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STORAGE BINS + BASKETS
PILLOWS + BLANKETS
BEDDING
CURTAINS + BLINDS
DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES
WOOD FURNITURE
OTHER FURNITURE
KNOBS, PULLS & HARDWARE
TILE + FLOORING
LIGHTING
RUGS
ART + FRAMES
FLORAL + GREENERY
KITCHEN
HOLIDAYS + CRAFTS
BUILDING MATERIALS/TOOLS
OTHER RESOURCES
storage bins + baskets
The Container Store
IKEA
Pier 1 Imports
H&M Home
World Market
Home Goods
Overstock
TJ Maxx
Wayfair
Ross
Target
Walmart
JoAnn
Amazon
personal favorites
stain or
paint it!
$10 / walmart
$10 / joann
$7+ / the container store
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pillows + blankets
IKEA
H&M Home
Home Goods
Overstock
Wayfair
Kohl’s
Target
TJ Maxx
Ross
Walmart
Etsy
Local flea markets
Tip: For pillows, I often buy inexpensive inserts and fabric and
pay a local seamstress /friend to sew covers, resulting in a
custom look for less than the cost of most store bought options!
personal favorites
stain or
paint it!
$20 / kohl’s
$18 / h&m home
$13 / ikea
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bedding
IKEA
H&M Home
Target
Home Goods
Overstock
TJ Maxx
Wayfair
Ross
Pier 1 Imports
Urban Outfitters
Tip: Make sure to check the measurements for King sizes!Most
duvets/comforters are too small for my pillow top mattress.
The quilt and comforter below run large and are a perfect fit.
personal favorites
$25+ / ikea
$30+ / overstock
$32+ / walmart
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curtains + blinds
IKEA: I normally stick to neutral/simple curtains and
always opt for longer lengths to add visual height to
windows & ceilings. The best place for affordable rods
& hardware as well. Ikea never lets me down!
H&M Home: A smaller selection, but also carries
longer curtain lengths and worth browsing.
Etsy: If you need something specific, there’s a wide
variety of styles and sellers who can customize the size.
Alternatives: Find fabric at fabric.com, Ebay, JoAnn,
Hobby Lobby or local thrift stores/flea markets—or
repurpose inexpensive sheets, lightweight quilts or
dropcloths, and use simple sewing skills (or hire a local
seamstress or use iron-on hem tape) to make your own.
Justblinds.com: My go-to source for woven natural
roman shades. They send free samples, can make any
custom size, and there’s always sales.
Alternative: DIY your own fabric roman shades!
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decorative accessories
Flea Markets
IKEA
Target
World Market
Pier 1 Imports
Hobby Lobby
Urban Outfitters
Thrift Stores
H&M Home
Home Goods
TJ Maxx
Ross
JoAnn
Antique Shops
This is one category I encourage you to spend less on—seek out
objects with personal significance or meaning (items collected
on travels, family heirlooms, etc). Flea markets are my secret!
personal favorites
$10 / ikea
$10+ / ikea
$30 / h&m
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wood furniture
DIY (ana-white.com)
Thrift & Antique Shops
Flea Market
World Market
Pier 1 Imports
IKEA
Craigslist
Facebook Groups
Home Goods
TJ Maxx
Ross
Target
Learning to DIY and buying used vintage furniture has saved us
thousands of dollars over the years, and it will last longer than
many store bought alternatives!
favorite diy plans
cottage cabinet
console table
farmhouse table
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other furniture
IKEA
Target
Thrift & Antique Shops
Craigslist
Flea Market
Facebook Groups
World Market
Home Goods
Pier 1 Imports
TJ Maxx
Overstock
Ross
Walmart
Wayfair
personal favorites
$350 / ikea
$173 / target
$60 / target
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knobs, pulls & hardware
Ebay
Lowe’s
Hobby Lobby
Home Depot
IKEA
Amazon
I always check Ebay first—it’s where I purchased nearly every
door knob & cabinet pull in our house (still going strong years
later) for the best possible price. For fun specialty knobs,
Hobby Lobby has a great selection. If you’re short on time and
need basic pieces, Lowe’s or Home Depot are great options.
personal favorites
$1+ / ebay
$8 / amazon
$3.40 / lowe’s
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tile + flooring
Lowe’s
Home Depot
Lumber Liquidators
Build Direct
Floor & Decor
Floors to your home
The Floor Club
Cement Tile Shop
Wayfair
Build.com
Look for local private wholesale showrooms in your area. If you
use one of their recommended installers, you can get deep
discounts on materials and you can usually take a sample home
to test before buying. I’ve used The Floor Club and love them!
personal favorites
$2/sf / floorstoyourhome
$3.64/sf / lowe’s
$2/sf / lowe’s
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lighting
Lowe’s
IKEA
Overstock
Amazon
Target
Lamp Plus
World Market
Home Depot
Wayfair
LightingDirect.com
Build.com
Urban Outfitters
Walmart
Home Goods
personal favorites
$30 / lowe’s
$30 / lowe’s
$100 / world market
$43 / lightingdirect.com
$93 / amazon
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rugs
Rugs USA
H&M Home
IKEA
Home Goods
Target
TJ Maxx
Ebay
World Market
Pier 1 Imports
Wayfair
Urban Outfitters
Overstock
Rugs Direct
West Elm
personal favorites
$33+ / wayfair
$129+ / rugs usa
$69+ / rugs usa
$30 / ikea
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art + frames
Jenna Sue Design :)
IKEA
Etsy
Minted
DIY
Target
Walmart
Michael’s
Art.com
Aaron Brothers
Society 6
Hobby Lobby
personal favorites
$13+ / jennasuedesign
$2+ / ikea
$20+ / minted
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floral & greenery
Save On Crafts
IKEA
Michael’s
JoAnn
Wayfair
Hobby Lobby
Target
Walmart
Etsy
Amazon
If you don’t have a green thumb but aren’t into faux plants,
preserved florals & greenery are a great option. Use them for
wreaths, crafting or vase fillers. Florals like lavender look
lovely when dried and still retain a fragrance.
Display freshly cut stems or branches and place in a pitcher or
vase for a no-cost/no committment room refresh in any season.
personal favorites
$6 / ikea
$34 / save on crafts
$5+ / save on crafts
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kitchen
CABINETS
IKEA, Lowe’s & Home Depot
ACCESSORIES
IKEA
Flea Market/thrift
Home Goods
World Market
Pier 1 Imports
Overstock
Bed Bath & Beyond
H&M Home
Target
TJ Maxx
Ross
Wayfair
Urban Outfitters
Walmart
personal favorites
$4 / ikea
$10+ / bed bath and beyond
$13 / h&m
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holidays & crafts
Hobby Lobby
JoAnn
Snedco Wholesale
IKEA
Ebay
Home Goods
Lowe’s
Save On Crafts
Michael’s
Flea Market/thrift
TJ Maxx
Ross
Target
Home Depot
Holidays are the best time to craft + DIY! Get the family involved
and try simple & inexpensive projects you can toss or save for
next year. You don’t need to go all out—mix in new colors,
florals/plants and other small touches for seasonal transitions.
personal favorites
$12 / snedco wholesale
$6 / ikea
$varies / lowe’s
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building materials/tools
Lowe’s
Home Depot
Ebay
Amazon
Craigslist
Flea Market/thrift
Facebook groups
Local lumber yards
Yard sales
Ace Hardware
Lowe’s and Home Depot tend to have the best prices and widest
selection of wood, but for authentic weathered wood, look into
local salvaged lumber yards or Craigslist/Facebook groups.
The best deals on tools are usually found on Amazon & Ebay,
but it’s sometimes smarter to purchase in person for returns.
personal favorites
$35 / home depot
$149 / amazon
$199 / lowe’s
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other resources
PAINT
I swear by Valspar Signature (available at Lowe’s).
I use flat or eggshell for walls, satin for doors and wall
planks or humid areas, semi-gloss for trim/windows,
and outdoor grade gloss for exterior doors.
LABOR
When a job must be hired out, I always use personal
referrals whenever possible. If not, Craigslist is a great
place to look. Get more than one quote, have a plan in
writing beforehand and complete the payment after the
job is finished to your approval.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tackling renovations yourself can be exciting,
overwhelming, daunting and addicting all at once.
It takes a lot of trial and error to find your comfort zone
and it’s certainly not for everyone! Need help? Contact
me for e-design services: [email protected]!
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