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Last week I talked in depth about the elements of the home I recommend splurging on when designing your home. There are things that deserve a considerable amount of your budget if you want to create a design you’ll love 10 years down the road. But as I mentioned in my last article, not every area of your home needs to be expensive to be beautiful. In fact, there are several elements of the home that I recommend saving your money on.
But before I dive into my recommendations, I want to talk briefly about the difference between cheap and affordable finds.
The Difference Between Cheap & Affordable
With every product, there’s a range of quality between cheap and high end. When it comes to choosing affordable options, instead of opting for the cheapest option available, I try to veer as close to the middle range as I can afford. The reason being that middle range products are generally made better and will last longer, yet still sit in the affordable category. Catherine from School of Minimalism said it wonderfully:
“Pause before purchasing and ask yourself, is it the best quality I can afford?”
– School Of Minimalism
Of course there are plenty of opportunities to find well made pieces that have a cheap price tag when you source antiques or second hand. This is the ultimate goal!
So, when top of the line is out of budget or not a priority, these are the pieces I recommend saving your money on.
6 Things You Should Save On When Designing Your Home
1. DRESSERS
Dressers are expensive! A new solid wood dresser can easily sell upwards of $2k while a new budget friendly dresser is usually cheaply made with chipboard. For this reason, every one of my dressers are second hand or antique. They’re made of sturdy construction and (usually) they’re more affordable than new dressers.
Facebook marketplace and antique shops are a great places to source second hand dressers. Look for solid wood or, if in good shape, wood veneer dressers. That way if the dresser needs some love, it can be sanded and restained or painted to give it new life.
I sourced this dresser on Facebook Marketplace and gave it new life with a fresh coat of black paint and matching wood knobs. Watch the transformation!
Photography: Mindy Rose
2. THROW PILLOWS
If you were to do a quick google search for designer throw pillows, you wouldn’t have to scroll far to find price tags of $200+. I just did a quick search myself and saw a lumbar pillow for $420. While I’m sure the fabrics are luxurious and one-of-a-kind, you can find options just as beautiful for ¼ the price.
My personal favorite method for pillow shopping is to source fabrics that I can sew into pillows. But I also love the many unique, handmade pillows that can be found on Etsy.
My one word of caution: While I have no issue with sourcing one or two pillows from department stores, avoid purchasing all your pillows from mass produced stores as it can quickly begin to look like a catalogue. Besides, who wants the same pillow that everyone else has too?
Affordable Throw Pillows
3. LAMPS
When I need a new lamp, I look for second-hand or antique options. I love the individuality of them, the natural patina, and the fact that they’re usually 1/3rd the price of designer lamps. If the wiring is questionable, you can have it rewired.
As for lamp shades, I turn to affordable second-hand stores for that too. Generally, you’ll have to do a little digging and don’t forgot a tape measurer to make sure you’re getting the right size. It takes time to find good used lamp shades, but it can be done!
4. TOILETS & SINKS
There are some incredibly luxurious toilets and sinks on the market that make my heart pitter patter, but you don’t need an expensive option for it to be beautiful. I look for affordable toilets with a rectangle base and a squared (not rounded or tapered) tank. This toilet is a favorite of mine.
As for sinks, when you have a beautiful natural stone countertop, an affordable sink can play a supporting role without taking away from the beauty.
5. DECOR
Nearly all of my decor is either antique, handmade, or second-hand and that’s for a few reasons. I have found that when I use too much new decor, the room begins to feel too decorated. But when I primarily use old pieces and handmade pottery, the design feels collected.
While I’m willing to splurge on antique furniture, I find myself opting for more affordable options when it comes to decor. More specifically: books, artwork, frames, vases, and pottery.
Stylists: Annie Desantis, Sara Ronna
Photography: Malissa Mabey
Build: The Biltmore Company
Architect: Hebdon Studio
6. PIECES ABOVE OR BELOW EYE LEVEL
If investing in quality eye level pieces is recommended (which it is), then the reverse can also be true. If the budget is tight, pick one or two things above or below your eye level to go the affordable route.
Perhaps instead of a natural stone tile, you can opt for a lookalike option that’s ½ the price. Instead of an $800 flush mount, look for one in the $200 range. This list of kitchen items that you should save vs splurge on is so helpful! The point being, when it comes to the elements of the room that aren’t the main focus, you have plenty of opportunities to save some money.
In this laundry room, W Design Collective sourced affordable floor tile to open up the budget for designer lighting, cabinetry, and custom drapery.
OPTING FOR AFFORDABLE OPTIONS SHOULDN’T MEAN YOU LOWER YOUR STANDARDS
In nearly every scenario where I opt for affordable options, I turn to well made antiques and second-hand alternatives rather than cheaply made furniture or mass produced decor from department stores. When I recommend sourcing affordable pieces, I’m not suggesting you turn to poorly made manufactured pieces. I’m suggesting you put your research hat on and dig for used furniture that is well made, antique decor that feels like a steal, or handmade pieces that you build yourself. Looking for affordable options doesn’t mean you have to lower your quality standards. It means you’re willing to get your hands dirty and search for that needle in a haystack find.
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