Whether you are moving into your first home, renovating your existing home or building a home from the ground up, it’s difficult to know where to get spendy and where to save. What’s worth the extra investment? What can you spend less on and get away with? Because let’s be real, not all of us can go all-out on every detail in a space. In fact, mixing and matching high and low pieces often make the room feel a little more… lived in. Especially home owners out there with kiddos, it provides a little piece of mind to know that not every surface in a room is precious and expensive.
When my husband and I renovated our first home together, we had a furniture and decor budget and it was critical that we stuck to it. Yes I invested in some areas, but I also was able to source some incredible items from accessible and affordable stores – and you’d never know 😉 Oooh baby, I love a good dupe! And I know how frustrating it can be to fall in love with an item only to discover that it’s way out of budget. You know how I feel about accessible and affordable design, which is why I get so lit up when finding the perfect ‘look for less’ dupe.
*Psst… if this is a topic that you’re loving and find helpful, I’d be happy to create a Save Vs. Splurge series here on the blog or over on Instagram. Are we into that? Let me know below!
That said, sometimes dupes are a little too… dupe-like and we end up replacing them in a year or less. At that point, we may as well have invested, right? Which brings me to today’s post. I’m sharing my recommendations for where to save on a dupe and where to splurge, plus a few of my favourite options right now in each category.
Where to SAVE:
- Decor Objects
When it comes to baskets, vases, bowls, objects and books, saving is the name of the game. There are so many accessible stores that offer trendy pieces in this category, that way you can buy them with the season and then swap them out when you need a little refresh. Plus, nobody in the house is interacting with these on a daily basis (unless you have kids reaching for them, in which case they should definitely be a save), so they won’t face a lot of wear and tear. For my US friends I love Target for these pieces, or other big box stores like H&M or Zara. For my local Canadians, my favourite shops for affordable decor are Freeborn & Co, Rug & Weave and VdeV.
Shop Affordable Decor
- Artwork
This one can fall into both categories, but it’s typically a save for me – and that’s because I’m often sourcing digitable printable artwork that I download, print and frame myself. Not only do you save a ton on the art print itself, but you also avoid shipping – which can be a huge expense with large pieces. I love Collection Prints for more traditional landscapes or Printable Concept for modern or graphic patterns. If you aren’t sure about your local printing house, Poster Jack is a great option for high quality printing in Canada.
Shop Affordable Artwork
- Accent Chairs
There are so many gorgeous accent chairs out there that fall under the save column. Especially with small kids, or even big kids (I’m the most spill-prone person you’ll meet), you don’t want to be spending a ton on accent chairs (especially light coloured ones) that don’t NEED to be as comfortable as your sofa. After all, we’re likely not sitting on them as frequently. I love Target for accent chairs – hello Studio Mcgee and Hearth & Hand – but you can also look at Article, Structube or Wayfair. We have gorgeous McGee & Co dupes in our living room that I discovered at Wayfair and love them.
Shop Affordable Accent Chairs
- Coffee Tables
Similar to accent chairs, there are so many cute coffee tables that I’ve bookmarked that aren’t overly spendy. Again, with a family or pets, coffee tables aren’t typically something you want to get too precious about (ours doubles as our dining table most nights, let’s be real). Yes if you have the funds to invest then go for it, however these aren’t typically on the top of my spend list. Target’s Hearth and Hand line has some beautiful coffee tables, Joss & Main always has great options, or heck, we’ve used two square ottomans in our living room for a cute and casual look. An upholstered bench can work here too!
Shop Affordable Coffee Tables
- Rugs
Ah, my favourite category. I’m working on a blog post entirely dedicated to my favourite rug options (and how to choose the right rug size), however for now I’ll leave it at this: yes you can invest in a beautiful vintage rug that will hold up for years and years (my husband is Persian so high quality rugs are in his blood), but if you’re anything like me and love changing your rugs out every so often, there are SO many incredible save options. Loloi is at the top of my list, not only because they are well-made and don’t pill or pull, but also because they’ve collaborated with so many incredible designers – like Amber Lewis and Chris Loves Julia – to create some stunning and affordable options. One of the biggest mistakes you can make with a rug is going too small, so when in doubt, always opt for the largest option the space will allow. Which is why going a little less expensive is smart, otherwise based on size alone you’ll end up spending a pretty penny.
Shop Affordable Rugs
- Light Fixtures
This one is another one that straddles both columns – and depends on your definition of investment. While there are some great inexpensive lighting options on retailers like Amazon (I went this route for all of my wall sconces), I typically like to go middle-of-the-road in this category. Yes a $500 chandelier is still a bit spendy, but in comparison to a typical lighting investment at an expensive retailer (which can range from $1,000-$10,000+), it’s a pretty good deal. My go-to’s here are Crate & Barrel/CB2, Pottery Barn and Mitzy. But if you find a big-time dupe at Home Depot or Ikea, you go girl. That said, be mindful of scale. You can find what looks like the perfect pendant or chandelier, until you get it home and realize it’s way too small for the space. Lighting is meant to make a statement, and going too small or too budget can take away from that. When it comes to table lamps, save options are a bit harder to come by – especially for us Canadians that can’t bask in the glory that is Target’s Studio McGee line.
Shop Affordable Lighting
Where to get SPLURGEY:
- Window Treatments
As popular as the Ikea curtains have become, I’m a believer in quality window treatments done by a professional – if budget allows. If things are tight, consider going spendy on a roman shade (choosing custom fabric is also a huge plus here) and then save on an inexpensive curtain on either side. However, keep in mind how you HANG those curtains can dictate how high quality they look. Install the rod much higher than the window itself to make the room appear taller and grander, and ensure the bottom of the curtains graze the floor. There’s nothing worse than curtains that are too short!
- Throw Pillows
This one may have you asking, what the heck? I thought pillows were meant to swap with the seasons? Ok ok yes, they are a decor item that you can have fun with, however you can always tell which pillows came from inexpensive retailers – they’ll typically look flat and lifeless. I go a little more spendy here, but stick to patterns and colours that I won’t get sick of. Tonic Living is my go-to, but West Elm and Etsy are also great options for beautiful patterns. If budget is tight, consider opting for expensive pillow inserts instead. You wouldn’t believe the difference a plump and plush insert has on an inexpensive pillow case. Yes, that karate chop actually stays put!
- Bedding
Ooh this one is such a goodie. While you can often find inexpensive bedding that looks cute, as soon as you crawl into it (or wash it)… you’ll know. You don’t have to go crazy with investing here, but even taking it up a notch can make a bed look so beautiful – and feel that way too. If you’re like me and also try to opt for organic and non-toxic fabrics as much as possible, especially in areas where you spend many hours, then it’s worth the extra money. I love Flax Home and West Elm (they have a great organic selection) but have also heard great things about Brooklinen.
- Sofas
If you’re going to spend on one furniture piece in your living room (and we know it’s not your accent chairs, coffee table or rug), then let it be your sofa. Not only do we spend (sometimes too much) time on our sofas, but we typically have them for years and years. Opt for neutral and timeless fabrics and you can’t go wrong!
- Dining Tables
Like a sofa, a dining table is typically a furniture piece that we have for many years – unless you are living in a small condo. If you have the space, my recommendation is to invest in a real wood option that is timeless enough to look amazing regardless of the design, plus is super well-made. Ours is from West Elm and I’m in love with it. Dining chairs are something you can have a little more fun with depending on style and trend.
- Faux Greenery
This one might have you scratching your head, but trust me – an inexpensive faux tree is always a dead giveaway in my opinion (I think it’s the shade of green and the sheen?!). If you can, spend a little more to ensure the colour is right, the weight is substantial and the size fits the space. For my Canadians, Artiplanto is where I get the majority of my faux trees (yes I have an olive tree obsession, ok?), however I’ve also spotted amazing ones at West Elm. It’s better to save on the large pot that you pop it in!
So there ya have it! Of course where you save vs. splurge will depend on you, your budget, your preferences and the space itself, however I hope this has provided a bit of guidance in terms of where to start.
