If you don’t remember the days when it was possible to score a Paul McCobb dresser or an Eames fiberglass seat for a song, don’t feel bad—neither do we! But that doesn’t mean interior decorating needs to be reserved only for the financially endowed. Here at Chairish, we love high style, but we also like scoring it for a low price. Assuming you do too, you might be wondering, how do I score affordable interior design? While there’s no one tactic batting cleanup, there are a number of ways you can save a few bucks—sometimes a few hundred!—here and there. While that might not sound like much, when we’re talking about redecorating an entire room, that can add up to some serious savings. So without further ado, ready to learn how to get chic on the cheap?
1. Shop Vintage
We may be a bit biased given our obvious (ahem) penchant for vintage decor, but shopping secondhand can definitely make interior decorating more affordable. Savings might not come in the forms you think they would, however. Oftentimes, vintage decor will wear price tags just as high—if not higher—than new. Legendary designs can frequently command bigger price tags than newly-made pieces, especially if they showcase out-of-production finishes or timeworn charm that can’t be replicated. One trick for working those prices back down to size? Striking a deal. Unlike shopping new, shopping vintage allows you to haggle. In many cases, this is an easy way to shave a decent percentage off the selling price. Want even more savings? If you buy multiple items from the same dealer, they’ll often cut you a sweeter deal.
2. Land Undervalued Vintage Brands
We hate to say it, but prepare to always pay for A-list designs, whether they’re vintage or not. We’re talking Egg Chairs, Papa Bear Chairs, Womb Chairs. To score cheaper vintage pieces, look to designs from less sought-after makers. Baker Furniture Company, Lane Furniture, Maitland-Smith, and Henredon are all examples of companies with incredible vintage pieces that retail for far less than what you would expect to pay for similar pieces new. Opting for unmarked is always another option. While bringing home an unmarked Milo Baughman-style console might not garner the same thrill as a marked one, we guarantee after a few weeks, the lack of a maker’s mark on the bottom will be the last thing on your mind.
3. Buy a Secondhand Fixer-Upper
The same rules that apply to saving money when house hunting can easily be co-opted for furniture. Case in point: buying a piece that requires a little TLC. Of course, just like when buying a house, there are caveats to buying worse-for-the-wear furniture. To avoid a money pit, only purchase pieces that can easily be brought back to life. This can include case pieces that can be revived with a simple coat of paint or dining chairs that will benefit from a newly reupholstered seat drop-in. It’s best to avoid antiques with major structural damage like broken appendages, rot, or termite damage. Trying to remedy these sorts of defects can easily total the value of the piece.
4. Splurge on a “Room Maker”
If you have a set redecorating budget of a few thousand bucks and you feel overwhelmed by all of the decor that you need, you might want to consider scaling back and investing in a single piece. Don’t splurge on just any piece, of course. The ideal candidate should be a “room-maker.” Think: a Ligne Roset Togo sofa, a Roche Bobois Mah Jong sectional, a Milo Baughman for Dunbar half-moon sectional. These pieces will likely eat up your entire budget, but they’ll also completely transform a room. In fact, if you dig into interior designs featuring these showstoppers, you’ll find, as a rule, designers use them in fairly minimalist settings, anyway. Try partnering them with IKEA pieces for a time and slowly add in more specialized pieces as your budget allows.
5. Frame Your Own Art
Art is one of the best places to save money when decorating your home. While newly framed prints and paintings can easily run upwards of several hundred dollars, new and vintage prints can often be scored for as little as ten bucks. (For truly cheap prints, check out downloadable files that you can print at a mail outlet like FedEx.) Once you have your prints in hand, head to an online framing outlet to create custom picture mats and frames. While this process will still cost you, oftentimes even very large frames (30” x 30” or larger) can be created for around $200 to $300. Combine that price with the virtual unmentionable cost of a downloadable print and you’ve scored a piece of custom art at a fraction of the price of newly made.
6. Curate High-Impact Decor
Pillows, lamps, and art are low-cost ways to make a visual impact. If you’re not ready to sink major funds into a sofa or coffee table, but you’re feeling compelled to get started on redecorating, try dressing up low-cost furniture with high-end decor. Pillows, especially ones crafted of high-end fabrics or global textiles can make even a simple white sofa or bed feel leagues more luxurious. Similarly, textile bolts, including suzani, mud cloth, and Otomi textiles can spruce a plain jane sofa or bed. Another place to put this tactic into play is a low-budget lamp. Top one with a vibrantly patterned pleated shade or a whimsical wicker shade and you’ve created a top drawer style with a bottom drawer budget.
7. Opt for Local Pick-Up
Most of us don’t give a thought to shipping fees before they ambush us at checkout. Of course, by that point, most of us are too invested to do anything but bite the bullet and silently file those charges under “miscellaneous expenses.” When shopping at multiple outlets, however, those shipping fees can quickly add up. To avoid the shipping suck, consider shopping local when you can. At Chairish, we make it easy for you to drop in your zip code and view only those products that are within a drivable distance from your home. If wrangling a sofa or coffee table is more than you’re willing to take on, ask local stores if they offer in-home delivery. Most will for a small fee, or even for free occasionally!
8. Frequent Off-the-Beaten-Path Shops
Is there still fabulous, unearthed vintage out there just to be scored for less? Yes! But chances are it’s not waiting for you in high-style hubs like Austin, Los Angeles, or Chicago. To really discover the gems, you need to detour to small-town antique stores and thrift shops. Shops where a Robert Sonneman lamp might not be identified as the collectible treasure it is within mere minutes of hitting the shop floor. Keep in mind, that this isn’t a reliable way to shop for affordable furniture and home decor. However, if you’re in the midst of a decorating project and just “passing through,” why not roll the dice? You never know what you might find priced for $2.99 or less!
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Lead photo design by CWB Architects / Photo by Rachael Stollar