8 Secret Places You Need to Shop for Affordable Yet Stylish Decor, Designers Say

This story is part of Home School, our complete guide to making your first home your own, where we share our first-hand and expert advice on everything you need to know to make your first home your best home. To learn more tips for settling into a new space, check out our full guide here.

Unless you’re regularly strolling around new towns, it can be hard to know where to go for unique, stylish, and affordable decor.

Luckily, there are plenty of options you may have never heard of—you just the inside scoop on where to start.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites under-the-radar places to score decor (and tapped designers to get theirs, too).

Nathan James

Picture this: you’re moving out for the first time, but are shocked to discover how expensive it is to furnish your first place.

Sound familiar? Most of us have been there, and Brooklyn Burdon, the founder of Nathan James, is no exception.

Perfect for anyone who wants to create a stylish, welcoming space—particularly with mid-century and minimalist aesthetics in mind—Nathan James might rank as our top pick for well-priced furniture for first-time homeowners and renters. 

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Designer-Approved: Pooky Lighting

Anyone who has ever shopped for lighting knows how mind-blowingly expensive it can be—both for lamps and fixtures.

Luckily, Pooky Lighting is changing the game—it’s an especially great place for cordless lighting, according to Corinne Back, the owner and principal designer of Corinne Victoria Design.

“Cordless lamps have always been either expensive or super cheap-looking, but I find Pooky’s to be a refreshing twist,” Back says.

As Back also notes, Pooky’s cordless offerings look far more expensive than they are, especially if you’re looking to light a space that isn’t currently wired for lighting.

ban.do

If you’re looking to add some more personality into your space, ban.do is an absolute must. The brand’s ethos is the epitome of joy, and we especially love their offerings for all your home office needs—although thanks to an entire section of stylish games and activities, they’re a great go-to place for play, too. 

Enviroscent

We love a great home scent, but find that so many of the more reasonably priced options can trigger allergies and sensitivities.

That’s one reason to love Enviroscent, whose entire mission is to offer non-toxic air fresheners and home scents free of chemicals often found in other brands.

There are other functional reasons to love this brand, too. Their Scent Stix stands and candle holders are adorably on-trend, their prices are great, and with scents like Tahitian Sandalwood and Vanilla, they’re exactly on point with the warm, welcoming scents we love. 

Designer-Approved: Society6

For truly adorable and unique home accessories, interior designer Susie Novak of Susie Novak Interiors says you can’t beat Society6—especially if you’re looking for cute art prints and bedding.

“Their photographs and prints have amazing prices, even framed,” Novak says, who especially loves their beach photography for bathrooms and their artist prints for softer spaces, like bedrooms.

The Six Bells

If your tastes skew more country-inspired and traditional, then The Six Bells is a must. It’s the perfect place to check for whimsical accessories like picture frames and candleholders, but it also offers one-of-a-kind dishware, gifts, and lamps.

The Six Bells also has an ever-changing antiques section on their site. This is great if you love the idea of incorporating a few vintage pieces but aren’t quite sure where or how to source them yourself. 

Desenio 

Virtual print shop Desenio is a fabulous place to get started with personalized artwork. Their pieces are incredibly well-priced and can come framed or unframed.

Our favorite secret weapon is the “Gallery Walls” section of their website. Even if you don’t arrange the pieces all on one wall, it’s a perfect way to build a cohesive collection that can carry your color palette throughout your new space. 

Fishs Eddy

New Yorkers know Fishs Eddy as a reliable staple for kitschy, fun, and on-trend tableware, and their website offers a small sample of the items you can find in-store at their Manhattan location.

Their prices are incredibly accessible, and you’re sure to find plenty of conversation starters here. We love their drinking glasses and dish towels, in particular, though their one-of-a-kind trays are not to be missed.