Do you enjoy shopping? Or do the crowds get to you and you return home so worn out that you swear never to do that again? If so, these suggestions may be just what you need!
What really bugs me is shopping for furniture and home decor. I never know what I want until I see it. Spending time in a showroom with a sales clerk hovering over my shoulder telling me I should buy this or that annoys me. I know they have a job to do but really! Online shopping is the solution to my problem. But again, there are so many stores, so many goodies just waiting to be purchased, and the prices add up before you know it!
This year, I decided to do some serious planning about what I wanted vs needed in home decor. That involved heavy-duty research about online shopping. I found many stores, a multitude of wonderful decor items and prices much less than in some local stores – at least in some cases.
If you know your style and know what you want, the job is half-done for you. If you don’t know it, then perhaps wandering through local furniture store showrooms will help narrow down your preferences.
Here are some of my preferences for online home decor shopping sites based on personal experience. I care about quality, ease in ordering, promptness, easy return policy and value, and the following sites excel in all.
Wayfair
I love Wayfair! A few months ago, I ordered two matching chairs from them. All we had to do was screw in the legs. The quality was nice, and I’m pleased with this purchase, kind of a major one for me.
Since that initial purchase, I’ve ordered a few more items from Wayfair.com and really like their service and prompt delivery. Best of all, they offer free shipping. Can you imagine how much that saved me on 2 chairs?
www.wayfair.com
Pottery Barn
Who doesn’t love Pottery Barn? But I refuse to go to the mall if I can avoid it. I found their online shopping is just as good and without all the people and hassle. Sign up with your email and watch for sales, because this store can be pricey. Still, everything I bought from them offered nice quality.
www.potterybarn.com
Nambe
The products from Nambe don’t normally fall within my budget. However, their after-Thanksgiving sale changed that. If you like their contemporary style, get on their mailing list, so you’ll be notified of sales. Getting 40% off makes a huge difference in their prices. They ship quickly, as well. And if you get a chance, visit their store near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Nambe is known for stunning, contemporary serving pieces, glassware and jewelry. Items are shipped in beautiful boxes and wrapped carefully for safe delivery.
www.nambe.com
Florence Scovel Jewelry
This is not fine jewelry. But if you buy inexpensive, fun jewelry, good buys abound. If you purchase for preteens and young teens, this is your place. Yes, you have to wade through a lot of merchandise you don’t want. But hey! You are doing so in the comfort of your own home. They shipped promptly and the recipients of their products liked them. And oh…those prices! You can send those granddaughters a gift more often. Fun shopping!
www.florencescoveljewelry.com.
Overstock.com
Overstock offers lower prices on good quality merchandise. I’ve experienced good luck shopping with them for years. And can you beat free shipping? Right now, their Spring Markdown Event offers even better prices. You can find just about any category for sale on Overstock.
https://www.overstock.com
eSale Rugs
I purchased an area rug from eSale Rugs with free shipping. I bought a 5 X 8′ rug and paid less than $100. It’s holding up well, and I’m pleased. Even better, it arrived just a few days after I ordered it. Sales appear to happen all the time and I found every style imaginable on their website.
https://esalerugs.com/
Zulilly.com
Zulilly makes for fun shopping! I receive at least one email a day from the company with colorful blurbs about their newest offerings. I admit I’m a good customer but their prices are so reasonable, I don’t feel at all guilty. Zulilly sells adorable infant and children’s outfits at discounted prices – perfect for grandchildren gifts. Remember the Nannette brand when our own children were small? I ordered a couple of those outfits for my youngest granddaughter. For Christmas, I found a nice selection of the Melissa & Doug toys for toddlers, as well.
I bought several items for myself, including a really pretty cocktail ring with a large agate stone for under $20. Fun to wear! Their prices on designer handbags are fantastic! Buy for yourself or buy for your home and never feel guilty.
https://www.zulily.com/?
Chewy.com
If you own pets, you owe it to yourself to check out chewy.com. And if you buy for a large dog, Chewy could make your life much easier. They will ship the products to your door and you avoid lugging 10 or 20 lb. bags of dog food from the store to the car to your home. Shipping is free, and the company offers an autoship program that saves 5% if you choose it. I happily used chewy.com for many years when we raised Great Danes and later, our Weimaraner.
Decide for Yourself if Online Shopping is Right for You
Think about your own shopping habits. If you enjoy the mall and all the traffic involved, then online shopping may not be for you. But if, like me, you prefer to do your browsing in the comfort of your home, you may want to try one of the stores listed above. I’m certainly glad I did.
