The Best Home Décor and Accessories

We’re a little finicky over here at the Strategist — we want to surround ourselves with things that look good (exciting, different, expensive) but we don’t want any of it to costtoomuch. So when we sniff out, say, a great-looking side table that’s under $50, or bathroom accessories that cost as much as a Sweetgreen salad, we just have to tell you about it. Here, we’ve compiled all the home décor stories we’ve done in one handy post, whether you’re moving into a dorm room, decorating a spare bedroom, or furnishing a first (or fifth) apartment.
TheBestColorfulHomeDécor
If you’re getting tired of that minimalist Scandinavian look, we foundcolorful, affordable décor itemsto zhuzh up your space.
TheBestCheapButExpensive-LookingDécorItems
Simple things you canbuy on Amazon(many of them under $20) that give your space a design-y upgrade.
TheBestCheapButExpensive-LookingDining-RoomDécor
Continuing our dedication to cheap things that look expensive, we went and dug up thebest sneakily affordable dining-room itemson Amazon.
TheBestCheapButExpensive-LookingBedroomDécor
Even morecheap but expensive-looking décor items, this time for your bedroom.
TheBestAffordableButExpensive-LookingStagingFurniture
Theseaffordable furniture picksfrom celebrity designer and founder of Interior Market Group Cheryl Eisen look just as good at an open house for a penthouse apartment as they do in a starter apartment.
TheBestDécorforYourFirstApartment
Ming Thompson, an architect and principal at the San Francisco– and New Haven–based design firm Atelier Cho Thompson, rounded up 20 investment-worthypieces for your first apartmentthat’ll last long after you move.
TheBestBathroomAccentsonAmazon
Thebest bathroom accessoriesneedn’t be pricey. We found some upgrades from brands like Umbra and Pendleton that are way cheaper than they appear.
TheBestKids’DécorforAdults
We’re going to let you in on a little secret — some of thebest décor pieces for adult apartments come from the kids’ section, especially if we’re talking about brands like Land of Nod and PB Kids.
TheBestSideTablesonAmazon
There’s more to decorating your apartment than wall art or rugs — aside table(or end table or cocktail table) can be surprisingly special and affordable.
TheBestDuvetCoversAccordingtoDesignExperts
Looking for anunboring duvet cover? We found a dozen and a half experts to tell us their favorites.
TheBestBathMats
Lest you forget to decorate the bathroom floor, we found the best (arty, minimalist, or spa-like)bath matsfor transforming your shower space.
TheBestPlacemats,AccordingtoInteriorDesigners
Theseplacemats, selected by interior designers, can make your old Ikea flatware look new again.
TheBestWallLadder

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If you need extra closet room but also want some tasteful décor, thewall ladderis an ingenious small-space hack.
TheBestDanishDécorItemsonAmazon
Remember last winter when all anyone could talk about was hygge (the Danish concept of coziness)? We went and found all thebest Danish design itemsto be had on Amazon.
TheBestLadder
TheBestFull-lengthMirrorsonAmazon
We rounded up thebest full-length mirrorson Amazon, including one with hidden storage and several options under $100.
TheBestAffordableScentedCandle

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Why should a scented candle have to cost $80 or more? ThisFrench-sounding onesmells just as good and costs just $30-something.
TheBestMemphis-InspiredDécorItems
The ‘80s design movement is having a moment (an exhibition currently runs at the Met Breuer), and we found some of thebest Memphis-inspired designyou can buy online.
TheBestDesign-yAshtrays
You don’t have to be a smoker to appreciate abeautiful ashtray, which can be the perfect vessel for keys, knick knacks, or even plants.
TheBestVases
Even if you’re just buying bodega flowers,these vasesare sophisticated enough to make them look ten times more expensive.
TheBestIkeaStuffonAmazon
Contrary to reports, Ikea is not officially selling on Amazon (yet), but you canbuy the Swedish designsif you really want to — we picked some of our favorite pieces.
TheBestCardboardFurnitureonAmazon
For those times when you need to quickly fill a room withcheap furniture that’s totally recyclable.
TheBest,MostFlatteringLightBulbs

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Everyonelooks better in pink light, says writer Sadie Stein, who uses these GE light bulbs to cast everyone with a healthy glow.
TheBestRugsUnder$500
Affordable area rugs are hard to come by, so we asked some big-nameinterior designers about the onesthey like the most.
TheBestDressersUnder$500
A good-looking, well-designed dresser can transform a whole room, butdressers for less than $500are hard to find. So we asked some interior decorators for their recommendations (including a couple of options under $1,000).
TheBestSofasUnder$1,000
You can really buysofas and love seatsonline now, but which ones are the best? We talked to designers to sniff out the best versions under $1,000 and $500.
TheBestBrassThingsonAmazon
An easy way to make your space look a little fancier is to add somebrass décor, be it a tea kettle or a lamp. After all, brass is the ultimate cheap but expensive-looking material, and these are some of the best brass accessories on Amazon.
TheBestClear-PlasticThingsonAmazon
Clear-plastic things are experiencing a resurgence, and if you’re not willing to wear the (uncomfortable) stuff, there arescads of fun décor itemsyou can dress your apartment with.
TheBestDeskDécor
Don’t neglect the home office. There’s plenty of stuff you can do totransform your work stationfrom drab to designed.
TheBestDeskDécor,AccordingtoPeopleWithNiceDesks
If you need more desk-décor inspiration, we surveyed creative types, including an art director for the office-goods company Poppin, about theirfavorite desk accessories.
TheBestArtPrintsandPostersonAmazon
When you think posters or art prints, you may think “college dorm room,” but that doesn’t have to be the case. There’s plenty ofwall art on Amazonthat you’d be proud to frame in your adult home.
TheBestArtPosters,AccordingtoaProfessional
We asked Mary Ping, founder of conceptual clothing line Slow and Steady Wins the Race and recipient of 2017’s National Design Award for Fashion, to pick 12 of herfavorite art postersfor your walls.
TheBestBedsideTable

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Thebest bedside tableis just a little bit garish, but it adds a nice zing to boring bedroom décor.
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