I love helping clients on a budget create a home that is luxurious, functional and comfortable – a tranquil oasis. One of my specialties is helping homeowners source and remodel their homes themselves. In fact, I offer On-Demand Design Consulting Services. You can learn more about it here.
I often recommend that my clients do their own purchasing using online home décor sites, which can spare them a ton of hassles and save them a lot of money. I’ve selected a few of my favorites. In this blog post I will explain the pros and cons of each one, so you too can maximize your buying power when you transform your home into your own private oasis.
Wayfair
Everyone is familiar with Wayfair. Founded in 2002, it offers over 14 million home décor items from more than 11,000 suppliers, as well as 80 “house brands.” It uses a classic drop ship model, and neither produces anything itself nor warehouses any merchandise of its own.
In 2018, it sold almost $7 billion worth of products. It owns Joss & Main, AllModern, Perigold, and Birch Lane. Wayfair is able to keep its prices down because it doesn’t have to pay salespeople or rent on stores.
I love Wayfair because of the huge number of items it offers in all different price ranges. Here are the pros and cons of using Wayfair:
Pros
More furniture options and wider range of prices than a retail store
You’re more likely to find what you’re looking for within your budget
Shipping is usually free
Ordering is quick and easy
Cons
Most items require assembly
Problems must be reported within 30 days
You have to pay for returns of items you don’t like
Clearance, personalized and items that you’ve assembled cannot be returned
Items have to be returned in their original packaging
Lots of wasted packaging to be disposed of
IKEA
IKEA is a global home furnishing brand that specializes in low-priced goods for in-home assembly. Its name is practically synonymous with DIY. What began as a mail-order catalog business in 1953 is now a huge Swedish conglomerate, with 422 stores worldwide and over $44 billion in sales each year. It has been the world’s largest furniture retailer since 2008.
There are lots of reasons why I like IKEA. It’s a particularly good choice for DIYers because they relish doing the assembly themselves, although it’s an annoyance for some customers. Here are a few pros and cons.
Pros
The prices literally can’t be beat
The pieces are minimalist and modern, complementing any design style
Many of the furniture pieces include extra storage
Cons
Assembly can be time consuming and frustrating
Wood furniture is not as durable or as good quality as more expensive furniture
Walmart
This mega retailer has over 2,300,000 employees and an annual revenue of $572 billion. It operates a chain of supercenters, as well as discount department and grocery stores, with over 10,000 stores and clubs worldwide. It is one of the largest corporations in the world, with sales surpassing Exxon Mobil’s. 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store.
With all these stores in close range, why buy from Walmart online? For one thing, now ranked the second largest ecommerce retailer in the U.S., Walmart makes it simple and easy. Here are some of the advantages of and disadvantages of buying home improvements from Walmart online:
Pros
Competitive with Amazon because of massive distribution
It carries brand names
Free shipping on home décor items for orders over $35
New home décor site features curated collections across 9 style categories
Website includes design tips written by in-house staff
Cons
Furniture, particularly wood, can be poor quality, more likely to break
Bedding quality is inferior
Some items such as mattresses can’t be returned if package is opened
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce company that focuses on handmade and vintage items. It is my low-cost go-to online source for unique, one-of-a-kind items. It’s got lots of advantages, as well as a few drawbacks.
Pros
Offers unusual items made by independent business owners and artisans
You can get customized items
You can communicate with the vendor who makes the items
Cons
Low barrier for selling on Etsy results in items that aren’t handmade
Risk of scamming by sellers who set up short for a short period but don’t fill orders
Varying return policies depend on vendor
Need some tips on buying on-line from affordable e-commerce sites?
Give me a call, or, better yet, sign up for a design consultation here!