Now that it’s autumn, there’s a good chance you’ve found your apartment, you’ve moved in, and you just need a few finishing touches to make the apartment truly yours. Some of us have an ideal thrift shop we turn to, or a discount furnisher that we love – but a lot of us, especially if we’re in a new city, don’t have a go-to place yet.
Online can be that place – as we covered previously, there are some great online deal sites. And online also has a variety of vendors that can provide cool art, unique furniture, and great kitchen appliances. So I thought I’d share four more of our favorites:
1) Etsy. It’s an online artists’ marketplace that has everything from one-of-a-kind handbags to antique refurbished bureaus. Price points can vary from $10 to $1,000, but the quality of the objects is almost always very high – plus, when you buy, you usually buy direct from the artist. It’s a great way to give your apartment an adult touch. For example, Alissa and I bought from one of our favorite artists, Kristiana Parn. Her prints start at only $20, and can give your apartment the polished, homey feel you’ve been missing.
2) Zappos. I know, I know. You think Zappos, you think shoes. But they’ve expanded to clothes, and now home furnishing items. The thing I love about them is their web interface, which is incredibly easy to use, their quick shipping times and their easy returns. While you might not get a unique product on Zappos, you can find plenty of high-quality, known brands, for good prices – sent directly to your door!
3) Umbra. It’s only recently that I discovered Umbra. The company has a number of unique window dressings, wall decors, photo displays, and shelving options. While they don’t have much furniture, they do provide a way for you to really make your bedroom your own – check out, for example, the pluff wall décor for only $10.
4) Hayneedle. I don’t necessarily love a lot of Hayneedle’s products, but, as the name implies, that’s not the point. The point here is volume – they have so many items that, if you’re patient, you’re bound to find the proverbial needle in the haystack. Just as an example, the website has 122 wall clock that are on-sale. How many total wall clocks do they have available? Why, 930. Yes, that’s right, 930 choices. As I browsed, I found that they have in stock the same clock I have on my wall – one that I would have loved to have purchased at Hayneedle’s price point. So, if you’re a bargain hunter, here’s the place to go.
These are a few more of our favorite online sites – let us know some of your favorite sites in the comments section. And happy deal hunting!
