Shopping! A pastime of many in our modern day, whether or not it’s in person or online, it can become addicting to those who enjoy it. For those that aren’t as interested in shopping, bare with me. Although it may not be for everyone, everyone does need to shop at some point. When it comes to shopping for your apartment or home, there’s an overwhelming amount of places to look. It’s almost impossible to tell someone they have to look at this store versus the other. Whether you’re in the market for furnishing an entire apartment or looking to fill an empty space, there’s a store for everything. 

Ikea

Is this one a shock? If no one has been lost in the maze that is Ikea, it has a section for anything and everything. It has a section for lighting, couches, rugs and showrooms in the front to give ideas for those going in blind. Whether you’re in need of a new couch, a new set of forks or a watering can, all can be found within the blue and yellow walls. It’s a personal favorite of mine, only if I have a plan otherwise you’ll be wondering for hours.

Etsy

A much smaller completely online platform, Etsy is designed primarily for smaller businesses. Large furniture items, although they can be purchased, are not what is usually bought. Etsy is more geared towards decorations, small items to be added to a room. Whether it’s a vase, storage organizer or rug, all can be found with a little bit of searching. The items bought here are more unique, as a lot of what is made is handmade. It’s nice to support a small business when you can.

Target/Walmart/Anything of the variety

It seems obvious of course. But you’d be surprised by how many things these large retailers are hiding online. As you can assume, no store can hold everything in stock at every single store. After browsing through the online stores for Target, you’ll find several bedroom sets that you’ve never seen before in store. Like Ikea, they are all catch all stores that can have everything from kitchen utensils to sound systems. Will the pieces last forever? They may not, but they are good starting points to building your home while not entirely breaking the bank. 

Thrift Stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, etc.)

At this point it may be evident that I tend to lean towards thrift stores when it comes to home decoration. It’s more of a hunt to find quality pieces that fit your space while going into these stores. It’s also a process that could take several months, even years to find the perfect piece for your space. I’ve been fortunate enough to find several pieces I love at thrift stores like my record stand, tv stand and desk but not everyone has been as lucky. At the very least, thrift stores can provide unique decor that you most likely hadn’t seen more. In general it is cheaper then buying some items brand new but it is more difficult to sift through everything. If you’re up for a challenge and are not in a time crunch, thrifting and antiquing is the way to go on a smaller budget.