April 26, 2024

Tohdad

Design with distinction

An interior designer picks high-end looks for less from Walmart

Angela R. James January 27, 2022 8 min read

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Can you tell which is which? (Photo: Walmart/Circa lighting)

Can you tell which is $122 and which costs over $2,400? (Photos: Circa; Walmart)

I’ve been in the interior design industry for over two decades, and if there’s one secret I like to share with my clients, it’s this: You don’t have to break the bank to achieve a beautifully styled home. At my design studio, Burrow & Nest, my favorite trick of the trade is to mix in product that’s attractive and good quality, but at a much lower price. While upholstery and larger case goods are worth the larger investment, it’s easy to blend in smaller pieces that look like a million bucks without maxing out your credit card. You just need to know what to look for and do a little sleuthing. 

Surprise, surprise: Walmart is a fantastic resource to find just the right accessories, small-case pieces, lighting and other objet, that will give your home the bespoke look that appears to have a designer’s touch. Walmart’s website has made it simple by curating collections of bedding, art, even bed frames by style (Boho, Farmhouse), so you can narrow your search for items that elevate your personal style. 

You can sign up to become Walmart+ member for free deliveries on all this and more — even on groceries. Sign up for a free 30-day trial. 

Below, I’ve done some comparison shopping from trade brands I use often for clients, and Walmart, so you can see how easy it is to get a great look for less. Each of the items on the left is from a popular trade showroom or furniture retailer, and the photo on the right is from Walmart! You won’t believe your eyes (or the prices). 

Saving money: a bright idea. (Photos: Circa; Walmart)

Saving money: a bright idea. (Photos: Circa; Walmart)

The floor lamp on the left is a Ralph Lauren design for Visual Comfort, who specializes in high-end lighting. Circa is selling this brass beauty for $2,409, but the average homeowner can’t fit a two-thousand dollar lamp into their budget. I’ve found this lovely alternative: the Jaxon Metal LED Floor Lamp by Jonathan Y. Perfect for transitional decor, you can add a floor lamp just as stunning to illuminate that dark corner or provide additional light for reading next to your favorite chair. It comes with bespoke details like a silk wrapped cord and 100 percent cotton lamp shade, plus it’s LED, so it’s eco-friendly. 

The Jaxon lamp is selling for only $122 at Walmart! That’s 95 percent less!

$122 at Walmart

Don't sweep this deal under the rug. (Photos: Bloomingdale's; Walmart)

Don’t sweep this deal under the rug. (Photos: Bloomingdale’s; Walmart)

Shibori prints, a Japanese tie-dye technique, are very on-trend right now. They look great in coastal living spaces, kids rooms and everything in between. The rug on the left is a Karastan rug sold through Bloomingdale’s for $900. Gap Home has an inspired version of Shibori that would look smart in any room in the house, especially those high traffic areas that could use the stain resistance and durability of a recycled poly. In the same 8-by-10 size and material, Walmart’s version from GAP Home is only $236. Saving close to $700 for the same visual impact is a no brainer. 

A five-star shopper gives us the skinny: “This rug is absolutely beautiful! I am always nervous about white anything in my house, but this rug is very easy to keep clean and it remains gorgeous! The colors are neutral and match pretty much anything! It’s not in your face and it’s super soft! I highly recommend it!”

$236 at Walmart

Size, scale and style for a fraction of the cost. (Photos: West Elm; Walmart)

Size, scale and style for a fraction of the cost. (Photos: West Elm; Walmart)

When I’m working with a mid-century modern aesthetic, West Elm is one of my go-tos. But Walmart steals the show here too, with this adorable nightstand for a much lower price. The nightstand on the left is a West Elm design for $229 — not bad. But the Pomona Contemporary three-drawer nightstand by Safavieh, on the right, has the same sense of style, size and storage at a sale price of only $145 at Walmart. 

“It is perfect,” wrote a happy customer. “I was surprised how well made it was, the color is consistent and the wood sturdy. It took almost no time to put together…The drawers are nice and deep.” 

$145 $205 at Walmart

Don't throw all your money into a throw pillow — nab the one on the right for just $13. (Photos: Coterie Brooklyn; Walmart)

Don’t throw all your money into a throw pillow — nab the one on the right for just $13. (Photos: Coterie Brooklyn; Walmart)

Throw pillows add just the right punch to a room. Whether it’s a pop of color or the pizazz of pattern, it’s always important to create a finished look. I often use Coterie Brooklyn’s pillow covers, like the one on the left — they provide great style in a textural mudcloth that adds just the right oomph to a sofa or chair. Just as often, I’ll seek a lower price for my clients, as this is a place where you can find some savings if you look hard enough. 

The Better Homes & Gardens Zig Zag Stripe Decorative Throw Pillow from Walmart, shown on the right, is just the punch that’s perfect in a living room or den, when you need high contrast and high style. It’s stuffed with Earth-friendly polyester fiberfill made from recycled plastics, and it’s soft but textural. Plus, since the pillow comes filled, you don’t have to cough up anything additional for an insert, as you would for the $43 pillow cover on the left. Walmart is selling the Zig Zag Stripe throw pillow for only $13! 

Says a stylish five-star reviewer: “Love this pillow! Purchased for my black entryway bench and love it! Really pretty pillow.”

$13 at Walmart

Double take! Would you rather pay $299 or $49? (Photos: Pottery Barn; Walmart)

Double take! Would you rather pay $299 or $49? (Photos: Pottery Barn; Walmart)

Poufs are a must in most living spaces, as they provide the perfect place to put your feet up. On the left is Pottery Barn’s version of this popular pouf, for $299. While the Decor Therapy Lola Lurex Pouf, on the right, is a bit smaller, the design is spot on and serves the same purpose — add a tray to use it as an extra drink table, or tuck a pair under a console to pull out whenever you need additional seating. For only $55 (was $90) a pouf, you can afford to get a few to fill in wherever you need. 

“Pretty pouf,” says one buyer, “It looks great!…I think it will come in handy as a footstool, extra seating or with a tray on top for snacks, and will fit with almost any decor.”

$55 $90 at Walmart

It's curtains for high prices. (Photos: Pottery Barn; Walmart)

It’s curtains for high prices. (Photos: Pottery Barn; Walmart)

One thing that tends to surprise my clients is how expensive window treatments can get. Fabric is expensive, and so is the labor, when designing drapery and shades. And if you have a lot of windows, it can really add up. The way I see it there are three tiers of window design: 1. Custom window treatments that require a workroom and sourced yardage, which requires a designer. 2. High-end drapery and shades that are prefabricated but still pricey. These tend to have some more flexibility with sizes. 3. Prefabricated drapery that come in standard sizes, for less. Between option 2 and 3, there isn’t much difference. If you can find the drapery lengths to fit your needs, it’s totally worth the search. And I’ve done the searching for you… 

The Estate Cotton Linen 95-Inch Window Curtain Panel in Flax is totally on par with Pottery Barn’s linen flax drapery panels, but for $58 less per panel. The Walmart Turkish cotton/linen blend panel is only $72 (versus Pottery Barn’s $130). Each panel comes lined, just like the pricey guy’s. Same look, same quality but for less! 

$72 at Walmart

Shedding light on who has the best prices. (Hint: Walmart does.) (Photos: Wayfair; Walmart)

Shedding light on who has the best prices. (Hint: Walmart does.) (Photos: Wayfair; Walmart)

“Absolutely stunning!!!” says a thrilled design maven who’s added this charming beaded chandelier to their home, and I have to agree. This chandelier is the perfect blend of a formal style, while casual in its use of natural materials, with its wooden beads and rope wrap and tassel features. At 16.5 in wide, this fixture would be a showstopper in an entry hall, over the breakfast table or in a powder room. 

Wayfair retails this fixture for $357, but no one can beat Walmart’s sale price on this Safavieh Lush Kristi 3-Light Beaded Pendant: now only $149. Says another five-star fan: “It is absolutely perfect. Well-put-together, sturdy, quality piece! Just buy it!” 

Yeah, just buy it — it’s so pretty, you know you’ll find a place for it. 

$149 $249 at Walmart

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Looking for more great Walmart deals? Check these out:

TV deals:

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Smart home deals:

Vacuum deals:

Fashion deals:

Kitchen deals:

Beauty deals:

Bedding deals:

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