Welcome to this new series of blog posts I have created called “Where Should I Buy That?” where I break down my top retailer options for certain home decor items. I felt this series was desperately needed after repeatedly hearing phrases like this from my clients, friends and family when talking about home decor: “I love that idea but I’m not sure where to get that” or “I found the item you were talking about and I bought it *insert expensive store here*” or “I really wanted a set of ____ but couldn’t find any that were affordable.” These are just a few examples I have, but they are enough to get the point across.

As someone who has dedicated a large chunk of her time to research and explore where the best price to quality ratio for each specific home decor item is, I’ve realized this isn’t something most people care or have the time to do. Which is why I’m here to share my expertise in the subject matter. When I go shopping or even just putz around a store I am always noticing the prices of stuff. I then feel like I have a filing system in my brain that I store that information away in until it’s needed again. This always comes in handy when it comes time to purchase a new home decor item and I know exactly which store I’d want to go to or where I’d want to order it from. Without this stored away knowledge it would be too easy to just walk into the first store that pops into my mind thinking I’ll find the exact item I want and for the right affordable price. My husband Aaron finds this trait of mine to be extremely exhausting at times, but he always ends up telling me that he’s forever grateful for my ability to find the high end look on a budget. And I want to point out, this doesn’t mean you have to thrift shop as intensely as I do, thrifting is it’s own kind of beast and you never know what you’ll find. This series is curated for items you don’t thrift and purchase brand new.

To many people, popping into the first store you think of may seem like a harmless action and you may have never thought twice about shopping around to other stores. However, I’m sure you notice after always going to the first store you thought of, you either aren’t fully satisfied with your purchase because it wasn’t exactly what you wanted or you start to have a credit card bill that adds up faster than you’d like. All of this will result in you not being satisfied with your home. You will most likely end up with items you don’t care for or no way to finish decorating your home because you’ve overspent.

With all of that being said, I am opening the gates to my money saving brain for all of you. Each post from this series will hone in on one category of home decor like curtains (this one), picture frames, throw blankets and pillows, rugs, bed linens etc. So let’s get started!

Curtains

There are a few key things to consider when purchasing curtains, I already have a full blog post breaking down what to consider before purchasing, so I recommend you read that for a full understanding. Once you have those 5 considerations figured out you can move forward with the shopping. I am going to list out my go-to retailers for curtains whenever I’m looking.

Side Note: Most of the curtain options I show are neutral colors and subtle textures. I collected these options because they are the most universal and I advocate for light-colored curtains to brighten rooms up and ward them from feeling weighed down. I by no means am saying that patterned curtains or darker colors are bad, I think they both have a time and place.

1) Target

If you’re looking for on-trend, affordable, and quick pickup curtains then Target is your place. I have found that Target always has a large variety of options and brands that offer light-filtering, sheer, blackout, or even patterned. Depending on the length or style you’re looking for they have options that look high-end for an affordable price. Below I am going to link a few of my favorites that they currently have.

2) Amazon

I like to go to Amazon if I can’t find what I’m looking for at Target. Amazon has thousands of options so it can feel overwhelming to find a set you like there. What I recommend doing is using the filter option on the side of the website. I personally don’t like grommet (curtains with the ring holes at the top) style so I go to the filter and select tap top, pinch pleat, or rod pocket instead. I find the grommet style to be outdated and cheap-looking. After that, I then click the length I want which is usually 95” so they go to the ceiling and then I select if I want light filtering or blackout. Using the filter option usually makes shopping on Amazon a little easier. Here are a few options I am loving on Amazon.

3) Walmart

If you’re okay with ordering online then I would consider browsing the options that Walmart has. I have noticed that in-store they don’t have that many options without the grommet rings at the top. If you like the grommet style then Walmart might be the best place for you. If you’re looking for some other options, then I suggest going online. Here are a few options I liked.

4) Home Depot

Home Depot isn’t just a hardware store, they have a lot of home items online that are affordable. I have found that they sell “higher-end brands” as well and they mark them up a lot. So if you’re considering purchasing from Home Depot, make sure you are keeping an eye on the prices.

I hope you found this post helpful! If you’re looking forward to more home decor links in this new series of posts, leave me a comment below with what items exactly and I will see if I can make a post about it. If after reading this post you’re still unsure what curtains would be best for your space, feel free to leave me a comment or reach out directly on my “let’s work together” section of my What I Offer Page linked here.