How to Shop on Etsy Like an Interior Designer
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18 of the nation's top designers shared their best tips and favorite storefronts to help you shop Etsy like a pro.
Etsy is a magical wonderland for finding one-of-a-kind entertaining essentials, vintage artwork, midcentury furniture, and just about anything else you can think of. The digital marketplace is full of unique vendors from around the globe, making it a little too easy to get lost for hours scrolling through authentic Turkish rugs, French antique linens, and bespoke wooden furniture. However, with a little help from some of the key players in the design industry, Etsy can be your one-stop shop for both specific items and frivolous purchases that are waiting to find the right place in your home. Shopping on Etsy also helps us support small businesses, important causes, and a global marketplace.
We previously shared our staff's favorite tips, tricks, and storefronts for shopping Etsy like a VERANDA editor. This time, we spoke with 18 interior designers and textile manufacturers about their best tips for shopping Etsy like a design pro, along with some favorite storefronts that help them create uniquely beautiful projects all over the world.
"I love shopping on Etsy for Indian dhurries and English Staffordshire china," says Nielsen. "Specifically, I am always looking for the purple Manganese colorway, which is my favorite, and aubergine is always a neutral in my mind. It's all about the hunt."
Nielsen also loves Turkish Rugs Heaven which offers Indian, Moroccan, Turkish, and Swedish farmhouse handwoven carpets. She also notes that Nancy of SacredTables has "really beautiful and rare curations."
TurkishRugsHeaven offers a wide variety of vintage Turkish floor coverings, from runners to massive area rugs that instantly create a layered, well-collected look to any space.
"The vast collection of unique vendors on Etsy makes it easy to procure interesting accessories from across the globe at the push of a button," says Rosenberg. "I love the hand-woven baskets from the Nkirotes Collection in Nairobi, Kenya. The owner was very helpful, and shipping was a breeze. I love supporting a sustainable, global economy while adding authentic craftsmanship to my designs.”
These beautiful sisal and sweet grass baskets are versatile for storage, serving, and decoration.
"The Purana Bazaar is where I shop for vintage saris for custom lampshades," Gidiere says. "Nothing makes a prettier lampshade than a sari, in my opinion, and the colors and patterns are really unmatched. [It] provides a virtual trip to an Indian bazaar, without the cost of a plane ticket."
Gidiere notes the inventory changes often, so you have to check back. She advises snagging an item as soon as you can if you fall in love with it. She herself has amassed quite a collection of unique and beautiful pieces waiting for the perfect room, piece, or project.
"The other place I keep going back to is Retro Daisy Girl," Gidiere says. "She always has a great collection of midcentury bamboo and rattan at great prices, when I need a little side table or mirror or console at a steal. Again, the inventory changes frequently, so you have to check back from time to time."
These pillows are made with a Mexican-inspired fabric called "Frida's Garden" and are sure to add a fun pop of whimsy to your living room.
"Etsy is a great democratic resource made up of diverse merchandise that ranges from high-end to affordable furnishings, rugs, and home decor," says the New York–based designer.
Lewis's favorite finds reflect his colorful, modern approach to design. He adores MoroccanWoolRug's incredible selection of Berber carpets and this Sileneus sideboard by Ralis Kotlevs, both of which are made by hand.
"Having bold statement pieces can also tell an intimate story about one's self or of their space," Lewis says. "Adding handmade furniture to your environment combines art and culture, creating a sense of intimacy with its makers."
This custom, 100% wool carpet is made by expert craftspeople in the Moroccan Atlas mountains. This Beni Ourain rug is a floor covering that's sure to make a vibrant statement in any room.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based designer says he loves utilizing Etsy to add the finishing touches to a project.
"There are so many things available—if you know where to dig," he says. "We love finding one-of-a-kind pieces of art, furniture, or accessories that really make our jobs shine."
Two of his favorite Etsy storefronts include Panache 1000 Interiors and Florida Modern for vintage housewares, furniture, and wall decor.
FloridaModern features an eclectic variety of furniture and home accessories, like this stunning midcentury box that's perfect for housing remote controls, keys, and more.
"Etsy is a good browsing resource for anybody interested in folklore," the textile maven says. "I recommend Ethnic Dress for Eastern European costumes and RussOriginal for Russian artifacts. I also purchased some vintage Christmas tree ornaments from Old USSRvintage."
This linen pillowcase is embroidered with folk art designs and would be stunning repurposed into a lampshade or used to cover an accent pillow.
The designer and writer says the secret to best utilizing Etsy is to search with as much specificity as possible.
"If you're looking for ready-made Brunschwig & Fils pillows, search for the exact pattern you want," Okin says. "The more descriptive you can get in your search, the better your results will be."
Okin says her team loves shopping on Etsy for a variety of reasons: supporting small businesses, finding one-of-a-kind fabrics and vintage pieces, and working with people from all over the globe.
"A few storefronts we love and work with frequently are Pop O Color, Fresh Vintage Market (they have an incredible variety of old vintage maps and lithographs), Tiger Cat Tiles, and Cruel Mountain for custom lampshades."
This gorgeous pillow cover is part of McDonald's fabric collection for Schumacher and can be made in 18x18, 20x20, 22x22, or lumbar sizes.
“Etsy can be a treasure trove of handmade, antique, and one-of-a-kind items, but you have to be willing to hunt," the Dallas-based designer says. "Discovering the perfect item or a talented independent craftsperson can be a little like finding a needle in a haystack."
Flanigan says her team often sources antique French milking stools from Etsy, along with monogrammed items for children's bedrooms, which she loves to source from Peppermint Bee.
This shop offers dozens of customizable color and monogram options to create the perfect wedding, housewarming, or treat-yourself gift.
Lisa Fine, of the eponymous textiles brand, loves Etsy shop Textile Trunk for antique and vintage European textiles. The Shelburne, Vermont-based shop also makes its way to the Brimfield Antique Market in Massachusetts each summer if you want to see the items in person.
This one's for the craftiest creatives: A printed cotton floral, grain sack linen, and ticking cuttings scraps are the perfect inspiration for your next project.
"We look to Etsy when we need special custom items at a lower price point, such as pleated lampshades and appliqué monogrammed bedding," Lowe says.
The Atlanta-based designer says utilizing Etsy is a great way to add those unique designer touches to kids' bedrooms and guest rooms without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money.
"We love to hunt for finishing touches like myrtle topiaries, coral, vintage books, and antique botanical prints, especially recently, while we are not able to shop estate sales and antique shows during the pandemic,” Lowe says.
Cruel Mountain is a favorite for lamp shades and pillow covers, while Southern Linen is a favorite for custom monogram linens and entertaining essentials.
This set of two personalized pillow cases makes an elegant addition to your linen closet—or a coveted wedding gift.
Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.
Sara Clark is the Style Assistant at VERANDA, where she writes about interiors, fashion, style, and the latest design trends.
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