These days, you can find just about anything on Amazon: appliances, the latest cookbooks, even groceries. But, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the e-commerce behemoth has become a major source of parts for the home, whether it’s outdoor lighting, wall decor, bedding or just about anything else. With fast shipping amid a failing supply chain and easy returns if a piece no longer fits your creative vision, shopping on Amazon is often the fastest way to instantly refresh your guest room before a surprise trip from your in-laws or update your bathroom without being disappointed by unprecedented delays.
However, Amazon shoppers know how overwhelming it can be to browse through seemingly endless pages of fixtures and fittings. If you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, you can easily waste time. We asked 13 top designers to give us their best tips for navigating the massive retail site and finding what you need to create the space of your dreams. From the designers’ favorite products to effective tips for navigating the site, these brilliant tips will help you get the most out of your Prime membership beyond cleaning supplies, last-minute birthday gifts, and movie rentals. Here’s how to shop on Amazon like an interior designer.
1. Christina Nielsen
“I’m on Amazon more than I should admit. I find last-minute decorative accessories, like vintage oil lamps and piles of citrus to fill a fruit bowl-my favorite is an oversized Moroccan textile filled with artichokes or citrus in every color. I also love Carthusia candles and room diffusers. If I’m pressed for time and need quick delivery, I buy them directly from Amazon.” - Christina Nielsen, Christina Nielsen Design.
2. Lisa Henderson
“I love shopping on Amazon and have an Amazon storefront where my followers can see all of my favorite finds! Two of the items I buy most often on Amazon for myself and my clients are coffee table books and cookbooks. I love finding out of print books from small Amazon sellers. It’s the perfect way to add unique, hard-to-find books to your home while supporting independent retailers.” - Lisa Henderson, Lisa Henderson Interiors.
Buy: Great Villas of the Riviera
3. Mikel Welch
Designer Mikel Welch loves these fair trade artisan beads offered in several varieties. They add a hint of international style and can dress up your coffee-table book collection.
4. Marie Flanigan
“For shopping on Amazon, I like to focus on minor items that will enhance the overall look of my home. Add products to your cart from trusted brands that have positive reviews, like a Nest fragrance diffuser, a favorite candle, velvet hangers to create cohesion in your closet, we can deliver practically overnight all of which.” - Marie Flanigan, Marie Flanigan Interiors.
Buy: NEST Fragrances Reed Diffuser
5. Emily Spanos
“I’m constantly looking for unique pieces for my clients and recently discovered Amazon Handmade. From hand-turned pottery to hand-painted chandeliers and textiles, they connect us with master artisans and small business owners from around the world. The platform even allows you to select specific regions you’d like to purchase from to support local makers in the areas you love most.” - Emily Spanos, Emily June Designs.
Buy: Annabella White Turquoise Empire Chandelier
6. Amanda Lantz
“When you’re a coffee-table book fanatic like me, Amazon is the place to find the perfect collection for a client or yourself. Searching for what you need is so easy, and you get a ton of variety. I also love that they show pictures of the inside of the book and offer suggestions for other titles below the list. As the holidays approach, I love giving people a beautiful book and signing the inside with the year and a message.” -Amanda Lantz, A.Lantz Design
Buy: The Well-Loved House: Creating Homes with Color, Comfort, and Drama
7. Gillian Segal
“We love getting linen bedding from Amazon. The prices are great and you really can’t go wrong with 100% linen. We also love finding coffee table books, mirrors for powder rooms, hardware, acrylic organizers (if you’ve watched The Home Edit on Netflix, you know you need them!), disposable pillows and woven baskets.” -Gillian Segal, Gillian Segal Design
Buy: DAPU Pure Linen Sheet Set
