What to Buy at Arhaus and Crate & Barrel (And What I’d Skip)
If you’re wondering what to buy at Arhaus and Crate & Barrel, you’re not alone. Both stores offer beautiful furniture, but that doesn’t mean every piece is worth buying.
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After visiting both stores multiple times, I realized the smartest purchase isn’t always the most expensive one.
As an interior designer and 28-year homeowner, I’ve learned that creating a beautiful home isn’t about filling it with designer furniture. It’s about investing in the right pieces and saving money everywhere else.
If you’ve been following my Arhaus and Crate & Barrel series, this is the final article. Today I’m sharing exactly what I’d buy with my own money, what I’d skip, and how I’d stretch the budget without sacrificing style.
This post is all about what to buy at Arhaus and Crate & Barrel.
READ MORE>>> Furniture Inspiration On Inspired Design Talk
What to Buy at Arhaus & Crate & Barrel First
When homeowners ask where they should spend their decorating budget, my answer is almost always the same. Invest in the pieces you use every single day because they’re the ones you’ll appreciate for years to come.
Accent Chair // Brown Marble Table
For most homes, that means your sofa, dining table, and quality lighting. Those pieces work the hardest and have the biggest impact on both comfort and function.
Before you fall in love with accessories, make sure your larger investments are right. Beautiful rooms are built on good foundations, not impulse purchases.
I’d Invest in a Timeless Sofa
If I could splurge on just one category, it would be the sofa. It’s usually the largest piece in the room and one of the most expensive to replace if you make the wrong decision.
Retreat Chaise Sofa // Lounge Chaise Sofa // Arhaus Curved Sofa // Look For Less
Both Arhaus and Crate & Barrel offer beautifully made sofas with timeless silhouettes. I’d look for neutral performance fabrics, comfortable seat depth, and classic shapes that won’t feel dated five or ten years from now.
When we remodeled our own home, we chose furniture we believed we’d love for decades instead of chasing what was popular at the time. Twenty years later, that decision has saved us from replacing major pieces just because trends changed.
Accent Chairs Are Worth Spending a Little More On
Accent chairs are one of my favorite places to add personality without overwhelming a room. They can introduce a new shape while still feeling timeless.
Apero Swivel Accent Chair // Camel Back Swivel Chair // Brown Velvet Swivel Chair // Salon Swivel Accent Chair
Right now, I love softly curved chairs because they feel warm and inviting without looking overly trendy. Gentle curves have been around for decades, which makes them a much safer investment than dramatic sculptural designs.
If you’re going to spend more on an accent chair, choose one that will work with several decorating styles. That flexibility gives you much more value over time.
Lighting Is Always a Smart Investment
If you’ve watched my videos, you already know how strongly I feel about lighting. It’s one of the easiest ways to make a home feel warm, layered, and expensive.
Brass Chandelier // Glass Wall Sconce // Pleated Shade Plug In Wall Sconce // Brass Table Lamp
A beautiful chandelier, sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps all work together to create atmosphere. Even the most beautiful furniture can feel flat if the lighting isn’t thoughtfully planned.
The fixture itself doesn’t have to cost a fortune. What matters most is layering different light sources throughout the room instead of relying on a single overhead light.
What to Buy at Arhaus & Crate & Barrel (And Where to Save)
Accent tables are one category where I don’t think you need to spend a premium price. I’ve found beautiful side tables at HomeGoods, estate sales, antique shops, and online retailers for a fraction of what designer stores charge.
Tulip Table // Brown Marble Table // Metal Table // Gold Melting Table // Martini Table // Gold Accent Table
Natural stone, warm wood, and mixed metals can all be found at many different price points. If you love the look of a designer table, use it as inspiration and keep shopping before making a decision.
Saving a few hundred dollars here gives you more flexibility to invest where it really matters.
Never Rush a Big Purchase
One of the biggest decorating mistakes I see is homeowners trying to finish an entire room in one weekend. Beautiful homes usually come together over time, not overnight.
Both Arhaus and Crate & Barrel furniture have sales throughout the year, so patience often pays off. Waiting a few weeks or months could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on larger furniture purchases.
I always remind people that good design takes time. Rushing is often what leads to expensive decorating mistakes.
What I’d Skip at Arhaus & Crate & Barrel
Not every beautiful piece is a smart investment. Before I buy any expensive furniture, I ask myself whether I’ll still love it ten years from now.
Personally, I’d be cautious about pieces that are driven almost entirely by a current trend. Extremely sculptural furniture, bold novelty shapes, or dramatic materials can quickly make a room feel dated.
One example is faux fur upholstery. I love the cozy look, but I personally wouldn’t want to sit on a fur chair every day once summer arrives.
Instead, I’d bring in that same texture with pillows or throws. They’re much less expensive to replace when your style changes or the seasons do.
Don’t Buy Everything From One Store
This is probably the biggest designer secret I can share. Professional designers rarely furnish an entire room from a single retailer.
Instead, they mix investment pieces with affordable finds to create a home that feels collected instead of copied. That’s also one of the easiest ways to make your home feel more personal.
Maybe your sofa comes from Crate & Barrel, your accent chair comes from Arhaus, and your side table comes from HomeGoods. Add artwork from a local artist and a vintage lamp, and suddenly your room has a story to tell.
Use the Showrooms for Inspiration
One of my favorite things about visiting stores like Arhaus and Crate & Barrel isn’t actually shopping. It’s studying how the designers layered textures, mixed materials, and created balance throughout each room.
Those lessons are completely free, and they’re often more valuable than buying the exact furniture on display. Once you understand the design principles, you can recreate the feeling at almost any budget.
That’s one of the reasons I created this series. I wanted to teach you how to think like a designer instead of simply copying a showroom.
Spend Smarter, Not More
If someone handed me a $20,000 budget to spend at Arhaus and Crate & Barrel, I wouldn’t spend all of it. I’d invest in the pieces that truly matter, wait for sales, and mix in more affordable finds everywhere else.
Velvet Accent Chair // Gold Table
Creating a beautiful home has never been about spending the most money. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that you’ll still love years from now.
Final Thoughts
After spending time studying both Arhaus and Crate & Barrel, one thing became clear: beautiful homes aren’t created by buying everything from one store. They’re created by making thoughtful choices over time.
Invest in the pieces you’ll use every day. Save money where you can. Be patient enough to wait for the right piece, and don’t be afraid to mix high-end furniture with affordable finds.
The goal has never been to copy a showroom. It’s to understand what makes those rooms feel so inviting, then recreate that feeling in a way that fits your home, your budget, and your lifestyle.
That’s really what this entire Arhaus & Crate & Barrel series has been about—learning to think like a designer so you can avoid expensive mistakes and create a home you’ll love for years to come.
Happy Designing! 💕✨
This post is all about what to buy at Arhaus and Crate & Barrel.
Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Nicole DelaCruz
