My favorite places to shop...from the comfort of my couch!

NEWSFLASH:  I am not a fan of shopping.  Weeeelllll...unless I'm shopping for things to put in my house.  Or shoes.  But that's it!  And the next jack wagon that suggests that I would have "so much fun" going out at 3 a.m. on Black Friday is going to get injured.  I'm serious.  There is no reason to go stand in line (for hours) with all the other freak shows ready to duke it out over $10 of savings when I can save just as much on Cyber Monday...from my couch!  Whew...thanks for letting me vent!

So, back to our topic for the evening...  Recently, I purchased a new house, so I've been spending the last couple of months trying to get my new bachelorette pad in one piece.  Everyone keeps asking me where I've gotten various things (accent chairs, rugs, bedding, etc.), so I figured I'd get together a list of some of my favorite online stores.  Maybe some of you have already noticed, but if you haven't, let me help you out...the internet is basically a never ending supply of shopping options.  Right at your fingertips.  24-7.  Even on Christmas!  In your PJ's!  So, here's my little list.  I've left off the obvious eBays and Amazons of the world since most of you folks have probably already found them in your travels.  But hopefully, my list will help you get started on your own little home decor shopping spree....from your couch!  Sorry I don't have pictures of everything, but I'll post more later!  Ready?  Begin!

1.  Overstock - Overstock is one of those websites that has a little bit of everything - furniture, rugs, kitchen items, tools, clothes, jewelry, shoes, makeup...like I said, everything!  Sale items are switched out regularly, so if I'm looking for something in particular, I try to check out the website every few days.  They also have flash sales, so you can sometimes stumble upon an even sweeter deal if you catch it at the right time.  Shipping is always free to the lower 48 when you make a purchase of at least $50.  So far, I have ordered an area rug and a comforter set from them.  I am extremely pleased with both items.  Prices were extremely reasonable and shipping was even faster than I expected (less than a week in both cases) especially considering it was free!  Bonus points:  when you create an account, you get 10% off your first purchase.

Stock picture of the comforter I ordered from Overstock.

Stock picture of the rug I ordered from Overstock.  It is even more gorgeous in person!

2.  Wayfair - Wayfair's slogan is "a zillion things home," and I think that about sums it up.  Like Overstock, they also have regular sales, and my favorite thing about their sales is they very clearly post the end date for the sale price.  So, if you want a few days to think a purchase over, you know exactly how long you have to make up your mind (all you indecisive people should be rejoicing!).  Shipping is free over $49 in most cases.  So far, I have only purchased an area rug from them, but I'm waiting for some accent chairs to go on sale as we speak.  Prices were great and shipping was fast as well.

3.  Joss & Main - Joss & Main tends to be a little higher end than Wayfair and Overstock.  However, if you keep your eye out, there are always deals to be found.  Their website is set up a little differently.  At any given time, they have a series of "events" going on.  Basically, you can only order from certain collections of their products at certain times.  Also, many popular items sell out before the "event" has ended, so if you fall in love with something, it might be best to go ahead and put on your big girl pants and order it.  Personally, I have ordered an area rug from them.  It is absolutely beautiful, but I did pay a little more than rugs I had seen on other websites (it was exactly what I was looking for, so I went ahead and jumped on it).  Shipping did take about two weeks, but in the interest of full disclosure, I was notified that they were experiencing shipping delays due to wildfires in California (where it was shipped from) at the time.

4.  Target - No, I'm not talking about going to your neighborhood Target.  Go check out Target online.  Did you know that they offer a huge amount of products online only?  Yeah, me neither.  I found all sorts of things you'd never see in a store.  Tons of accent chairs, outdoor furniture, shelving units...all online only!  The also have regular online deals/discounts that often include free shipping as well.  At this point, I have ordered a pair of chevron accent chairs that I am absolutely in love with.  And they even got to my house in 3 days!  Target is also great because many of the products you purchase online can actually be returned to your local store (yay for no return shipping fees!).

Stock picture of the Target chair I ordered.

5.  Etsy - Etsy is a website that allows anyone on the planet to have an online "storefront" for their homemade goodies.  They sell everything from Christmas ornaments to tote bags to jewelry to artwork.  The great thing about Etsy is that you also have direct access to the seller making the products, so you can often work with them to customize your order.  I have yet to order anything home decor related from Etsy (although I've ordered Christmas presents before with great success), but I'm currently on the lookout for some throw pillow covers and curtains.

Ok, I think that's enough websites to get you on your way to single-handedly stimulating the economy, right?  Well maybe if not, it will at least give you something to do for a few hours.  Before we go, I feel like I wouldn't be a responsible blogger if I didn't also do a little housekeeping.  I know internet purchases aren't for everyone, but here are some tips that should help make the process a little smoother for some of the less experienced.  Some are common sense, but you know what they say about common sense...

1.  Sign up for the promotional emails!  Yes, they are obnoxious because you get them all the time, but they come in handy when you are ready to make a purchase (think 10-20% off most of your online purchases). Pro tip:  if you get a lot of promotional emails, it might make sense for you to set up an email address just for the promotions.  That way, they are all in one place but not irritating the shit out of you every day.

2.  Always check out the return policy before ordering online.  Some stores/sites make it MUCH easier/cheaper to return items than others.  If you are worried at all that you might have to return something, make sure you won't have to give up your right arm and first born to do so BEFORE ordering.

3.  Read the reviews.  You probably aren't the first person ordering your selected item.  Let other people's experiences with whatever you are ordering be your guide.  I guarantee you if someone hit the ground the first time they sat in a chair, they are going to go back and tell the whole internet about it (I mean, I know I would!).  Listen to what these folks are trying to tell you!

4.  Use coupon codes!  If you don't already have a discount through your email, go scour the internet for a coupon code.  It's as simple Googling "XYZ store coupon code" and doing a little trial and error.  The coupon codes don't always work, but you'd be surprised how often they do!

5.  I think this falls under the same idea as buyer beware, but don't spend more money than you are comfortable "losing" when making internet purchases.  Always remember that you are buying something without being able to touch it, sit on it, see the exact size, etc.  If you would be devastated if your purchase turns out being not quite perfect, you might be better off trying to find the item somewhere you can get your hands on it first.

6.  One thing I see over and over is reviews talking about the color of items on a computer screen vs. in person.  Have you ever looked at a picture on two different computers?  Ever notice that the color is NEVER the same across the board?  So...if you are looking for something that is a very particular color, the internet might not be your friend.  The pictures can often be misleading.  In my experience, it's best to stick with neutrals/basics or items where a slight variation would still work well in your room.

Ok folks, I'm sure I'll find more sites to add to this list, but those are my current go-to's.  Happy shopping!