13 Splurges Interior Designers Admit To Making On Their Own Homes
Custom drapes are definitely worth the extra cost.
The first step when decorating your home is to always set a budget. But that doesn't mean when you fall hard for a sofa, you shouldn't sink a few extra bucks into it. Giving into your desire to splurge happens — even to professionals. Want proof? We asked some of our go-to designers what they couldn't resist purchasing for themselves.
A Custom Bed
"For my bedroom, I splurged on a custom velvet sea foam-hued bed frame with vertical channel tufting that I had dreamed up, because where do you even find that in a store?" says Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design, who paid around $3,100 for the custom creation. "After deciding on a dark blue-green for the walls, I just couldn't get it out of my head."
Brass-Accented Furniture
"I spent more than I normally would have on this dresser from Anthropologie, because I couldn't resist how pretty the white lacquer would look against the pale peach walls in my guest bedroom," says Murray, who shelled out around $2,500 for the piece. "The lucite and brass accents sealed the deal for me."
Statement Wallpaper
"The nursery wallpaper I just fell in love with," says interior designer Amy Berry. "It makes the room so happy and peaceful and it's probably my favorite place to spend time in our house." Typically, designer wallpaper can range anywhere from $60 to $250 or more per roll (way more than the price of paint!).
Office Furniture
"I spent the extra money on this custom credenza for my office, because I needed storage and another large work surface other than my desk," says Jessica McClendon of Glamour Nest, who invested $3,500 in the custom piece. "After searching high and low for the perfect piece, I decided to design it and have it made instead."
A Decorative Souvenir
"This antique bavarian wood deer head was a little expensive for my taste, not to mention that I had to get it back from Germany in one piece — which was no easy feat," says McClendon. It cost approximately $650, then she paid around $700 to ship it. "But I loved it so much, there was no way I was leaving it behind."
Custom Drapes
"I decided to splurge on these custom drapes for my living room and am so glad I did," says McClendon. "It's been three years and they still make me giddy every time I look at them." The curtains cost her around $3,000, but hey, daily happiness is priceless.
Antique Furniture
"You can make any basic room beautiful with the placement of a fine antique candelabra or a cabinet," says interior designer Francesco Bilotto. Which is why he invested $1,300 into this vintage cabinet. Even better: "An antique will gain more respect and worth through time, but the same cannot be said for a sofa or window treatment."
Popular Shiplap
"I generally like a mix of higher-end products with the more budget-friendly to round out my designs," says Susie Isaac, a designer at Maddie G Designs. Which is why she chose to save on things like lighting and spend around $3,000 on architectural elements. "Shiplap was a splurge, but completely transformed the space and was well worth the investment."
A Colorful Backsplash
"I was at a tile showroom with a client, looking for her kitchen, when this tile jumped out at me," says Jaclyn Joslin of Coveted Home, who says it cost $50 per square foot. "I don't make a habit of shopping for myself when with clients, but I knew it would make for a mesmerizing backsplash in my own home, and I just so happened to be renovating my own kitchen."
The Perfect Rug
"After a long search for a dining room rug, I pulled the trigger on this Persian beauty from the 1930's," says Joslin — even though it cost $1,400. "The stunning green detailing instantly caught my eye and while it was pretty pricey, it's hard to say no when it just so happened to also be the perfect size."
Custom Furniture
"After years of searching for a dining room table that was the right fit for my personal home, I finally commissioned an artisan furniture maker to create the piece I had never been able to find," says Tanya Campbell of Viridis Design Studio. Her dream table cost her $6,000 and features a round, white oak tabletop with the Flower of Life carved into it and sits on top of an oil-rubbed metal base.
Dining Room Chairs
"I love unique dining chairs and if the space is just right, they can create a very unique focal point," says Joe Human, a New York City-based designer for Thumbtack. That's why Human recently snatched up four antique chairs (ranging from $20 to $100) and painted and reupholstered them for a grand total of $750.
Unique Chairs
"An iconic furniture piece or object is always worth the splurge for me," says Los Angeles designer Stefani Stein. Which is why she thought these vintage Guillerme et Chambron lounge chairs were worth the splurge — even though the pair retail for $8,000.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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