Updating your home on a budget? Try these designer-recommended dupes

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Designers may have access to every home decor and furnishing brand out there, but sometimes the best choice isn’t the highest-end piece. “Do I use dupes? All the time!” says Kim Armstrong, owner and principal designer of Dallas-based Kim Armstrong Interior Design. “No one has an endless budget, so I have to mix the high and low.”

Liz Dauwe, principal at Studio White Interiors, agrees. “Decorating can add up fast,” she says. “That’s where these dupes come in. With accessorizing, we can find dupes where the difference is so subtle, it’s worth it to shop for them.” Here are some of the designers’ favorites to weave into your home design — and some can be ordered from Amazon or picked up while you’re shopping your neighborhood hardware store.

Upholstered bed

The Lovely Louis bed from The Beautiful Bed Company is priced at about $8,000 and can be finished in any color.(Courtesy The Beautiful Bed Company)

Bedroom — This Hooker Furniture bed can be ordered off Amazon for just over $3,000. Armstrong is reupholstering and refinishing it.(Courtesy Hooker Furniture/Amazon)

Splurge: The Beautiful Bed Company Lovely Louis upholstered bed | Dupe: Hooker Furniture Americana bed

“I am obsessed with The Beautiful Bed Company,” says Armstrong. “They are amazing, totally custom — the epitome of custom. My dupe is from Amazon. We are reupholstering it and painting it for about half the cost.”

Burl wood nightstand

Splurge: Made Goods Lindsey nightstand | Dupe: One Kings Lane Madison burl nightstand

“Timeless and classic” is how Dauwe describes the One Kings Lane Madison nightstand. “We love this burl nightstand for how closely it resembles the Made Goods original,” she shares. For the designer look, she recommends styling the nightstand with a chic lamp on top of a book stack and a box on the bottom shelf.

Bold fabric for pillows, drapes and more

On the Decorators Best website, Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon China blue fabric is about... — On the Decorators Best website, Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon China blue fabric is about $270 per yard, with a 2-yard minimum.(Courtesy Decorators Best/Schumacher)

blue and white pattern fabric — Get the look starting at $15 per yard on sale with Spoonflower’s blue and white Chiang Mai pattern. The priciest fabric option runs $89 per yard.(Courtesy Spoonflower)

Splurge: Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon fabric | Dupe: Spoonflower Chiang Mai pattern

“I love textiles and fabric,” Armstrong shares, adding “that’s what drives the cost of my designs up.” While the designer notes that the Schumacher fabric is “iconic,” she recommends Spoonflower as an alternative: “You have the organic feel, [and] the color tones and colorways are so similar.” Armstrong recommends Spoonflower’s Belgian linen or linen cotton canvas option.

Vibrant, patterned wallpaper

Blue patterned wallpaper behind a buffet — Armstrong used this Spoonflower wallpaper in place of Quadrille’s Happy Garden style.(Michael Hunter)

Splurge: Quadrille Happy Garden | Dupe: Spoonflower Climbing Citrus Grove

Spoonflower was also the source for a wallpaper Armstrong used in a colorful living room. “We had originally chosen Quadrille’s Happy Garden, and instead we duped the look to bring down the budget.”

Both wallpapers offer a lush botanical aesthetic but at different price points — the Quadrille paper is hand screen-printed, while the Spoonflower option is a budget-friendly, digitally printed paper.

Statement mirrors

Entryway with large round mirror over a buffet with a lamp — Studio White Interiors designed this entryway with RH’s metal floating round mirror, which starts at nearly $2,000 for shoppers who aren’t RH members. Designer Liz Dauwe suggests a similar style from Amazon priced at $979.(Michael Hunter)

Splurge: RH metal floating round mirror | Dupe: Uttermost Junius large round mirror

This dupe mirror can be ordered from Amazon. “Its large-scale size makes it perfect for an entryway or to fill the space on a big wall,” Dauwe suggests. “[The mirror is] classy and timeless. You can’t go wrong with this one.”

Striped mirror — The Jonah mirror from Made Goods is crafted from hand-set resin and white bone, with a brayden arch shape.(Courtesy Made Goods/Grayson Living)

This Etsy bone-inlay mirror starts at around $254 and comes in various colors. You can also... — This Etsy bone-inlay mirror starts at around $254 and comes in various colors. You can also purchase just the frame.(Courtesy Etsy/Shekha Art)

Splurge: Made Goods Jonah mirror | Dupe: Elegant modern bone inlay mirror

“This one is an incredible dupe — the designer [27-inch version] retails for almost $4,000,” Armstrong shares. A lookalike can be found on Etsy in your choice of sizes. “I did the largest size in the bronze, and it was $565 — a great value with similar materials.”

Clover-shaped ottoman

Splurge: Hickory Chair Cloverleaf ottoman | Dupe: Ebern Designs Leiani ottoman

Hickory Chair’s Cloverleaf ottoman is larger than the dupe, but the Ebern Designs version gives you a similar shape without going through an interior designer. It’s a swap Armstrong made in one of her projects. To get the exact look she was going for, she had the Leiani ottman reupholstered in an animal-print fabric. If the fringe on the Cloverleaf ottoman is what most appeals to you and you’re open to a slightly different shape, Armstrong also suggests the Safavieh Tanith flower ottoman.

Quatrefoil chair

The quatrefoil back on this chair from Hickory Chair's Suzanne Kasler collection creates... — The quatrefoil back on this chair from Hickory Chair’s Suzanne Kasler collection creates visual interest from all angles.(Courtesy Hickory Chair)

This similarly shaped chair can be ordered from Wayfair. Armstrong suggests having it... — This similarly shaped chair can be ordered from Wayfair. Armstrong suggests having it recovered if the print is too bold.(Courtesy Wayfair)

Splurge: Alexandra chair from the Suzanne Kasler Upholstery Collection by Hickory Chair | Dupe: Ophelia & Co. quatrefoil chair

The Suzanne Kasler chair is “so cute and petite — a showstopper,” says Armstrong — but it’s available for purchase only through an interior designer. Enter the dupe you can order on Wayfair. Pro tip: “You might want to alter the fabric selection, but that’s a super minimal cost to upholster that little chair.”

Curved-arm sofa

White sofa with throw pillows and art behind — Williams Sonoma’s Carlton curve sofa is priced between $2,500 and $7,500. It comes a several color options as well.(Courtesy Williams Sonoma)

The Quince sofa ranges from $1,450 to $1,900. The fabric is performance velvet, and it is... — The Quince sofa ranges from $1,450 to $1,900. The fabric is performance velvet, and it is available in multiple colors. (Courtesy Quince)

Splurge: Williams Sonoma Carlton curve sofa | Dupe: Quince Sierra curved-arm sofa

“Williams Sonoma has beautiful furniture,” Armstrong says. “With Quince … what you get will be a very high quality for what you pay, which is important for such a large piece of furniture. This is a similar look, but you pay less and still have that same great quality.”

Sculptural decoration

Bookcase with decor — Studio White Interiors chose Made Goods’ Tallis link sculpture in white stone for this bookcase (upper right). Duawe says you can snag a more accessible and affordable version from Ballard Designs.(Michael Hunter)

Splurge: Made Goods Tallis link sculpture | Dupe: Ballard Designs stone link

“We love this knot because of its classic look and versatility,” says Dauwe. “The dupe from Ballard Designs is well made and just as chic as its Made Goods counterpart.” Her tip for styling: “We [place] it across coffee-table books or on mantels.”

Modern pendant light

Splurge: Hudson Valley Lighting Glendale pendant | Dupe: Wellfor TC pendant light

“This gorgeous lighting pendant is such a sleek addition to any space,” says Dauwe. “While we adore the original from Hudson Valley, you can find a strikingly close lookalike at Lowe’s. Both pendants feature black and gold finishes and stunning linear detailing.” A couple of styling tips: “Consider selecting [globe-shaped or tubular] Sputnik-style lightbulbs for the dupe to make this fixture look even more like the original. This fixture is perfect for above a kitchen island or in a small dining area.”

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