Think of The Home Depot as a best supporting player for interior designers. Those beautiful images of finished rooms on their social media feeds may look like they’ve been curated with the help of Parisian flea markets or the artisans on Etsy, but when it comes to the home decor items that tie it all together, there’s a chance that those may have come from an unexpected source: The Home Depot.
“When designing a space, there is the inevitable need for items that are easily accessible and available no matter where our clients are, especially when it’s install time and we need to hit the ground running,” says Michelle Fahmy, principal designer at House of Meeshie in Los Angeles, noting that she loves the store for essentials like rug pads, paint, tools and cleaning supplies to keep her install kits stocked.
While accents like linens and vessels are the bread-and-butter of Target, HomeGoods, and Amazon, The Home Depot is prized for everything from paint to plants, from Sunbrella outdoor pillows to industrial sconces. Interior designers love that the budget-friendly retailer stocks all the necessities when they need something pronto. And unlike Costco, you don’t even need a membership.
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Read on for 13 picks designers snap up from The Home Depot for their clients, and themselves.
Rust-Oleum Universal Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint
Rust-Oleum Universal Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Spray Paint
Gold Spray Paint
What happens when you encounter a bathroom renovation project with fixtures and accessories featuring hard-to-find finishes? Emily Moss, principal of Emily Moss Designs in Anna Maria, Florida, shares a little-known secret of seasoned interior designers: use spray paint to perfectly match those elusive finishes, achieving remarkable results without breaking the bank. She used Rust-Oleum Satin Bronze to create the perfect finish for the round mirrors so that they coordinate perfectly with the Brizo wall mount faucets in a little girl’s bathroom.
WINGBO Industrial Swing Arm Wall Lamp Set of 2
WINGBO Industrial Swing Arm Wall Lamp Set of 2
Wall Sconces
New York-based interior designer Mikel Welch looks for bright ideas at Home Depot. He loves their industrial black wall sconces as the perfect finishing touch. “With an adjustable swing arm, you can place the light at whatever height and angle works best for you,” he says.
Hampton Bay 9 ft. Patio Umbrella in Cabana Black and White Stripe
Hampton Bay 9 ft. Patio Umbrella in Cabana Black and White Stripe
Outdoor Umbrellas
“Umbrellas are also an opportunity to add some fun color and pattern to your outdoor living space,” says Amber Guyton, interior designer and content creator for Blessed Little Bungalow in Atlanta. “Home Depot has a variety of stylish and high quality umbrella options to select from.” Add them poolside, at patio tables or amongst conversation seating to help keep things cool in uncovered outdoor spaces.
Hampton Bay Path Light
Path Lights
“Path lights not only illuminate your landscaping and sidewalks, they elevate the backyard to a more modern oasis,” Guyton adds. Opt for the economical solar path lights or look into smart LED lights you can program.
BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Pure White Eggshell Interior Paint
BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Pure White Eggshell Interior Paint
White Paint
“My go-to quick fix for almost any project is a fresh coat of white paint,” says Leanne Ford principal of Leanne Ford Interiors in Pittsburgh, PA, “I love to use Ultra Pure White from BEHR Paint—you can get this one right off the shelf at any Home Depot and paint away. That’s my forever suggestion. It’s the perfect white, no tint, and it works well in high gloss or flat.”
Ivy Hill Tile Kingston Sky Blue 4 in. x 4 in. Glazed Ceramic Tile
Ivy Hill Tile Kingston Sky Blue 4 in. x 4 in. Glazed Ceramic Tile
Tile
Jessica Dorling, principal of Dorling Design Studio in Seattle is all about Home Depot when sourcing white Daltile penny rounds and 3×6 white subways. “It’s $15 a case for subways that could easily be $40 somewhere else and they’re always in stock,” Dorling says.
Portland, Oregon-based, Peter Spalding, CCO and cofounder of design marketplace Daniel House Club also found some budget-friendly tile options that look impressive: 3×6 carrara marble tiles and 4×4 and 5×5 ceramics that come in a variety of colors. Spalding shares this pro tip. “I usually check online as they offer more there than in store.”
United Nursery Boston Fern Plant in 9.25 in. Hanging Basket
United Nursery Boston Fern Plant in 9.25 in. Hanging Basket
Greenery
“Greenery in a space is not only affordable, but prevents a space from being stale,” says Kate Marker, president of Kate Marker Interiors in Chicago who shops at Home Depot for greenery, or as she likes to put it, living accessories. “Plants of any type—succulents, fiddle leaf figs, mother-in-law tongue—all bring a freshness.”
Tamarra Younis of Union of Art Interiors in Los Angeles recommends grabbing a few pothos plants, even if you don’t have a green thumb. “These are easy to keep alive and don’t need much care apart from watering,” she says. “Keep the receipt and the original plastic pot for an easy return if your plant doesn’t make it.”
To spruce up a room, Bridget Tiek, principal interior designer at Tiek By Day in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, loves a Boston fern because it’s affordable, almost always in stock, and looks amazing in any space.
Arcadia Garden Products 21-1/2 in. x 20 in. Terra Cotta PSW Pot
Arcadia Garden Products 21-1/2 in. x 20 in. Terra Cotta PSW Pot
Planters
“Home Depot is one of our go to’s for not only plants but great planters,” says Michelle Fahmy, principal designer at House of Meeshie in Los Angeles. “Large planters can be pricey, and Home Depot tends to have a great selection of them that are very affordable–along with all the things you need like soil and fertilizer—to get the plant babies fully installed and looking beautiful.”
The designer, who is a big proponent of growing your own food movement, has also purchased lumber to make planter boxes. “All you need are 2×4’s, 4×4’s, a power drill and some wood screws,” she says. “With minimal planning, you can have a backyard garden in a day!”
Noble House Camrose Ivory Pattern Fabric Cube Pouf
Noble House Camrose Ivory Pattern Fabric Cube Pouf
Cube Pouf
A cube pouf is one of those accessories you didn’t know you needed. “It comes in three neutral finishes and works with all styles and can easily be moved for use or tucked away under a console table,” Welch says. Get one for all your gathering areas.
nuLOOM Ultra Premium Eco-Friendly Thick Non-Slip Felt 4 ft. x 6 ft. Rug Pad
nuLOOM Ultra Premium Eco-Friendly Thick Non-Slip Felt 4 ft. x 6 ft. Rug Pad
Rug Pads
Home Depot may not be glamorous, but it’s perfect for stocking up on rug pads and felt chair pads. Louisville, Kentucky, interior designer Bethany Adams, recommends that her clients keep these on hand because there’s nothing worse than getting a scratch on your newly finished floors, especially when something so inexpensive could prevent it!
Home Decorators Collection Merryfield Bathroom Vanity in Antigua Green with Carrara White Marble Top
Home Decorators Collection Merryfield Bathroom Vanity in Antigua Green with Carrara White Marble Top
Now 35% Off
Bathroom Vanity
Maren Baker, an interior designer in Boise, Idaho, has looked to Home Depot for small vanities, especially when working on a budget-savvy bathroom. “Sometimes you can even get the top and sink–all in one,” she says.
Noble House Noble House Bryleigh Natural Brown Lightweight Concrete Accent Table
Noble House Noble House Bryleigh Natural Brown Lightweight Concrete Accent Table
Accent table
When Welch wants to modernize a space, he looks to a geometric accent table to display home decor trinkets.
1101Design Sunbrella Canvas Natural Outdoor Knife Edge Throw Pillows (2-Pack)
1101Design Sunbrella Canvas Natural Outdoor Knife Edge Throw Pillows (2-Pack)
Sunbrella Pillows
Shani Core, an interior designer in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is all about solid Sunbrella pillows for outdoor rooms. “You can add trim and make them fancier,” she adds.