7 Things Interior Designers Always Buy At Walmart

These days, it can be frustratingly difficult to get your hands on home decor. Furniture can take months to ship, everything is out of stock, and nothing falls within the budget. It’s times like these when we turn to what we know: Walmart. No matter where you live, we’re willing to bet that there’s a trusty Walmart just a hop, skip, and a jump away full of affordable finds. We’ve come to rely on this accessible superstore for just about everything. A trip to Walmart means filling our carts with anything from groceries to cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and yes, home goods. 

The professionals are embracing this hometown hero too. Some of our favorite Southern interior designers turn to Walmart for their own homes and clients’ home decor, ranging from large-scale furniture to the smaller details that go a long way in finishing off a space. Follow their lead and shop these designer-approved home picks from Walmart.

Outdoor Furniture

In the South, outdoor living spaces are just as important as indoor ones. We cherish our porches, patios, lawns, and gardens, and enjoy spending as much time there as we can. To complement these prized spaces, it’s essential that any furniture there is not only good-looking, but also high quality and functional for open-air lounging. Interior designers reveal that Walmart stocks just the right stuff. Nashville-based designer Samantha Stein has been eying this patio set that her design studio’s operations manager recently bought. 

“It is very attractive and looks like a high end outdoor set without the high price tag,” she raves. 

She’s not the only one admiring Walmart’s outdoor furniture selection, though. Birmingham designer Cassie Tonsmeire loves Walmart’s outdoor benches that allow gardeners to enjoy more time among the fruits of their labor and create an oasis right there in the middle of their gardens.

Designer "Dupes"

Designing interiors out of Little Rock, Arkansas, Kelley Kolettis says that Walmart is a nest egg of designer look-alikes, or "dupes," for those looking to achieve a high-end look on a budget.

“Check out [Walmart’s] home department and see how much they have raised the bar on designer-looking items,” she advises. “There are so many Instagram reels and TikToks that spotlight designer dupes that you can find at your local Walmart. They have so much to offer at lower price points but similar quality as higher-end stores. Do not underestimate Walmart when trying to freshen up your space on a small budget.”

Mirrors

Depending on your priorities, a mirror can be a key place to save. Kolettis reveals that she normally spends anywhere from $100 to $1000 on mirrors for most of her projects. However, this budget-friendly full-length mirror from Walmart is her secret for saving a dime that she always breaks out for budget-friendly projects. 

“It’s a larger scale mirror, 27”x70”, with a thick frame by Better Homes & Gardens for only $62,” she tells us. “It comes in multiple frame colors and is a substantial size without looking cheap.”

Throw Pillows

Both Kolettis and Bentonville, Arkansas-based designer Lee Anne Stelte with Whiteline Design agree that Walmart boasts a great collection of throw pillows, especially for outdoor spaces. They both shop Walmart’s outdoor throw pillows for sprucing up patio and porch furniture and appreciate their range of sizes, colors, and thick fabric fit for braving the elements. Stelte also recommends using Walmart’s pillows to decorate twin beds, in kids’ bedrooms for example, where it may not be advisable to invest lots of money on accessories that will face children’s wear and tear or may be grown out of in just a few years.

Paint

Stelte lets us in on a secret: Walmart has really great paint. Head to your local superstore for shades from unique collections like Stelte’s favorite: Lemon Yellow paint from the Drew Barrymore Flower Home collection. She has used this stunning shade for a sunshine-y front door and interior art work.

Small Space Furniture

It’s not easy to furnish a small space. Every bit of furniture takes up precious space and you don’t want to squeeze in anything too tightly. For this reason, it’s important to choose your pieces carefully. Easy-going, simple, and space-saving pieces, like this Parsons desk that Stelte recently used in a small rental, are perfect for tight rooms.

Storage Organizers

Kolettis also says that “Walmart has really stepped up their game” when it comes to organization containers—something you can never have too many of. She is impressed by their selection of clear containers and baskets which she says can “make your average pantry, garage, bathroom, or playroom look ‘Instagram-worthy’ using items from Walmart, but look like magazine ads for the Container Store, Pottery Barn, or Ikea.”