If you read my last post, you know I got a big reminder of how beneficial (and important) it is to shop small.
Around Labor Day weekend, I was keeping an eye open for any good sales on home items for my “fall refresh” project.
I couldn’t afford a new couch (even on sale), but I figured some other key pieces would really give my apartment a good facelift.
I really wanted a new floor rug for my living room. My gray and black one was generally too dark and a tad too small for the room.
Searching for eco-friendly options for home goods
I did a Google search for eco-friendly shops for home goods and learned that West Elm has a section of their store with sustainable products, and even some made ethically by artisans. Cool!
I found some rugs I really liked at West Elm, but even on sale, they were out of my budget.
My research also led me to Etsy. I’d heard Etsy is one of the best places to buy furniture if you’re looking to support small businesses, but I’d never really looked into it.
So, I started by taking screenshots of the rugs I liked at West Elm and used them as inspiration for my search.
The higher-priced rugs served as my inspiration
I realized I wanted a vintage-looking rug, and loads of them came up on Etsy for much better prices than what I saw at West Elm.
Admittedly, I did search for nearly two hours on Etsy, but it was from the comfort of my couch!
I found an entire shop that sold vintage Turkish Rugs, and they had hundreds of great reviews. So, I started “liking” rugs from that shop that fit the size dimensions I needed and the color scheme I was interested in.
I selected eight rugs (!), took screenshots of those, and just went through them one by one and narrowed it down until I knew the ONE I wanted.
The rug I picked was originally $650 (which was half the price of what I saw at big box stores), and it was 70% off, so I paid $160 including shipping!
I bought an eco-friendly rug pad (from West Elm) to put underneath it, which was about $60.
I admit it: I was a tad worried this was going to be a cheap-looking rug, but all of the customer reviews said the rugs were high-quality and clean.
The rug arrived…
The rug arrived all the way from Turkey in just a few days, and the reviews were right. The rug was in great condition and clean and looked even better than the picture!
I’ve had the rug down ever since (I put it right on the floor the same day I got it), and I just LOVE it!
The thing I love most about the rug is that it’s a handmade piece from the 70s — truly vintage — and there’s not another one like it out there!
And you know what? I helped a small business instead of a company that didn’t need my money. I realize that if I could’ve afforded a rug from West Elm, I could’ve just purchased it and saved myself time.
But I reminded myself that everything has energy, and I don’t want factory-made, unethical, harmful energy in my home.
Instead, I have a piece of history! It feels so neat to have a one-of-a-kind piece I can see every day. I’m 100% buying from this shop again (I want a runner for my kitchen)!
If you’re looking for a home item, I’d suggest trying Etsy. I have a few more home items on my list, so I’ll be reporting back!
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