Tax refund burning a hole in your pocket? Wondering how to spend your windfall on home and decor upgrades? We tapped three designers (including me!), to share how they’d spend $250, $500 or $1,000. From sprucing up your table linens to splurging on luxury details, here’s what the pros recommend.
If you have $250 to spend: Get dinner-party-ready.
I recently hosted some friends for brunch and realized my placemat and napkin situation was not where I’d like it to be. So, if I had a spare $250, I’d start there. I love the scallop detail of these linen napkins from Quince, and the price can’t be beat. I’d pair them with a bold placemat, and round them out with a retro flatware set.
Shopping list:
- European Linen Scallop Edge Napkins (Set of 8) in Flax/Dusty Blue, $55 at Quince
- Jarmaine Cotton Rectangle Placemat (Set of 4) in Olive, $58 x 2 at Joss & Main
- 16 Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4 By Martha Stewart, $28 x 2 at Wayfair
Total: $227
If you have $500 to spend: Pick up a statement-making marble piece (or two).
Aha Interiors founder Paulina Hospod recommends going for a moment of attainable luxury. “I always get excited about retail chains collaborating with standout designers,” she says. “Right now, Crate & Barrel’s collection with Brigette Romanek is a perfect example—stunning shapes, rich textures, and worth a look.” In particular, she’s eyeing some functional and decorative marble statement makers such as this door stopper and this lamp every guest is sure to ask you about.
Shopping list:
- Boulder Marble Door Stopper by Brigette Romanek, $70 at Crate & Barrel
- Beachwood Golden Calacatta Marble Table Lamp with Wicker Shade by Brigette Romanek, $399 at Crate & Barrel
Total: $469
If you have $1,000 to spend: Give your kitchen an affordable glow up.
You can really stretch a larger refund stretch by bringing in some strategic updates to your kitchen space, says architect Carly Weisman. “New hardware can elevate any cabinetry,” she says, noting she gave her own kitchen an entirely fresh take by swapping out some outdated strap hinges for brass partial inset hinges. Behind those cabinets and drawers, Weisman suggests investing in organization to improve the daily function of your kitchen. “Consider inserts for organization in drawers for spices, utensils and knives” she says, adding that a new faucet is transformative — as it is Weisman’s no-brainer makeover tool: “Paint, obviously.”
Shopping list:
- Hickory Hardware American Diner Round Large Retro 50s Diner Knob, $8 x 30 at Build.com
- Hickory Hardware Partial Inset Traditional Cabinet Door Hinge (Package of 2), $4 x 15 at Build.com
- Bamboo Spice Drawer Organizer, $35 at Wayfair
- Bamboo Silverware Drawer Organizer with Labels, $29 at Wayfair
- Rev-A-Shelf Dual Row Knife Block Drawer Organizer Insert, $114 at Wayfair
- Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Champagne Bronze, $273 at Delta Faucet
- Stony Ground by Farrow & Ball, $149 per gallon x 2 at Farrow & Ball
Total: $1,049
