I'm an interior decorator. Here are 8 things I'd buy at Crate & Barrel for myself and my clients.

Sat, 05/25/2024 - 07:49

Selfie of the writer, wearing a brown T-shirt, in front of a Crate and Barrel store with palm trees in the background — I recommend grabbing a few home essentials at Crate & Barrel.
Kelly Kruger

I'm an interior decorator who visited Crate & Barrel to see what items were worth picking up.
I'd elevate kitchen and bar areas with the store's aesthetic appliances, glassware, and decanters.
I recommend using accent chairs and unique cabinets to showcase your personal style.

As an interior decorator, I love finding high-quality decor and furniture at popular stores like Crate & Barrel.

The retailer, which has eight outlets and nearly 90 locations in the US and Canada, plans to expand within the US this year. The store also has a popular e-commerce site, which attracts over 100 million online visitors.

Recently, I visited Crate & Barrel to look for items I'd buy for my own space or put in my clients' homes. I found lots of contemporary designs, including furniture and smaller decorative items.

Here are the eight Crate & Barrel items I'd use in my own designs.

Linens are a great way to refresh a table setting.

A hand holds a red rolled-up tablecloth in front of several rolled-up tablecloths in various colors on wooden shelves at Crate and Barrel — I love the selection of tablecloth colors at Crate & Barrel.
Kelly Kruger

I love bringing color into the dining room with tablecloths, runners, and cloth napkins. It's a relatively inexpensive way to refresh a space with new colors or swap out seasonal decor.

Crate & Barrel has a great collection of linens for mixing and matching items in a coordinating palette. Customers can also order embroidered napkins for a customized set or gift.

Though they can be pricey, I trust the quality of Crate & Barrel's European Flax-certified linens because they're made with premium flax fibers sustainably grown in Western Europe.

The store had lots of stylish dishware.

A hand holds a gray bowl with a white stripe along the rim in front of shelves of gray and black dish sets — I recommend adding dimensional dishware to the kitchen.
Kelly Kruger

One of the best parts about shopping at Crate & Barrel is picking out a table setting in the showroom and feeling the weight and texture variety in the dish sets.

I like going into the store to play around with plates and bowls from different collections to create a dimensional layered look. Most items are sold both individually and in a set, so you can get creative with plates, chargers (a decorative base that goes under the plates), bowls, and silverware to fit a specific style.

I like that Crate & Barrel makes the process easy. Once you know which pieces you want, an employee will place an order for you or wrap your purchases while you browse.

The right drinking glasses will wow dinner guests.

A hand holds a clear-glass drinking glass in front of shelves of several wine glasses. The glass in the foreground has a long stem and rectangular shape — Statement drinking glasses can pair well with basic pieces.
Kelly Kruger

A fancy cocktail is more impressive when it comes in a beautiful glass. I recommend investing in timeless, good-quality drinking glasses that complement an evolving style.

Once you have basic glassware, you can experiment with some cool statement glasses to pair with those everyday cups.

Decanters are the ultimate bar-cart accessory.

Several clear containers with details to make them look like crystal on shelves at Crate and Barrel — Decanters can make a bar area look beautiful.
Kelly Kruger

If you need to declutter a countertop or bar cart, I recommend swapping the jumble of liquor bottles with beautiful decanters.

The variety of cohesive designs at Crate & Barrel resemble cut crystal, giving an aristocratic-heirloom vibe for a reasonable price. A sophisticated, timeless decanter setup will turn a messy bar area into an elevated centerpiece.

Stylish countertop appliances enhance an otherwise basic kitchen.

Modern-looing tea kettles in black, green, and white colors at Crate and Barrel — Stylish countertop appliances, like tea kettles, can transform a kitchen.
Kelly Kruger

Crate & Barrel offers several small kitchen appliances with an elevated aesthetic. Though these items can be expensive, I think upgrading to a more luxurious option is worth it.

For example, if you keep a kettle on the counter for daily use, the modern minimalist Fellow Stagg EKG one could be a great choice.

Functional style and personality can also be added to the kitchen with SMEG's colorful 50s-inspired appliances or the colorful KitchenAid options.

Accent chairs can add flair to the living room.

A white accent swivel chair with boucle fabric on the floor at Crate and Barrel next to a cream-colored rug — The swivel accent chairs at Crate & Barrel are great for small spaces.
Kelly Kruger

I always encourage clients to invest in a plain, no-frills sofa that can withstand different trends. However, the accent chair is an opportunity to get quirky.

Crate & Barrel has a great selection of modern-yet-classic styles, which customers can personalize with fabric options and features to match their desired look.

I love the store's swivel chairs because they can fit into smaller spaces. The round swivel chairs also work great in living rooms with open floor plans since they can serve as dividers between the room's functional spaces.

I love the metal cabinets at Crate & Barrel.

Metal cabinets with bowls, glasses, and decor in it against a stone wall next to potted faux plants — Metal cabinets are a great way to display sculptures or art pieces.
Kelly Kruger

I use various materials to balance a space and enhance my design style visually.

I love the metal cabinets at Crate & Barrel because they hint at an edgier industrial feel. However, because their chic design can also soften a look, they can work well in several home styles.

I love contrasting these pieces with warm wood tones and using them as a room's centerpiece to display art and sculptural work.

Pass-through bookshelves can make great room dividers.

A wooden pass-through bookshelf, which has no back, with books and a faux plant with a white pot on top, at Crate and Barrel — Open bookshelves divide a space without making it look too closed off.
Kelly Kruger

Crate & Barrel's open bookshelves provide a practical way to divide a space into distinct areas without completely closing it off. They create a sense of separation while allowing light and airflow to pass through, maintaining an open feel within the room.

I use these shelves to create a designated entryway in homes where a front door might open directly into a living room. They function like a wall without closing the area off.

I recommend lightly styling these shelves with picture frames, books, or sculpture work for a beautiful display that doesn't feel too cluttered.

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I'm an interior decorator. Here are 8 things I'd buy at Crate & Barrel for myse…