Items Professional Interior Designers Actually Buy At Costco

If you're like many, Costco is your go-to destination to pick up bulk quantities of groceries at a discounted price. Perhaps you even wander the non-grocery aisle of the store from time to time, looking for great deals on bedding, electronics, kitchenware, and various other household goods. Well, you're far from the only one who sees the warehouse as a top shopping destination. Even professional interior designers have discovered that Costco offers some high-quality and stylish options that can enhance the aesthetics of a space without the need to spend a fortune.

We spoke with four professional designers and asked them to share some of their go-to purchases from Costco. Ahead, we'll share exclusive quotes in which they reveal how Costco helps them style practically every room in the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Who knows — perhaps you'll find a few more items to add to your shopping list the next time you head to the warehouse.

Area rugs play an important role in design. If you have an open floor plan, they can help you define your space, sectioning off your seating area. Area rugs can also enhance the overall aesthetics of a room by adding color, texture, or pattern to play off other key elements. They offer additional benefits, as well, such as absorbing sounds, covering up otherwise cold tile or hardwood floors, and providing a soft and cushioned surface for one's feet. According to Elissa Hall, an interior design lead who oversaw a team of fifteen-plus remote designers at Airbnb, and is now the lead designer at Awning, Costco is an excellent place to shop when you're in the market for a new area rug. When speaking exclusively with House Digest, she said, "Costco's soft area rugs appeal to me because they combine form and utility. The plush carpets give warmth in a high-traffic living space without appearing too costly."

You'll likely find a few area rugs available in your local Costco warehouse, but you can also find several more selections if you shop online. Moreover, there are a range of size options available — including small 5-foot by 7-foot rugs to place under a coffee table and bigger 8-foot by 11-foot and 9-foot by 13-foot options for larger living rooms or bedrooms. One stylish product line from Costco to consider is the Thomasville Timeless Classic Rug Collection. With five attractive color options and five available sizes, most homeowners will be able to find a rug that will coordinate with their design and give their room an upgrade. Costco even offers washable area rugs, such as this Wyatt & Ash Washable Area Rug which comes in five different sizes. If you have children or pets or need something for a high-traffic area, it could offer the perfect fit.

When you're trying to maintain a clean and clutter-free living space, some creativity is often needed. While you might not want to leave your blankets lying on the couch or the kids' video game controllers out on the coffee table, you also want to be able to easily find these items when desired. Elissa Hall highlights storage ottomans, specifically those from Costco, as a stylish solution to help you maintain an organized home. "These are quite handy for stowing blankets or magazines as their hinged lids make it easy to access what's inside," she says.

Once you try a storage ottoman, you may wonder why you took so long to see their value. They can come in handy in practically every room in the home. Of course, you can use storage ottomans — such as the Thomasville Tisdale Storage Ottoman — in your living room to provide a spot to hold essentials that can also be used to kick your feet up after a long day. But you might also consider adding a few to your entryway or mudroom to provide both a place to store your shoes and to sit comfortably to take them on or off. These furniture pieces could also be an asset in a bedroom. "To provide both visual balance and concealed storage, I once arranged two ottomans side by side to provide the impression of a bench at the foot of a bed," shares Hall.

If you shop at the right time of the year, you might be lucky enough to run across some imitation fur throws and pillows at Costco. Not only are these available for a budget-friendly price at the warehouse or online store, but, according to Hall, they're one item professional designers might also buy when styling a room. She notes that these items, which are sometimes only available during seasonal rotation, "give a living room or bedroom textural variation without wrecking the bank. They help bridge the gap between design impact and comfort."

There are many ways that you use imitation fur throws and pillows to elevate your home's decor. Consider draping the Life Comfort Textured Fur Throw over a chair in a bedroom or on a living room loveseat. It can help to instantly transform the space into a comfortable nook where you can cuddle up with a favorite book. Adding imitation fur pillows or throws to a leather or ultra-modern sofa can also help soften the look of the furniture, giving it a more inviting appearance to guests and family members alike. You might even want to incorporate imitation fur into the design of your bedroom. For example, this extra-large imitation fur pillow from Costco, which is available in three different colors and patterns, can help give your bed a more luxurious feel.

Professional designers looking to style an outdoor entertaining space may turn to Costco for wicker furniture. Hall shares that the warehouse offers an assortment of high-quality outdoor wicker furniture sets. "Their weather-resistant wicker chairs may be surprisingly robust for a transitional indoor-outdoor environment, and combining them with designer elements requires minimal investment but results in a big stylistic payoff," she shares.

You can find wicker outdoor dining sets, conversation sets, lounge chairs, and more, giving you the flexibility to style your deck or patio as desired. This Sirio Niko 7-Piece Patio Dining Set, for example, might be a suitable choice for those looking to host patio dinner parties. It's available in two woven resin wicker finishes and features cushions that are upholstered with weather-resistant Sunbrella fabric. This Agio McKinnon 5-Piece Fire Outdoor Seating Set could be the right fit if you're looking to transform your deck into more of a conversation and relaxation zone. It comes with two glider loveseats, two swivel chairs, and a fire table. All of the furniture pieces are crafted from durable, all-weather resin wicker.

Motorized shades can improve accessibility for seamless light management in any room in your home. More than that, they remove the safety hazard associated with the pull cords on some manual blinds, may increase the resale value of your house, and can even help improve the energy efficiency of your home through opening and closing schedules. Vicki Zagrodnik, a kitchen and bath designer with Sims Exteriors & Remodeling, highlights Costco as one of the places that professional interior designers go to find motorized shades that will deliver these and other benefits to their clients.

One specific product line that she recommends is the Bali Motorized Cellular Shades. "Costco's Bali Motorized Cellular Shades are a game-changer for contemporary interiors because they offer energy efficiency, privacy, and elegant automation. With the help of these shades' integration with smart home systems, users can remotely control natural light, which is ideal for open-concept rooms and bedrooms where softly filtered light adds ambiance." The ability to sync up motorized shades to your home's smart hub truly can be a game-changer — no more hunting for the remote, and walking around the house every day opening and closing shades. Instead you can operate them with voice commands and automated schedules. 

There are so many reasons to consider adding a large mirror to your living room, dining room, or bedroom. As Zagrodnik shares, "Mirrors have the power to enlarge and brighten areas." Because of their reflective capabilities, mirrors can trick the eye into thinking a room is larger than it is. The reflections they display make it feel like the room has greater depth. The perfect place to put a mirror in order to make the room feel bigger can vary slightly based on the layout of your room. Hanging it either behind a larger furniture piece or directly across from a window in the room can both be effective — the reflections in the mirror with these placements should help create that desired illusion of additional space.

Costco can help you decorate with mirrors thanks to the wide assortment of products that it offers. The Ravena Floor Mirror is one option that Zagrodnik recommends. She says, "Adding a sense of refinement to any space, this 30-inch by 65-inch mirror has a solid metal frame with cast iron scrollwork. Because of its leaning shape, it may be used as a variety of decor pieces." Some reviewers who purchased this mirror online did report delivery issues and damage upon receipt, and one also noted that this mirror is cheaper in-store — so if you want to save yourself some cash, consider heading to a physical Costco outlet instead of buying online. And if your taste leans more coastal or organic modern, less Parisian, Costco has other, less glamorous mirror styles, such as the Earnest Wood Frame Floor Mirror. This mirror has a 4.9-star average rating, and reviewers recommend the solid construction and sturdy frame. 

There are many reasons you might consider adding some artificial plants or flowers to your living space. As Zagrodnik says, "Adding greenery to a space improves its appearance, and Costco's realistic artificial plants offer a low-maintenance alternative." Artificial plants won't up and die on you if their water or sunlight needs aren't met. So, whether you have a brown thumb or simply don't get enough light in a certain room in your home, they are a good option to consider. There are also certain places you can put imitation plants to make them really worth their while — such as in a high alcove or a hard-to-reach corner where it would otherwise be near impossible to give a real plant the care it needs. High-quality artificial plants have a surprisingly realistic appearance — though, there are always a few tricks that can help you give artificial plants a perfectly imperfect look.

Costco offers several imitation trees, as well as some vibrant silk flower arrangements, such as this Nearly Natural 12-inch hydrangea arrangement and this Allstate Living phalaenopsis orchid arrangement. Zagrodnik recommends adding the CGH imitation 6.5-foot fig tree to your home decor. "This lifelike fig tree, which comes in an artisan-style planter, gives your decor a natural feel without requiring any maintenance," she says.

Zagrodnik highlights just how important the lighting you choose can be for your home's decor and overall aesthetic appeal. "A room's mood is greatly influenced by its lighting," she says. The brightness and color temperature of the bulbs you choose can impact how large or small the space looks, change the way the paint color or furniture finish looks, and so much more. Of course, the style and design of the light fixtures you choose will also play an important role in the overall look of the room.

According to Zagrodnik, professional designers often shop at Costco when looking for light fixtures for their clients. "The items in Costco's assortment are both fashionable and useful," she shares. One item that she recommends is this set of two Mikasa Rechargeable LED Lamps. "These elegant and multipurpose cordless lights are perfect for embellishing bedside tables or designing comfortable reading nooks," says Zagrodnik. If you need overhead lighting, Costco's Bistro 6-Light Satin Brass Chandelier is in the globe style that's so popular with designers at the moment — but with an unusual, slightly traditional flair to the metal work, making this a potentially timeless piece.  

Luxury appliances are just that: a luxury. You might not need a touchscreen refrigerator that helps you keep up with meal planning or lets you view what's inside without opening the door. A smart washing machine that sends alerts to your smartphone reminding you to move the load to the dryer certainly isn't necessary for everyone. However, if you have the budget to splurge, these and other luxury appliances can help simplify everyday tasks. You mightn't have thought to keep an eye on Costco for luxury kitchen and home appliances. But according to Zagrodnik, professional designers who are looking for appliances to add that touch of luxury to their clients' kitchens, laundry rooms, and other spaces often turn to Costco to get reasonably priced, high-quality models.

One specific luxury appliance sold by Costco that Zagrodnik recommends is the Vinotemp 300-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler. "This luxury device, which is both stylish and functional, is designed for serious wine enthusiasts. This cooler also has two individual temperature zones, enabling the optimal retention of red wines as well as white wines, and is capable of storing 300 standard Bordeaux bottles."

Costco also sells a pretty wide range of smart refrigerators, but there is a catch. Most of the models are marked as member-only products, so you'll need a Costco card to snag these. Besides snazzy refrigerators, the retailer also stocks things like the LG Styler Smart Wi-Fi enabled Steam Closet (another members-only item) as well as smart ovens, washers, and stunning professional-style ranges. 

Bedroom or living room wall paneling can add timeless flair to your space. Wall paneling has come a long way over recent years, so if you're picturing those outdated wood planks that were in your childhood basement or your grandparents' house, think again. Modern wall paneling comes in different styles and textures, including reclaimed wood, metallic-looking panels, acoustic-inspired looks, and more. You should be able to find a style that matches your preferences and the needs of your home with ease. According to Michelle Shapiro, interior designer at Dwellier Design, Costco offers a few different practical and stylish wall paneling options.

One that she recommends is the Artika Sonolok Sound-Absorbing Slatted Panel Kit. This natural wood and felt paneling with a black finish can be installed on walls and ceilings. During an exclusive interview with House Digest, Shapiro said, "The recessed felt backing isn't just for sound absorption—it's brilliant for hiding wires, making it perfect for media walls or home offices. And, this is the perfect product for a DIYer as installation is super easy and you can mount the panels horizontally or vertically to suit your vision."

While a full kitchen renovation might be nice, it isn't always in the budget. However, that doesn't mean that you can't make impactful changes without spending a ton of money. One small change that can have a huge impact on the overall design of your kitchen is to replace the cabinet and drawer pulls. For this upgrade, Alecia Taylor, a designer at Cabinet Now, recommends starting at Costco. "Whether a client is looking for a quick refresh or in need of an affordable place to look for hardware, I have found Costco offers high-quality, modern hardware at a fraction of the price of specialty stores," she shared when speaking exclusively with House Digest.

These Sapphire Hexa Series Modern Rectangular Cabinet Handle Pulls and Sapphire Hexa Series Modern Rectangular Cabinet Knobs are two options you might consider. They're currently available with a brass or brushed nickel finish and can help give your kitchen a modern feel. The knobs have pins at the back to ensure they don't annoyingly swivel on your cabinet doors. Reviews confirm that both sets are simple to install – you can easily swap out your old knobs and replace them with just a screwdriver and the included screws. 

Even professional designers don't always have an unlimited budget. "For clients doing a budget-friendly bathroom refresh, Costco has a selection of vanities that look custom but cost significantly less than big-box home improvement stores," shares Taylor. In order to choose the perfect bathroom vanity from Costco, there are a few things you'll want to consider. One of the most important things is size. Take measurements of your existing vanity and the available space in the bathroom to ensure the new product you purchase will fit properly. Once you know the size range that you can consider, you can start thinking about aesthetics. Consider your preferred cabinet color and countertop color/material.

Fortunately, Costco offers a variety of sizes and styles to help each homeowner find a new vanity that will be a good fit for their bathroom. One option to consider is the Thompson Bath Vanity by Studio Bathe in Gray. It is currently available in four widths — 36 inches, 48 inches, 72 inches, and 84 inches — and features a gray finish with a cultured marble countertop and backslash. This highly-rated pick also features two power outlets and two USB slots behind the cabinet drawers and offers soft-closing cabinet doors and drawers.