12 Décor Products That Prove Elevating Your Home Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

I wish I could say that after living in my apartment for nearly eight months, I'm finally done decorating. You would think that as a home-décor fanatic, I might have spent 2021 getting everything perfectly in order, but between wedding planning, a lust for vacations, and a clothing obsession, my wallet can only handle so much. My home-décor shopping sprees come in waves, and I'm always looking for affordable spots where I can scoop up new goodies. And now that fall is here, it's about time I get back into home-décor mode and add some finishing touches and a bit of fall flair to my apartment. ('Tis the season!)

To get some inspiration for my quest, I decided to reach out to Amanda Walker, whose home has popped up on my Instagram discover page many times. Her space is truly a dream, and as it turns out, she's been in the middle of a little seasonal spruce herself. Luckily for me (and my wallet), she's snagging all of her incredibly good finds from Walmart at very affordable prices. Want a peek into her home? Keep scrolling. 

Walker and her family love to spend time together in their living room. "Our living space is about comfort, conversation, and connection," she tells me. And decorating with the right décor is incredibly important for setting that mood. "It's usually a spot where I want to get comfortable, so a lot of pillows are a must, and I love to have warm light to set a relaxing mood."

"I love a small refresh for my home each season, and I always look for budget items to help me do so," Walker says. The specific pieces she chose for this room definitely give off an autumn aura. "Plaid and velour are great patterns and textures for the fall. Even this touch light has a beautiful wood base that screams fall to me," she says. Walker is a pro at adding the simplest details that create a huge impact on a space.

When my fiancé and I moved in to our new apartment, office space was an extremely important element because we were both working from home. Like us, Walker is particular about the space she works in. "For our home-office space, I like to keep it bright and energizing. I feel as though that creates the most optimal working environment," she tells me. "However, for the fall, I wanted to bring more comforting and relaxing vibes to the space."

"The ottoman adds warmth and function, giving a more cozy feel with natural jute fibers and a place to put your feet up," she explains. And the throw blanket? "The perfect element to finish out the space by adding coziness, a burst of autumn color, and relaxation to take a little refreshing break." I love how she layered the blanket over a furry one for peak cozy vibes.

I won't lie: After seeing the outdoor area of Walker's home, I instantly called my fiancé over to show him what I wanted our patio to look like. Our patio has been empty since we moved in, and we haven't been able to decide what to do with it. Similarly, Walker says hers has also been in "a season of transition."

"I put some work in over the summer to style it so that it can actually be another space for our family to hang out in. This fall seemed like the perfect time to finish it out with some beautiful styling," she says.

"I knew I wanted wood elements, comfortable seating, live plants, a fire pit, and fun lighting to pull together a space that we would want to decompress in at night, and where we could have conversations and make memories," she explains. While there are many great elements to the space (twinkle lights, plants, and throw pillows, to name a few), the epic fire pit caught my eye the most.

"Now that the nights are cooling down, the fire pit is the perfect addition to our patio," Walker says. "It has brought such a coziness to the atmosphere that was much needed." Say no more—I will be purchasing one.

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