One of my golden design rules is to view decorating as a version of the “high-low game,” regardless of the size of your home or budget. It’s all about finding the perfect balance of high- and low-end décor to give your home a carefully curated and stylish look, while also appearing attainable.
I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite dupes, or cost-friendly alternatives, for designer furniture on Amazon. I handpicked items that not only fit into my design aesthetic, but that I would purchase in effort to play the “high-low game.” This list features items that could be purchased in full and flow together in a cohesive way across your living room, dining room, entry, and bedroom. Happy Shopping!
Cane Cabinet
This cane cabinet has a transitional look that could work in a more modern home, but also in a more coastal, traditional-style home. Perfect for an entryway or office, this piece could also work in multiples in a dining room as sideboard or playroom for toy storage.
Find it on Amazon
Compare to: Pottery Barn Dolores Cane Cabinet
If the price tag on designer cane furniture gives you pause, you’re not alone. TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse had the same reaction when she spotted a similar cane console online: “I see a piece of furniture that I love, but can’t abide the hefty price.” She ended up building her own version for about half the cost of the original, using plywood from the home center and pocket-hole joinery.
Pro Tip: If you ever want to repair or replace cane panels on a piece like this, TOH’s Jenn Largesse recommends soaking cane panels in water for 30 minutes before attaching them so that “they cinch up a bit tighter once dry” — an easy DIY trick that requires only basic tools like a hand stapler and ⅜-inch staples.
What to Know About Cane: Made from the inner bark of the rattan palm, cane first gained popularity in the 1600s as a lightweight alternative to solid wood. If you’re ever considering a DIY cane project, look for woven, open-mesh cane with holes spaced ½ inch on center — the same style used in high-end furniture pieces like this one.
Sideboard Cabinet
Details and texture are making a major comeback as styles are shifting to give a warmer, more lived-in feel. With this change, we’re also seeing more detail on furniture like fluting, slatted wood panels, and wood patterns like the one on this cabinet.
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Compare to Perigold Sideboard Cabinet and West Elm Carved Pattern Buffet
DIY Alternative: If you’re handy, you can create a similar sideboard look on a budget. Place stock cabinets back-to-back, shim them level, and screw them together. Top with a slab of wood or butcher block, cantilevered to form a table, and add a closed X-brace made from stock lumber for stylish support.
Channeled Leather Sofa
I’ll always swoon over a channeled leather sofa. They catch the eye as a statement piece for a room, especially mine! This dupe is a far cry from a cheap alternative because you still get the luxury of real leather, just at a fraction of the cost.
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Compare to CB2 Channeled Leather Sofa
Black Ceramic Table Lamp
Lighting is one area I always play the high-low game in my home. I invest in wired fixtures, such as chandeliers, pendant lights, and wall sconces because there it takes more effort to change those out, so I want them to be permanent fixtures. Alternatively, I go low on table lamps, so I feel less committed to them if I ever want to change the design of a room.
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Compare to Pottery Barn Canyon Ceramic Table Lamp
Rattan Bed Frame
The resurgence of rattan and cane furniture takes me back to my grandparents’ kitchen in the 90s, in all the best ways. I typically gravitate towards neutral tones in main furniture pieces, so I think the addition of the rattan adds a nice contrast and warmth to a piece.
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Compare to Serena and Lily Harbour Cane Bed
DIY Alternative: TOH featured DIYer Jamie Lott, who blogs at southernrevivals.com, after she built a platform bed for her son’s room refresh. “He wanted something more mature and more modern. He picked out a bed at a retail store,” Jamie says. She built the frame herself using pine dimensional lumber and finished it with furniture wax for a richer look—proving that a designer-inspired bed doesn’t have to come with a designer price tag.
24-inch Round Gold Mirror
Although the exact size for a bathroom mirror should be determined by the dimensions of the vanity, standard sizing is typically between 24 to 30 inches—which makes this dupe a perfect find! It’s also the perfect size to go above an entry cabinet or in a kids room above a dresser.
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Compare to West Elm Round Metal Frame Wall Mirror
Black Wood Dining Chair
I love a good black dining chair. I have 3 different styles in my own house across my eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, and outdoor dining area. While I want each dining area to have its own personality, if I am hosting a holiday of 20+ family members, I want the option of bringing in chairs from other rooms and have everything feel consistent.
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Compare to Room and Board Evan Wood Chair
Farmhouse Dining Table
I have mixed feelings on whether a dining table should be an investment or not. It should live somewhere in the grey area: “maybe” if the table is used daily in a main dining area and “definitely no” if young kids are involved. This dupe a great find if you fall into either of these categories.
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Compare to Pottery Barn Reed Extending Dining Table
On a recent TOH project, the team had a custom farmhouse table built for homeowner Maddy, featuring a wide-plank teak top paired with a red oak base that was stain-matched to her family’s existing chairs. Host Kevin O’Malley noted: “Our homeowner is gonna be thrilled when she sees this.” The mix of species and custom finishing showed what a high-end table involves — but a well-chosen dupe can capture that same farmhouse warmth without the custom price tag.
What to Look For: When evaluating a farmhouse table dupe, pay attention to the finish quality. On the TOH TV project, craftsman Paul explained that their custom table used a polyester sealer with a catalyzed polyurethane top coat, then was “power-rubbed out and hand-rubbed out to get this smooth, silky feel, extremely durable, take anything an average” family throws at it. Look for tables with a catalyzed or conversion-varnish finish for similar durability — especially important if young kids are in the picture.
Tall Bookcase with Storage Cabinet
Open shelving cabinets like this go well in an office or living room. The combo of both gives you an area for open, decorative display and somewhere to hide away items that need a storage space but don’t need to be out in plain sight.
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Compare to Crate and Barrel Blake Rattan Tall Storage Cabinet
X Base Stool
An ottoman or stool is exactly what I would label as a dupe-worthy item and not something to splurge on. You can find this classic piece in many varieties all over the place. It’s perfect doubled up in front of a fireplace or at the end of the bed. You can also use this piece to fill a bare corner or next to the front door for a small seat.
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Compare to Serene and Lily Balboa Rattan X Base Stool
