How to Shop Like an Interior Designer Using the LTK App

The Secret Designers Don't Want You to Know (Just Kidding—We Love Sharing)

One of the most common questions we hear from friends, followers, and clients is: "How do you always find such great stuff?" The truth is, interior designers have developed a specific approach to product sourcing that goes far beyond browsing random Pinterest boards or wandering through HomeGoods hoping for a lucky find.

We shop with intention, with a trained eye for quality and proportion, and with access to resources most homeowners don't know about. And thanks to the LTK app, we can now share that access with everyone.

If you haven't read our primer on the platform, start with What Is LTK and How Interior Designers Use It. This guide goes deeper—with practical shopping strategies you can use right away.

Strategy 1: Start with a Plan, Not a Product

The biggest mistake non-designers make? Impulse buying individual pieces that don't work together. Designers never shop this way. Before we open a single shopping app, we have:

• A color palette defined
• A mood or aesthetic direction established
• Exact measurements for the space
• A prioritized list of what the room needs

When you browse LTK collections from designers, notice how every item relates to the others. That's not an accident—it's a design plan in action. Use this approach for your own shopping: define the direction first, then find products that fit.

Strategy 2: Follow Designers Whose Style Matches Your Vision

Not all design styles are the same, and that's a good thing. The key to shopping effectively on LTK is following designers whose aesthetic aligns with what you want your home to feel like.

Some questions to help you find the right designers to follow:

• Do you prefer modern minimalism or collected, layered rooms?
• Are you drawn to warm neutrals or bold color?
• Do you lean toward clean lines or organic, curved shapes?
• Is your budget focused on investment pieces or accessible finds?

Following 5–8 designers whose taste you trust is more valuable than following 50 accounts with varying styles. Quality of curation matters more than quantity.

Strategy 3: Use Collections as Mood Boards

One of LTK's best features is collections—curated groups of products organized by theme, room, or style. Designers use these as shoppable mood boards, and you should too.

Here's how to leverage collections effectively:

1. Save entire collections that match your vision—not just individual products
2. Compare across designers—how do different designers approach a similar room?
3. Note the proportions—how large is the rug relative to the sofa? How many throw pillows are used? These details matter.
4. Look for the non-obvious pieces—the tray on the coffee table, the specific shade of the throw blanket, the scale of the art above the sofa

Strategy 4: Understand the Quality Hierarchy

Professional designers instinctively know which items are worth investing in and where to save. Here's our general framework:

Invest More In:

• Sofa and upholstered seating: You sit on these daily. Quality construction, durable fabric, and proper proportions matter enormously.
• Dining table: A solid wood table lasts decades. A cheap veneer table peels in two years.
• Lighting fixtures: Good lighting transforms a room. Cheap fixtures look cheap.
• Rugs: A quality rug anchors the room and feels noticeably better underfoot.
• Mattress and bedding: You spend a third of your life in bed. Don't skimp.

Save On:

• Throw pillows and blankets: These are easy to swap with trends and seasons
• Decorative accessories: Trays, vases, candles, and small objects can come from anywhere
• Side tables and accent furniture: These take less daily wear
• Seasonal decor: No need to invest heavily in holiday or seasonal items

When browsing LTK, you'll notice designers often recommend a mix of price points for exactly this reason. A $3,000 sofa paired with $40 throw pillows from Target is a perfectly professional approach.

Strategy 5: Shop Across Retailers

Unlike Amazon storefronts that limit you to one retailer, LTK links to hundreds of retailers. This is a major advantage because no single store has the best version of everything.

A designer might source a sofa from Article, lighting from Visual Comfort, a rug from Loloi via Wayfair, hardware from Rejuvenation, and accessories from H&M Home—all in one room. LTK makes this multi-retailer approach seamless.

Strategy 6: Think in Layers, Not Individual Items

Designers build rooms in layers. Each layer adds depth, texture, and visual interest. Here's the layering order:

1. Foundation: Paint color, flooring, rug
2. Anchor pieces: Sofa, bed, dining table—the largest items
3. Functional furniture: Side tables, console, bookshelves, storage
4. Lighting: Overhead, table lamps, sconces—at multiple heights
5. Textiles: Curtains, throw pillows, blankets, table runners
6. Art and mirrors: The personality layer
7. Accessories: Books, candles, plants, trays, decorative objects

When shopping on LTK, work through these layers sequentially rather than jumping around. Get your anchor pieces right first, then build outward.

Strategy 7: Watch for Sales on Saved Items

One practical advantage of using LTK is the wishlist feature. Save products you love and LTK will notify you when prices drop. Many luxury retailers run predictable sales cycles:

• January: Post-holiday clearance at Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Serena & Lily
• Memorial Day/July 4th: Major furniture sales across most retailers
• Labor Day: One of the best sale periods for home furnishings
• Black Friday: Significant discounts on specific categories

Designers time their purchasing around these cycles for client projects. There's no reason you shouldn't do the same.

Strategy 8: Trust the Edit

Perhaps the most valuable thing a designer offers isn't what they add to a room—it's what they leave out. A curated, edited space always looks more intentional than a room crammed with every pretty thing you've ever seen.

When shopping on LTK, resist the urge to buy everything that catches your eye. Instead:

• For every item you add to your cart, ask: "Does this serve my room's plan?"
• If you have two similar options, choose one—not both
• Leave visual breathing room. Not every surface needs an object.
• Quality always trumps quantity

Start Shopping Smarter Today

You don't need to hire an interior designer to shop like one—you just need to adopt their mindset. Start with a plan, invest where it matters, layer thoughtfully, and edit confidently.

Explore our LTK shop for curated home decor picks across every room and budget level. And if you want personalized guidance for your specific space, our virtual design services give you a professional design plan tailored to your home.

Schedule a free consultation to find the right level of design support for your project.