I'm an interior designer — here are 10 things I'd absolutely get at West Elm right now

insider@insider.com (Bri Macdonald)
·6 min read

  • I'm an interior designer, and I chose furniture and decor I'd pick up from West Elm.

  • The store carries a great variety of pillows and bedding in different materials and colors.

  • The Dunham dining chair, made with wood and leather detailing, would be beautiful in the kitchen.

As an interior designer, I've always thought of West Elm as a treasure trove of must-have pieces for the modern home.

The store, which has over 100 locations in the US, specializes in sustainable, unique pieces. And if you're going to buy something, you want to make sure it's a good investment — especially with high housing prices making furniture budgets tighter for many.

I recently visited West Elm and saw lots of great finds, including high-quality furniture items and decor.

Here are eight items I'd recommend getting from the store.

Pillows are one of my favorite accessories, and West Elm has great options.

Several pillows on white shelves at West Elm. The pillows are tan, green, beige, and coral.
I love the variety of pillows available at West Elm.Bri Macdonald

Pillows can instantly transform a room's appearance, making it look more comfortable, inviting, and expensive. West Elm carries a wide selection of pillows in various textures and patterns.

When selecting your pillows, it's important to check the quality of the cover and insert. I prefer down-feather inserts, which can be fluffed to maintain their shape. Polyester, on the other hand, tends to look and feel cheap to me.

For pillow covers, I opt for anything with zippers or buttons. They're easy to wash, clean, or swap when I want a fresh look. I love all types of materials, but right now, I love using velvet and embroidered pillows to add plush sophistication to any space.

Upgrade your space with ceramic or metallic planters.

Several plants on white shelves at West Elm. The planters are in gray and earth tones and look as though they're made from stone.
I like to put olive trees and other shrubs in luxurious-looking planters.Bri Macdonald

Greenery is a great, high-impact item to add to a space. For a low cost, it can brighten and freshen almost any space. To make your greenery stand out, I recommend picking a great planter.

West Elm has gorgeous planters in various finishes, including ceramic, concrete, and metallic options, to enhance the aesthetic of any room.

One of my favorite design approaches is displaying fiddle-leaf figs or olive trees in an oversize planter.

In my opinion, West Elm shines in its coffee-table selection.

A white table with a semicircle design and an orange couch with tan pillows in the background
The Montu coffee table is an eye-catching piece.Bri Macdonald

I love coffee tables that stand out as statement pieces. However, I also want something practical so I can easily and comfortably put my feet up.

West Elm has a great selection of sleek, modern coffee tables made from natural materials. The Monti coffee table caught my eye on my latest visit because of its visually interesting shape and neutral color. It would look great in almost any room.

If you ask me, the bedding at West Elm is worth the hype.

Bedding display with white sheets, a beige comforter, and white and tan throw pillows
The bedding at West Elm comes in tons of colors and textures.Bri Macdonald

I've been a big fan of West Elm bedding for years. The store has a great selection of comfortable, chic sheets and duvet covers. The neutral color palettes — muted tones of black, white, gray, brown, and tan — make it easy to mix and match.

Plus, the store has a large selection of duvet covers with subtle textured patterns to add dimension and uniqueness to a space.

West Elm has an expansive lamp collection, so there's something for everyone.

A wooden shelf with several lamps at West Elm. The lamps are black, metal, brown, and white.
West Elm carries lamps in neutral and metal finishes to suit multiple styles.Bri Macdonald

The retailer offers a wide selection of pendant lights (lighting fixtures with a singular hanging bulb) and table and floor lamps to create the perfect ambiance.

I'm particularly drawn to table lamps for living-room and bedroom spaces because they offer the perfect glow. I also love West Elm's selection of large lamps and smaller lights to achieve a cozy ambiance.

If you ask me, you simply can't go wrong with anything from West Elm's lighting section. There are great options for any space, and many of the store's lighting choices look sleek and elegant.

The Dunham dining chair is absolutely beautiful.

A chair with dark-brown legs, a tan seat cushion, and woven light-tan back detailing.
I love the wooden and leather details of the Dunham dining chair.Bri Macdonald

This Dunham dining chair immediately caught my eye because of its sleek design and mix of materials. The solid-wood frame, leather materials, and the woven-fabric back would truly elevate any dining area.

I also wouldn't limit this chair to just one room — it could be used as an office chair, in a breakfast nook, or even in the corner of a bedroom.

As an interior designer, I trust the quality of the Laurent two-piece bumper sofa.

A white L-shaped couch with white pillows, pillows with geometric designs, and a floral pillow on it. A circular wooden table sits next to the sofa.
The Laurent two-piece bumper sofa can make a room look more modern or chic.Bri Macdonald

West Elm has tons of sofas to choose from — and the Laurent two-piece bumper sofa is my current favorite. It's modern, stylish, and, best of all, it looks extremely comfortable.

Customers can personalize their sofa with a selection of different fabrics, such as linen, twill, tweed, and velvet.

The Hargrove six-drawer dresser seems like it's built to last.

A wooden dresser with black handles and a gray chair in the foreground. White lamps and candles sit on the dresser.
Everything about the Hargrove six-drawer dresser feels high-quality to me.Bri Macdonald

I love the furniture at West Elm, and I'd put the Hargrove six-drawer dresser in a project I'm working on in a heartbeat. I'm a big fan of the solid wood's stain and finish.

It would make a beautiful addition to a bedroom, providing both storage and sophistication. The black detailing of the hardware elevates it to suit almost any style.

The Nils chair-and-ottoman set makes a statement without being overwhelming.

A chair with a wooden frame and beige cushions, with a similar stool in front of it. A small wooden table sits next to it.
I think the Nils chair-and-ottoman set could really enhance a space.Bri Macdonald

A standout accent chair can anchor a space — bring several elements of a room together to create cohesion — and West Elm has tons of unique sculptural options.

I love the Nils chair-and-ottoman set, as the colors and design are the perfect mix of comfort and midcentury modern.

When looking for an accent chair, I want it to make a statement without being the star of the room — and this option is perfect.

West Elm's assortment of rugs is truly spectacular.

A rug display at West Elm. Several rugs hang from a rack. One rug has a light-red and white geometric design.
I love the variety of rug designs West Elm carries.Bri Macdonald

As a designer, rugs are the key element to pulling any room together. Luckily, the rugs at West Elm are beautiful and feel high-quality.

West Elm's assortment of rugs features soft patterns, natural fibers, and beautiful textures, so you can't go wrong. The store carries wool varieties, performance rugs (materials designed to withstand high foot traffic), and even washable options in tons of interesting contemporary patterns.

If you want a statement piece, I highly recommend browsing West Elm's wool and natural-fiber rugs. My current favorites are the chess weave wool-and-jute rug and the Corboda rug.

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