Have you ever found yourself scrolling online late at night… Next minute you’ve bought an orange jug shaped like a fish. And you don’t even like orange!
We've all been there. But what if I told you there's a way to avoid these impulse buys, sidestep buyer’s remorse, and create the home of your dreams?
Interior design is all about creating a space that reflects your style and personality. But with so many gorgeous options available online and in stores, it's easy to get swept away in the excitement, make impulse decisions and purchase things you later regret.
This blog will give you actionable steps to manage impulse buying, helping you spend only on items that elevate your home and complement your unique style.
For me, understanding the “why” behind my behaviour, has helped curb unnecessary purchases. In the next sections, we’ll explore the psychology behind impulse buying in interior design. If you’re here just for the tips, you can jump straight to them by clicking here.
Why impulse buying happens in interior design
Technology has revolutionised how we shop. Thanks to the internet and smartphones, over a third of us shop on our mobile phones every day (according to a YouGov study). It’s never been easier to make a quick purchase - but faster doesn’t always mean better.
Impulse buying is often driven by the allure of instant gratification. You see it. You like it. You want it. You got it
Online shopping offers immediate stimulation. From the satisfying click of the “confirm purchase” button to the language used by sites like “Your order is complete” and “Your payment is successful”, it all gives a sense of accomplishment, as if you’ve checked something off a to-do list.
For many, spending can be a way to distract from life’s frustrations. Yet, spending rarely fulfils our unmet needs.
If you suspect that you may be an emotional spender, see my tip below on identifying and handling emotional triggers.
The real cost of impulse buying your home décor
Impulse buying doesn’t just affect your wallet; it can also lead to extra hassle, stress, and financial angst. Here are a few examples:
Finding the store’s returns process (why are they always hidden?)
Fitting the item back into its original packaging (how did it all fit in there initially?)
Time spent returning the item (queuing at the post office on a busy Saturday morning)
Shipping costs that aren’t refundable or additional fees to send it back (must be better at reading the T&Cs!)
If you decide to keep the item rather than hassle with returns (I don’t blame you), try to calculate how many work hours it takes to pay for it. Knowing this can deter future impulse buys. MoneySavingExpert’s Demotivator Tool is also an excellent passion killer for impulse buys.
The good news? You can regain control of your décor choices. Here’s how to manage these impulses to ensure each piece you buy contributes to a cohesive, beautiful home you’ll love for years.
6 Tips to avoid impulse buys for your home décor
Clarify your vision before you shop
Before you add that item to your basket, take a moment to define your design vision. Having the bigger picture to reference can help you create a cohesive look, no matter what you come across online.
You can also create a plan to keep you focused on what your space needs rather than what catches your eye. Next time you have a spare half hour, use it to think about your space and what you really need?
Here are some questions to kick-start this process:
What’s missing, and what will genuinely enhance or elevate my space?
Will I need to buy additional items to make it work?
How will these pieces contribute to the room’s overall look?
Are there specific colours, textures, or styles I should consider that align with my desired aesthetic and lifestyle?
Is this the best use of my budget for this space or can I apply my budget in another way to have a bigger impact (like painting the walls)?
Save this list on your phone and reference it before shopping.
Stop and think. Slow down by asking yourself do I really want this? Does this item align with my home décor goals?
Visuals can also help; using a tool like Canva, you can drag and drop photos of your space and potential purchases to see how they’ll look together.
If you struggle with tech, or you just can’t be bothered to create visualisations, check out my 2D and 3D Visualisation services. With my digital renderings of your design ideas, you can see exactly how everything will look before you commit to buying a thing. This eliminates the guesswork, helps avoid costly mistakes and gives you confidence in your ideas.
Example of a 2D visualisation:
Having clarity before shopping will help you resist unnecessary buys and make it easier to recognise when an item is genuinely aligned with your vision and style.
Another way to clarify things in your mind is to…
Sleep on it (literally)
One of the simplest ways to curb impulse buying is to give yourself a 24-hour pause before purchasing.
If you find something you love, put it in your online basket, but wait a day. This time allows you to revisit your purchase decision with a fresh perspective, and often you’ll find that the initial “must-have” feeling fades, making it easier to say no to items that don’t truly belong.
For high-priced items, consider extending this cooling-off period to a full week. This tactic is particularly helpful for furniture, which impacts both your budget and your space significantly.
Bonus tip: Most online retailers will also send you a discount code if you don’t buy straight away, saving you precious £’s. Make sure you go far enough in the checkout process to provide your email address, so they have a way of contacting you, but don’t complete the payment part. Then sit on your hands and wait at least 24hours to see if they offer a discount code.
If you were reading this and thought, yes but I am busy. I don’t have time to go back to buy the item. Or the item might be sold out! Read on…
By planning our bedroom, I was able to create exactly what we wanted, within our budget.
Create some space and don’t feel pressured
Different people respond differently while under stress. While some can still think rationally under pressure, most of us crumble!
Retailers and marketers understand this, and many intentionally create a “sense of urgency” to force buyers to act. Creating FOMO and scarcity conditions with flash sales or the impression of limited stock.
Remember, these are just tactics. And I can bet you that if the retailer is particularly fond of using these tactics, there will be another sale and stock often magically reappears.
Another factor is our busy lives. Research shows there's a clear relationship between the amount of thinking space we manage to give ourselves and the quality of our decision making.
If you’re buying as a stress-reliever, consider stepping back and implementing practices to reduce this habit and make better buying choices. Next, let’s talk about temptation!
Quick Aside...
You will notice that I don't have ads or pop-ups on my site. This is intentional as I find them rude and annoying. How dare they?
Instead, I've opted for offering useful links to my applicable services throughout my blogs - only where it makes sense to.
I also have other design Services and Freebies and I've made the links available again at the end of this blog, so you can browse them at your leisure when you've finished reading this article.
You're welcome!
Remove Temptation and Create Shopping Barriers
Constant exposure to new products can make it hard to stick to your vision and budget. Here are a few ways to remove temptation:
Avoid frequent “window shopping” on décor sites.
Unfollow interior design retailers on social media.
Turn off shopping app notifications.
Unsubscribe from promotional emails.
Place your phone in another room.
For online shopping, remove your saved credit card information and disable one-click purchases in apps like Amazon.
These small barriers create moments to pause and can be the interruption you need to reconsider your purchases, rather than complete the purchase as if on autopilot.
This vase was also an impulse buy, but it has grown on me and now I love it!
Reflect on your emotional triggers
Impulse buying in interior design is often linked to emotions: excitement, stress, boredom or a desire to keep up with trends. Recognising your triggers is key to gaining control.
Think about your buying habits and behaviours and try to identify what drives your impulse purchases.
Nothing comes to mind? Try this:
Look at your bank statement and identify all the impulse buys in the last month
Think about when you were making those purchases – what was your emotional state?
Move through each one. Are you starting to see a pattern emerge?
Sometimes spending can be a way of trying to satisfy our unmet needs. Recognising these triggers can help you stop and think the next time you reach for that “Checkout” button.
If you notice that you’re buying décor items to keep up with new trends, the next time you want to buy that trendy accent chair, bring out your vision board and assess whether this purchase genuinely aligns with your long-term décor goals.
Ask for a second opinion
If you’re on the fence about a purchase, consult someone whose design opinion you trust.
Whether it’s a friend or a professional, getting a second opinion can help you look at the item from a different perspective and evaluate its true value in your overall design plans.
For major purchases, a design consultant can help determine if an item genuinely suits your space and may even suggest better alternatives.
Another example of a non-impulse buy. I already had a place for it, before I bought it. I loved it so much, I got a complimentary one.
By taking a mindful approach to your décor purchases, you’ll not only stay within your budget, but also create a space that truly reflects your style. I’m here to help you navigate these choices and empower you to make design decisions that bring joy and beauty to your home and avoid impulse buys of your home décor.
Book a Design Consultation today, and together we’ll create a space that reflects your unique style and personality - all within budget.
Remember, designing your home is a journey—not a race. Slow down, savour each decision, and enjoy the process of creating a home you’ll love for years to come.
And as promised, here is a reminder of the link to my Home Page with my Free Resources for you to browse and sign up to if you see something you need for your home.
Any links provided throughout my blogs are NOT affiliated but based on my personal research and what I found helpful. The majority of images are from my projects, supplemented by personal inspiration and some AI-generated images.