I Discovered a Home Brand That Serves West Elm Style on an IKEA Budget
Sometimes I think I’ve seen it all when it comes to home decor. I’ve covered this “beat” for over a decade, but I still stumble upon new-to-me brands every now and then. The latest on my radar that I think you should know about now? Nathan James, which stocks an ever-evolving collection of home furnishings that look like West Elm and AllModern had a baby, but are — wait for it! — all available at IKEA prices.
If you shop on Amazon, you might have seen this brand before, but the Nathan James website is worth taking a spin around for even more inventory — particularly if you’re into warm minimalist or boho style. There, you’ll find everything from storage and seating to tables, case goods, lighting fixtures, and outdoor furniture featuring trendy materials like rattan, bouclé, and wood fluting.
I was particularly struck by the robust bookshelf designs, where you can find anything from ladder-style units to trendy arched models in a variety of different materials and finishes. Everything in this category is under $300; while some of the pieces do appear to be made of solid wood, others feature laminate and engineered wood construction, which keeps the pricing competitive.
Nathan James is growing in its living room and bedroom product offerings, too. The brand stocks under-$800 sofas and has a bevy of nightstands and headboards, some of which come in at under $100. All of the pieces claim to be easy to assemble, and a thread on Reddit about the brand not only backs that up but also mentions Nathan James’ Amazon price-matching policy. Couple that with free shipping and a 100-day return policy, and I’d say anything that catches your eye from the brand is worth trying out. In case you’re looking for a few recommendations, though, I combed through the site to bring you some of my very favorite products in stock right now.
Nathan James Love Letter
Save space — and cash — with these cutie wall-mountable rattan nightstands that cost less than $100 each. If you want a lighter finish, this style also comes in white.
I can picture a few of these ladder bookcases lining a living room wall — especially if you rent and can’t invest in custom built-ins. The closed cabinets at the base of each piece provide the perfect place to stash things you might want to keep out of sight, while the shelves above can display books and favorite decorative objects.
Dining chairs can be super expensive, and you often have to purchase a bunch, even for small tables. That’s why these transitional seats caught my eye. Not only will they go with many types of tables, but they’re also less than $150 a pop.
For any small space, this under-$800 sofa is a win in my book. It comes in creamy bouclé upholstery and is just 70 inches wide, meaning it can tuck into the tiniest of nooks but offers a little more room than your standard loveseat.
This stylish, three-light MCM-inspired fixture is a great dupe for a much-pricier design I recently snagged for my living room. I only wish I had seen this option sooner!
If you haven’t hopped onto the fluted-wood bandwagon yet, it’s not too late to make a statement with this design detail. This cabinet would be perfect in an entry or dining area.
