Decor & Artisan Goods

How to shop for decor and artisan goods online

Measure the room, then the item. Tape out a rug's footprint on the floor before ordering. In a living room, a rug large enough for at least the front legs of every seat to sit on it looks more intentional than a small rug floating in the middle. Under a bed, the rug should extend 18 to 24 inches beyond the sides. For wall art, hang the center at about eye level (roughly 57 to 60 inches from the floor).

Moroccan rugs. Beni Ourain rugs are traditionally hand-knotted from undyed sheep's wool, cream with dark geometric lines, thick and plush. Expect irregular edges, slight asymmetry and some shedding at first; these are signs of handwork, not defects. Wool is naturally stain-resistant but should be vacuumed without a beater bar and spot-cleaned or professionally washed. Use a rug pad on hard floors. Price varies with size, knot density and wool quality, and genuine hand-knotted rugs cost considerably more than machine-made "Beni-style" rugs.

Tufted and novelty rugs. Tufted rugs have a backing glued on and can shed and lose shape over time; they suit low-traffic bedrooms and dorms. Check the pile height if you need a door to open over it.

Bedding and textiles. Check whether a bed set includes a comforter or only a duvet cover and shams, and confirm your mattress size and depth. Cotton breathes better than polyester microfiber; look at fabric content and thread count only as rough guides. Wash new textiles before use, since dyes may bleed.

Natural materials. Horn, wood and soapstone vary piece to piece; do not expect perfectly matched sets. Hand-wash horn and wood tableware and oil wooden boards occasionally. Horn and wood are not dishwasher-safe.

Shipping timing. Roomtery processes in 2 to 5 business days and estimates 8 to 14 days of US delivery. MyTindy ships from Morocco after 5 to 10 days of processing, then 7 to 10 business days standard or 2 to 4 express, and its policies do not list rates, so check at checkout. Amaka Africa has no two-day option. Order gifts at least three weeks ahead.

Return exclusions. Roomtery does not accept returns on sale items, comforters, rugs, wall prints or furniture, and return shipping goes to a European warehouse. MyTindy allows only 14 days and refuses refunds on sale items. Amaka Africa is the most forgiving, with free US return labels within 30 days, though sample sale items are final and gift returns get merchandise credit.

Budget tiers. Night lights, cushion covers and small gifts run $10 to $30. Tufted accent rugs and bedding sets cost $40 to $150. Authentic hand-knotted Moroccan rugs start in the hundreds and go well beyond.

Which brand fits which buyer

• College students and teens decorating a dorm or bedroom around a named aesthetic: Roomtery.
• Renters wanting no-install night lights, mirrors and rugs: Roomtery.
• Gift shoppers and hosts who want handmade placemats, boards or jewelry that supports artisans: Amaka Africa.
• Decorators after a Beni Ourain or Beni Mrirt wool rug, or hand-printed cushion covers: MyTindy.