TASTE IN A BOX
How nine subscription services lend a hand with dressing up your space
Several companies have merged a love for home decor with the subscription box trend, sending out a few curated pieces at monthly or quarterly intervals. This in turn has led to thriving social media communities in which people can share their tips and ideas about how they used each box’s contents. “Even though we are home decor lovers, we also struggled with overbuying and then having decorating anxiety when it came to putting it all together,” said Anais Cowley, social media director at Decocrated, one of the better-known home decor subscription boxes. “We see ourselves helping the decor newbies as well as the decor savvy.” Here’s a look at nine home subscription services, what you might expect from them and the cost. Of note, shipping is usually but not always free on the boxes, and the cost listed here might not include sales tax.
Art Crate
Forging into the art world can take a lot of work and money.
Art Crate allows you to build a collection slowly and deliberately. You answer a series of style and home decor questions, and a trained curator works with you to find out exactly what you are looking for, study photos of your space and pick a piece of art from well-known and up-andcoming artists.
WHAT’S INSIDE » One piece of art
COST » Print prices range from $20 a month for small (8 by 8) to $55 for extra-large (24 by 32) pieces; framed art is $59-$199 a month.
Decocrated
Decocrated is geared toward people who want some help picking out trendy and timeless accessories and freshening what they have. The website invites you to “spend less time decorating your home and more time enjoying it.”
WHAT’S INSIDE » Subscribers receive six to eight seasonally inspired decor pieces four times a year. Items in recent boxes include a rattan rectangular basket with leather handle, tin planter with wood stand, wood with white frame memo/photo/ print holder and sleigh wood and metal shelf.
COST » $79.99 quarterly or $287.99 if you sign up for the year.
ALSO OFFERED » A membersonly shop features exclusive products that pair well with the pieces in subscription boxes.
Dorothy Jean Decor
For those who love the farmhouse look, Dorothy
Jean Decor brings it right to your door with several subscription box options. WHAT’S INSIDE » Each box usually includes three to five items like textiles, tabletop accents and wall decor. Past boxes have included a two-tiered wood and metal kitchen display stand, a wicker basket with four glass jars and an Aztec blanket. COST » $70 for the monthly box, $50 for the seasonal or Black Friday boxes, $40 for the sample box and $26 for the bath bomb box. ALSO OFFERED » You can purchase past monthly or seasonal boxes as well as individual popular items through Dorothy Jean collections.
GlobeIn
GlobeIn is purposedriven as it connects artisans — many in remote parts of the world — and buyers, with the goal of reducing poverty and providing cultural enrichment. The boxes come with sourcing information about the handcrafted items.
WHAT’S INSIDE » Each month you preview a theme and decide whether to keep it, swap it or skip it. Two recent themes and items are “picnic” — featuring a basket from Ghana, enamel tray from India and two handblown glasses from Mexico — and “boho,” which has a terra cotta planter from Bangladesh, raffia trivet from Uganda, a lacquered bowl from Vietnam and grassland table runner from India.
COST » $38 a month for a three-month plan, $35 a month for six months or $33 a month for 12 months; shipping is extra.
ALSO OFFERED » GlobeIn’s shop is open to all.
House Plant Box
You can add quality, healthy greenery to your surroundings with none of the guesswork or disappointment, according to House Plant Box.
WHAT’S INSIDE » This subscription box service offers a surprising number of options. Monthly subscriptions range from one indoor plant in a 4-inch pot to two plants in 6-inch pots or one 3to 5-foot plant in a 10-inch pot. There are also specific boxes for pet-friendly, air, seasonal garden and aquatic plants, prepotted plants in terra cotta planters, succulents and cactuses, and seeds or cuttings with soil and a pot.
COST » Monthly subscriptions range from $15.99-$99.99.
ALSO OFFERED » The House Plant Shop offers plants, plant bundles, planters and more without a subscription; the “Weekly Drop” is a nice feature of one extremely low-priced plant.
Norsebox
The company varies its offerings by room and season so subscribers can get Scandinavian updates throughout their homes. The aesthetic, already in vogue through Swedish-based IKEA, also dovetails well with the soaring popularity of hygge, a Danish word used to describe the design movement toward calm, cozy and welcoming interiors.
WHAT’S INSIDE » One to five curated items by Nordic designers and artisans are sent quarterly. Past boxes have included an Erik Bagger steel bread bowl, a Kosta Boda carafe, an OYOY box with brass or copper lid and OYOY leather mouse pad.
COST » $71 for auto-renewed quarterly subscription boxes (boxes ship March 1, June 1, Sept. 3 and Dec. 10 of each year) or $320 for a year’s worth of four boxes.
Project Home DIY
Do you get jealous when your kids are crafting? Boxes from Project Home DIY contain the materials you need to complete one decor item with a rustic, clean farmhouse look. If you have extra paint or materials, you can customize the project to suit your home. Your first box comes with an “essential tools” kit, but you might need to use a basic item you have around the house like tape or a screwdriver.
WHAT’S INSIDE » Recent projects include an explore push-pin map of the world and U.S. (double sided), a wood and hook hanging jewelry rack and hanging wood and glass jar herb garden trio.
COST » $49.99 a month; a nonrenewing gift box is available at the same price.
Tavé Home
Tavé Home goes out of its way to make sure items in your subscription box appeal to your personal tastes. You fill out a questionnaire in which you give details on your home’s color palette, what types of furnishings you are drawn to, your ideal outdoor space and more, and then are put in one of three categories for your subscription box: clean and crisp, farmhouse fresh or eclectic chic.
WHAT’S INSIDE » Four to six home decor items a quarter (spring, summer, winter and fall). According to the website, “each box delivers more than $250 worth of luxury home interior products.” Items in various past boxes have included geode and Lucite napkin rings, handmade placemats, agate coasters, wine glasses and velvet toss pillows.
COST » Quarterly box subscriptions are $69.95 a box, with a yearly prepay option of $280.
ALSO OFFERED » Tavé Home also includes Everyday Tavé, a shopping site of decently priced home decor items and textiles.
Third & Main
High-quality decor is Third & Main’s specialty, and you can expect full-size, boutique-type items in every box. Styles range from farmhouse to boho and vintage to modern.
WHAT’S INSIDE » The 2021 spring box included a set of glass canisters, jute table runner, round wood riser, artificial plant in faux marble pot and a surprise item.
COST » Quarterly seasonal boxes are available for $119.
ALSO OFFERED » Third & Main also has gift boxes that start at $30 and plans to launch more gift-box themes this year.