Where to Shop

Where to shop right now: The 5 best furniture and decor stores in Austin

If you’re searching for a key piece of furniture that you’ll have forever (or at least for a good while), we’ve rounded up our top decor picks just for you. These Austin shops offer a variety of collections that will make your interior spaces stand out and feel like home.

Blu Dot
If you're looking for interior inspiration, add Blu Dot’s showroom on Cesar Chavez to the top of your list. There are just three other Blu Dot showrooms in the U.S., and Austin is lucky to have the only one in Texas. The shop has a key selection of modern furniture that is as well designed as it is beautiful. We have our eyes on the Lap Collection in the maple and orange finish — simply amazing.

Mockingbird Domestics
Mockingbird Domestics is truly an Austin gem. This cultivated shop offers locally sourced furniture and accessories crafted with the finest materials. Can’t seem to find exactly what you are looking for? The shop’s designers will create custom pieces. Because items are unique and not mass-produced, the shop’s selection changes frequently. Stop by to see the current selection of furniture, fine art, lighting, rugs, accessories and more. We’re loving these mailboxes.

Urbanspace Interiors
Urbanspace Interiors is an essential stop for anyone turning plans for a dream home into reality. Urbanspace Interiors offers the latest collections from the world’s leading designers including Artemide, Flavor Paper, Seletti, Missoni Home, Kartell, Moroso, and Hygge & West. In fact, the shop is the exclusive local carrier of Swedish contemporary designs from Asplund. Shop the very best in furniture, lighting, wall coverings, rugs and accents at this local showroom.

Prize
Prize is one of those shops in which there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a wedding gift, clothing or a vintage piece for your home, this boutique’s selection is well-edited. The On The Rocks Whiskey Stones are perfect for a summer patio party. Or, for a pop of color, shop Alexandra von Furstenberg acrylic trays. The shop also carries the coveted August Morgan embroidered cocktail napkins by Kate Hersch.

Jonathan Adler
Nothing can lift a mood quite like a trip to Jonathan Adler. With quirky salt and pepper shakers and out-of-this-world sofas, this shop offers the bright dose of personality your home is missing. The wide array of sofas, rugs and light fixtures is definitely worth the investment. And, if you’re in need of an eye-catching living room chair, the new Brigitte navy lounge chair is a must-have.

Urbanspace Interiors can make your dream space a reality.

Courtesy of Urbanspace Interiors

Urbanspace Interiors can make your dream space a reality.

unspecified

greener grass in tx

Texas blooms as No. 1 best state for homesteading and gardening

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

Location, location, location...That's what it's all about when it comes to homesteading in Texas.

If social media is any indicator, homesteading has been one of the hottest trends of 2024. And Texas is leading the charge as the No. 1 best state for homesteading and gardening, according to a new report by First Saturday Lime.

Analysts at First Saturday Lime, an insect repellant company featured on Shark Tank, evaluated the "suitability for sustainable living" across all 50 states based on six factors: Climate, community interest (a.k.a online search trends), gardening resources, farmland costs, and others.

The Lone Star State led the nation with the most farms and ranches on the market and the highest total acreage for sale. As of the study's publication, there were 7,520 total properties for sale, spanning more than 2.19 million acres of land.

Texas also ranked favorably for its farmland affordability. The state came in at No. 9 nationally with its average farmland price coming out to $2,800 per acre, the report said.

For comparison, New Mexico (which ranked No. 11 overall) had the most affordable average price per acre of farmland at just $700 per acre. Massachusetts (No. 48) and Connecticut (No. 42), however, tied for the most expensive price per acre, at $14,300.

Among the three remaining categories in the study, Texas performed the worst for its "gardens on Yelp per capita" rank. The study calculated Texas has 0.30 gardening and community garden establishments on Yelp per capita, placing Texas at No. 49.

Meanwhile, Texas' historically hot weather meant it ranked No. 43 out of all 50 states in the "favorable climate" rank, and the state earned a middle-of-the-road No. 35 rank in the "search interest per capita" category.

"Homesteading and gardening are growing in popularity, but some states provide better opportunities than others," the report's author wrote. "Whether you're after fresh produce or the freedom of self-sufficiency, choosing the right state can make all the difference."

Following behind Texas to complete the top three best states for homesteading and gardening are Oregon (No. 2) and Washington (No. 3), two notoriously rainy West Coast states.

Meanwhile, three East Coast states ranked at the bottom of the list as the worst states for homesteading and gardening: Rhode Island (No. 50), New Jersey (No. 49), and Massachusetts (No. 48).

The top 10 best states for homesteading and gardening are:

No. 1 – Texas
No. 2 – Oregon
No. 3 – Washington
No. 4 – Vermont
No. 5 – Delaware
No. 6 – Arizona
No. 7 – Wyoming
No. 8 – Montana
No. 9 – Hawaii
No. 10 – Colorado

The study sourced its data from Yelp, Google Trends, and the UDSA to determine each state's ranking.

farmers gardening homesteading trend nature sustainability rankings