The Etsy search terms I use to find joy-sparking home decor

And some of my favorite recent purchases...

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Someone practically has to peel me away from my keyboard once I start browsing Etsy. One shop leads to another, and suddenly I’m five tabs deep in handmade scalloped planters and vintage shell hooks. It’s a delightful rabbit hole—and one I’ve learned to approach with a little strategy.

Lately, I’ve been browsing with intention. I open the app or site only when I have a specific item in mind—something on my wishlist or an idea I want to bring to life. That way, it feels less overwhelming and more like a curated treasure hunt. The secret? Highly specific keywords.

Here are a few of my recent cozy finds—plus the exact search terms I used to uncover them…

6 RECENT COZY ETSY FINDS

And the keywords to find them yourself:

• A handmade stone planter with scalloped details. Made in the UK, and it was shipped with such care.

  • Try searching: “scalloped planter” or “vintage French stone planter”

• A cross-stitch bookmark kit. I can’t wait to listen to an audiobook while working on this!

  • Try searching: “cross-stitch bookmark kit [your desired design or theme]” as in “cross-stitch bookmark kit birds”

• A blockprint empire lampshade. My exact one is sold out as these are one of a kind, but the same Etsy shop has so many good ones.

  • Try searching: “blockprint pleated lampshade.” I also love searching generally for blockprint textiles—think tablecloths, linens, throw pillows, and sarongs.

    

    The brass shell hook and bobbin frame I got for my office!

• A brass shell hook. Unfinished brass patinas beautifully, and the shell design brings a soft, organic touch.

  • Try searching: “brass or silver shell hook/sconce/tray/anything”

• A green bobbin frame. Glossy, playful, and available in a bunch of other colors.

  • Try searching: “bobbin frame.” I also love the look of a classic silver frame, searching “small vintage silver frame”

• A gold fish necklace on red string. On-trend and slightly unexpected—love to wear it with a simple tee.

  • Try searching: “fish necklace.” I also love searching “shell pendant necklace” for some equally on-trend statement sculptural finds. This one reminds me of Juju Vera.

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WHAT I’M STILL SEARCHING FOR

A few current fixations and the keywords I’m using to track them down…

• “brass pear box” — There’s something charming and slightly surreal about a brass fruit-shaped box. I imagine it on a console or bookshelf.

• rattan desk or small table — Perfect for a child’s room or any nook that needs warmth and texture.

• vintage baskets of all kinds — Hot take: Never buy a new basket again! Vintage ones have way more character.

• throw pillows — Etsy is a goldmine for some of the best throw pillows. Similar to the lampshade mentioned above, I love searching specifically for “blockprint throw pillows” for timeless patterns and colors that can blend in seamlessly into any palette or design scheme.

🌸 Still in the mood to browse? I’ve saved a bunch of favorites in my Home Finds collection on Etsy—a chaotic but charming mix of wicker, scallops, brass, and blockprints.

Share with the group: Found something good on Etsy lately? A weirdly specific keyword that never lets you down? A shop you gatekeep but secretly want to share? Hit reply or drop it in the comments!

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Related Downtime reads:

• Last week’s edit of romantic upgrades for the home featured this charming Liberty fabric tissue cover box from Etsy.

• Jessie Randall, the creative mind behind the Loeffler Randall brand, shared some of her favorite Etsy keywords and finds in this edition of the Downtime newsletter. (Still thinking about that bookmark she found…)

This Week’s Links

What’s been open in my tabs…

• Gift ideas: If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift that’ll feel meaningful, here’s what real moms in the Downtime community said they’re hoping for this year. Thoughtful, simple, no guesswork required!

• Hot weather eats: I made this corn avocado scallion salad for my fam (along with this super-crispy-skin chicken thigh sheet pan recipe from

  The Green Spoon
  ), and it was a huge hit! Low effort, high reward, A+. *NYT gift link

• A great purchase: I purchased that J.Crew jacket I recommended, and it’s become a spring MVP in my closet. It has just enough structure to elevate a casual outfit, but is also casual enough for being on the go. It’s like the goldilocks of transitional jackets! (Sizes Large and up are still available.)

• A design collab: The Pierce & Ward x West Elm collab caught my eye this week, particularly this fabulous striped stool. I’ve been following this design duo for a few years now, and loved seeing their approach to designing more accessibly-priced furniture and decor.

• A low-stakes TV rec: Not a link, but we’ve been watching Ransom Canyon on Netflix. If you’ve been into any Western/cowboy romance books lately, you might enjoy this one. It’s not quality storytelling, but it gets the “entertain me for an hour” job done. ;)

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Note: I’m out of office the next few days (soaking up sunshine in FL for some much-needed R&R!), but I’ll be back next Friday with a fresh round of recs and an author interview. Thanks for reading! —Alisha