 | eBay Australia's Home Décor Buying Guide
| Charles Schulz, cartoonist of Snoopy fame, once said that decorating your home “gives the illusion that your life is more interesting than it really is.” You do not have to travel to Greece to create the feeling of the Mediterranean in your living room - just add a cushion & decorative pillow here, light a coconut-scented candle there, drape a breezy throw on your old couch and hang a colourful print on your wall. The possibilities for transforming your home with accessories are endless. Follow the simple tips, tricks and trends below to make your home décor experience a success. Start shopping for Home Décor now on eBay Australia! |
Identify Your Home Décor Budget
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Identify Your Home Décor BudgetYour home décor budget can be as big or as little as your imagination allows. When working out how much you want to spend, first determine the mix and range of home décor items you need. Are you willing to splurge on one big-impact home décor item, such as a nice wool rug, a grandfather clock or maybe an old tapestry? Or are you looking for a few smaller items like pillows, photo frames and colourful candles to give your room some ambience? Are you trying to create cohesion in a room or among multiple rooms, which may require more home décor pieces and subsequently a bigger budget or do you simply want to dress-up your mantelpiece? The good thing about home accessories is that creating the special look you want need not break the bank! With larger items, like a couch, if it is uncomfortable or badly constructed, you will be quickly disappointed but it may not be so easy to change the couch. Décor items on the other hand, can make your room special and can be just for viewing pleasure, so you can afford to change the look more often or if you decide that it no longer works for you.  |
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Get the Top 10 Home Décor Tips
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Get the Top 10 Home Décor TipsAny good interior designer will tell you to start with a focal point in your room around which your home décor items can flow. Once your focal point has been selected, you might want to collect a range of photos from magazines and home décor books for inspiration. Then, follow these top 10 decorating tips for a successful interior decorating experience: Spread the colour: Colour adds cohesion to a space and is one of the most important elements of home decorating. Generally, a room should contain three major colours in diminishing proportions: the primary colour, a secondary colour and an accent colour. You can repeat the accent colour throughout the room in a number of ways – try to repeat it at least three times - with a few strategically placed home décor pieces. For example, throw a few red decorative pillows on the couch, bring in a patterned rug with some red highlights and add a few red candles to the fireplace mantel. Frame your pictures with red matting, include a red linen screen or room divider and throw in some floral décor with red tulips and you’ve made a nice, cohesive, colourful statement in your room. Find a home décor theme: It’s time to get creative and have fun! The theme of the room should say something about you and your interests and will help to simplify your home décor shopping decisions. Whether your theme is Asian, floral or modern, the home accents you choose are critical to creating the look you want. For instance, you can easily create a romantic beach décor theme with a few seashells in a basket placed by the fireplace, by adding some vintage cushions to a white couch, by adding some wrought-iron, distressed candle holders or by incorporating some nautical themes throughout your space. Clear the clutter: Eliminating clutter in a room can open up a room and better establish its overall look. For example, baskets clear the clutter while adding a decorative element. Wicker Baskets found on eBay Australia are always popular for storing magazines, toys or mail. By adding shelves to your room and displaying items in various collections, you can organise the clutter. There’s no better way to showcase your collection of tribal masks, for instance, than by placing them on a few shelves above your couch or on an opposing wall. Shelves come in a variety of decorative styles and materials, from wood to acrylic to wrought iron and can help to draw the eyes upward and around the room. Enliven your mantel and fire up the fireplace: The fireplace is often the most important architectural element of a room and, therefore, becomes the default focal point. Accessories including fireplace screens and toolsets come in a variety of shapes, sizes and themes to suit your taste. Try filling the fireplace with candles of varying heights, colours and textures to make a unique design statement. Always go with an asymmetrical arrangement of an odd number of home décor items (such as vases, in a range of scales and textures) when decorating your mantelpiece or any shelf / ledge. Mantels also provide the perfect place for showcasing a collection. Gather the clocks, porcelain figurines, travel memorabilia, decorative boxes or Tuscan pottery scattered throughout your home and put them on display together. They also provide a great place to showcase the seasons’ holiday decorations. Lighten up: The lighting in a room is equally as important as the colours you have chosen. Strategically placed lamps and candles can add warmth and interest where you need it most, in addition to shedding light on the space. In rooms where you would like to entertain or encourage conversation, opt for soft lighting over harsh, bright or fluorescent lighting. Whether grouped in your fireplace or placed throughout a room, candles offer another great way to add light to your space and create a rosy, inviting glow. Scented candles can also help to evoke a particular season or theme. Freshen up with floral décor:
Floral décor—from wreaths and silk flowers to silk plants, swags and opulent floral arrangements—can bring a fresh perspective to your room and really make it come to life. You can easily integrate flowers and plants in your room, whether it’s a traditional style or contemporary. A single tulip in a simple ceramic vase placed on a fireplace mantel can have just as much of an impact as an overflowing silk floral arrangement adorning your dining room table. It’s all about adding a pop of colour and vibrancy. Decorate and protect your furniture: Ready for a change? Add a throw to a tired old couch or swap your worn faded pillows for some fresh, decorative pillows. You can really transform a room, depending on the colour, pattern and the texture of fabric you choose. Pillows can add a lot of fun to your space—the choices are endless! Add a floral pattern for a cottage feel, leather for a formal look or tassels and trim for a country-inspired room. Two large decorative pillows can sometimes make a bolder, cleaner statement than a bunch of smaller pillows. These can often clutter up your space and distract from the overall look of the room. Decorate the walls: Consider your walls a blank canvas, regardless of the paint colour. With such a wide variety of home décor items that could adorn your walls: from paintings and posters to shelves, tapestries, sconces and shadow boxes, it is often hard to know exactly where to begin. Remember to stick with your theme or overall room style as a start. Acrylic shelves showcasing high-fashion model posters, for instance, reinforce a modern style while black and white photos in distressed wooden frames can create a cottage or country feel. By using similar frames, you can unify a group of pictures. To add whimsy or drama, get creative with frames and matting. Maximise your space by relating your wall art to the size of your wall and furniture. You can open up a small room or create a “window” to the outdoors by using landscape paintings and posters featuring an open vista. Hone your personal decorating style: It’s important to remember not get too carried away with DIY shows or magazines. Blindly following the advice of design gurus could result in a room with no discernable style or a mishmash of conflicting style elements. Trust your taste and natural style instincts. Are you attracted to clean lines and geometric shapes? Then get the Persian rugs, a graphic print poster and the modern aqua blue pillows that you’ve been eyeing. Is a peaceful Zen retreat more to your liking? Then go with a more Asian style and bring in nature prints, a rice paper screen or room divider and silk orchids. Follow your instincts!
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Discover Home Décor Styles
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Discover Home Décor StylesChoose from a range of styles to design the room of your dreams. Contemporary décor: Contemporary or modern home décor include a highly reflective colour palette of white-based greens, teals, and blues, as well as bright red and stark white. More about form and artistic impression than function, the modern style adds touches of colour through big-print artwork, vases, and sculptures in basic geometric shapes. You can also accent your room with vibrant graphic throw pillows, oversized round chrome or acrylic accessories, and rectangular, patterned, or shag rugs.
Traditional décor
: Create a warm, welcoming environment reminiscent of a more traditional home décor style with peach and green tones. Balance colours with aubergine and tan or enhance colours with bronze accents and warm wood tones. Find fabrics with small prints and floral prints, damask fabric and pillows adorned with trim, tassels and fringe. Include key accessories such as gilt frames, still-life paintings and prints. Use silver candleholders and silk flowers to accent your room. Use symmetry when pairing accessories. For example, position matching lamps on end tables placed that are placed on either side of a sofa.
Asian décor: Make a bold Asian décor statement with a Chinese-inspired interior accented with bright colours such as red. Accessories tend to have dark wood tones with high-gloss or lacquered finishes such as jewellery boxes, picture frames and vases. Large scale tapestries, artwork representing Chinese culture, Chinese sculptures and figurines can also adorn rooms. Japanese interiors use a softer colour palette in shades of grey, brown and green with accents in brighter hues, such as lavender and sea green. In Japanese homes you’ll find home décor elements such as water features, pottery, pillows with silk and embroidered fabrics and rice paper screens.
Tuscan décor
: When thinking of Tuscany, a rustic, earthy colour palette comes to mind. This will include burnt sienna, terracotta and navy blue. Everything is adorned in tiles and mosaics, from picture frames to trays. Woven fabrics, wrought-iron accessories such as candle sconces and lamps, and painted ceramic objects such as vases, bowls and plates reinforce this style.
Tropical décor: Create the look and feel of an island get-away with your own tropical décor in colours inspired by the surf, sun and sand. A Balinese interior will have deeper, richer colours, while a home in the Mediterranean may contain lighter, brighter hues. Fabrics with palm trees, hibiscus blooms and abundant floral decor depict the tropical style as well. Tropical décor includes home accents, such as photo frames, baskets, mats and rugs. These are often made of natural materials including seagrass, rattan and even banana leaf. Tropical plants in wicker baskets or seashells showcased in shadowboxes can also infuse a room with an island style. Tribal décor: The worldly, well-travelled look of the increasingly popular tribal style uses dark earth tones, including deep reds, yellows, greens and browns. Look for worn, woven fabrics and beaded elements adorning accessories such as pillows. Weathered wood bowls, painted and beaded masks and other accessories featuring leather, fur, brass, clay, feathers, and horse hair can also help you achieve a tribal look.
Shabby Chic décor: This shabby chic décor style uses deliberately worn and deteriorated items to achieve an elegant overall effect. Furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to look old.
Country and/or Bush décor: Always a popular style, country décor provides a lot of room for creativity. Although country can be a wide-ranging style, country décor generally includes rustic or primitive furniture and home accessories featuring muted colours, distressed finishes and vintage fabrics. Vintage florals as well as gingham, stripes and checked patterns are commonly found in country décor. A quick trip to your nanna’s attic, by way of eBay Australia, can provide a treasure trove of home accessories. You might find candleholders, lamps, frames and shelves made of hand-forged, wrought-iron and distressed materials. Some country homes may have a bush theme featuring the flora and fauna of the local surroundings, such as wattle and bottle brush on fabrics, wallpaper or on decorative plates and bowls.
French Country décor
: Though similar to country, French country has a style all its own. The French country colour palette includes deep reds, vibrant yellows, greens, terracotta, and blues. Toile, small-print fabrics, and vintage lace commonly adorn French country-inspired homes. Painted furniture and accessories in distressed finishes, wrought-iron plate racks, and plant stands are also key parts of this décor. Cottage décor: Cottage décor may remind us of quaint coastal fishing villages and may use botanical and beach colours such as light apricot, pale yellow, dusty pink and shades of green. It may also have a Jervis Bay influence with a palette of navy blues, whites and reds. Look for iron, wicker, distressed wood, and whitewashed baskets, plant stands, photo frames, mirrors, and magazine racks. Also use wooden bowls to collect seashells, pine needles, and branches for a unique, natural tabletop decoration. Natural fibre rugs, such as jute or sisal, create a cottage feel. Arts & Crafts/Mission décor: The Arts & Crafts or Mission style of home décor focuses on craftsmanship in simple shapes, spare ornamentation and strong lines. Colours defining this style include burnished brown and gold. Accent colours include deep forest green, sapphire blue and dusty rose. Metals, stained glass, painted tiles and fabrics featuring simple floral motifs elaborate the look. Lamps featuring mica shades set in hammered copper or burnished brass with broad horizontal lines also represent arts and crafts design.
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Select the Right Home Décor Accessories
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Select the Right Home Décor AccessoriesWhen it comes to defining the style of your room, the home décor accessories you select have all the power. Use a few key accessories and keep your space uncluttered. Follow several rules of thumb when purchasing and decorating with home décor accessories. Let candles set the moodCandles can drastically alter the look and feel of a room, creating a subtle and warm glow. Unscented tapers add an elegant touch to the dining room while scented mood candles bring the benefits of aromatherapy to your bedroom or bathroom. Beeswax candles and candles made with multiple blocks of coloured wax make a decorative statement. Choose decorative candle holders Candle holders make a big, decorative statement and embody your room’s overall décor. Candle holders come in every shape, size, and material imaginable. Purchase distressed wood pillar candle holders for your cottage home, wrought-iron candlesticks for your rustic home and brass wall sconces for your traditional home. For a more formal look, try adding some silver candlesticks to your dining room table or maybe a candle chandelier dripping with crystals. Candelabras will add an air of drama to any room, and hurricane lamps create a casual, homey feel. Spice up your glass candle holders by filling them with marbles, sea shells, coloured sands or a collection of other colourful objects. During the holiday seasons, adorn your candle holders with fruits, nuts and berries to make the season come to life. Accent your rooms with rugsA rug can act as the focal point of a room, tie a room together with its colour scheme or create cosy conversational spaces. When looking at rug materials, consider how much foot traffic an area receives. Synthetic rugs: Inexpensive synthetic fibres such as acrylic, polypropylene/olefin and nylon can withstand heavy foot traffic. Wool rugs: Though often pricier than synthetic rugs, durable wool rugs feel softer, can be easily cleaned and tend to hold their colour well. Cotton rugs: Cotton rugs feel softer than wool rugs, but are less durable. Jute rugs: Jute, the softest of all natural fibres, may fade or darken in colour over time. It may also disintegrate with prolonged exposure to moisture. Sisal rugs: Natural-fibre sisal rugs are more durable than jute rugs, but not as soft. They're static-free, colour fast, and good for high-traffic areas.
To determine what size rug you need, measure the length and width of the area where you want to place the rug. For an entire room, leave an equal amount of floor space exposed as a border. If the rug will go under a table, measure the top of your table and add about 10 centimetres to your measurements to ensure table legs will fit. Most dining room tables require at least a 2.4m or 8-foot wide area rug; 1.2m x 1.8m (4 x 6 feet) and 1.8m x 2.7m (6 x 9 feet) rugs are generally good sizes for coffee tables and 2.4m x 3.4m (8 x 11 feet) works well for most rooms as the main carpet source. Don’t forget to purchase a rug pad. Rug pads reduce wear and tear on the rug, help absorb sound, make vacuuming easier, and protect flooring from scratches. Pick up perfect picture framesAesthetically pleasing picture frames can add an artistic element to your wall, mantel or table. Picture frames and mats can also drastically change the perceived value of a piece of art Consider the function and style of your room when choosing picture frames. To add sophistication and formality to a room try museum-type gold frames. Colourful frames add a touch of fun and playfulness to any room. Distressed wood frames provide a cottage or rustic look. Sleek silver or lacquered frames decorate modern and contemporary settings. Your prints, picture and posters aren’t the only things that can be framed. Try framing an old map, an old board game or even a collage of your own design. Also, use shadowboxes to display a collection or items from a special occasion. The glass you use for your frame or shadowbox should have a non-glare glass insert with sun protection. Visitors will have a better view of your work of art and you'll preserve the quality of your picture or painting over time. When hanging a frame, the professionals recommend using two picture hooks as opposed to a nail. Place it on the wall at eye level of an average-height person. If you have a large wall area, consider hanging larger-scaled frames or even grouping several prints together to make a bigger impact. Wallpaper your wallsWallpaper and wallpaper borders hide imperfections and allow you to quickly create a new look for a room. Wallpaper is available in a variety of materials, including flocks, foils, fabrics, embossed designs, vinyl, and grass cloth. Most stock wallpapers are made of vinyl, which is easy to hang and easy to clean. Textured wallpaper: Textured wallpaper hides ugly wall imperfections. Self-adhesive wallpaper: Self-adhesive wallpaper requires no supplies for preparation. Remove the wallpaper backing and apply it to your wall like a sticker. Removable wallpaper: When you're ready for a change, removable, also called strippable, wallpaper comes off your wall effortlessly. It's a good choice for people who can't make up their minds. Stain-resistant wallpaper: Stain-resistant wallpaper works well in kitchens, hallways and children’s rooms. Moisture-resistant wallpaper: Make sure bathroom wallpaper can hold up to constant moisture. Pre-pasted wallpaper: Just add water to apply pre-pasted wallpaper to your walls.
When purchasing wallpaper, look at its pattern. Horizontal wallpaper, much like horizontal stripes on clothing, can make a room seem wider. Vertical wallpaper patterns make the ceiling in a room seem higher. For a room that is not perfectly squared, choose drop patterns, which repeat diagonally across the wallpaper strip and require additional paper to match up. Complete rooms with clocksClocks complete the mood or look of a room and can help define your personal style. From wall clocks and mantel clocks to desk clocks and grandfather clocks, these timepieces are always a decorative classic. Traditional or anniversary clocks add interest to an end table; wall clocks propped on an easel in the kitchen or on an end table add charm; and grandfather clocks in the entryway are a nice way to welcome your guests. In general, grandfather clocks have the greatest impact and come in every price range and style imaginable, including a wide array of contemporary designs. Grandfather/floor clocks have unequalled artistic craftsmanship with hand-painted details, intricate woodwork, and superior timekeeping abilities. Cover your sofa, couch, chairs and moreCovers come in a range of fabrics, including cotton, suede, velvet and even faux leather. They are usually washable, easy to maintain and can be used to dress up your room. For example, spice up a room around the holidays. Keep your covers from drooping and slouching and give them a more tailored look by using a tucking tool. Tucking tools insert a plastic channel deep into the furniture’s corners to hold the fabric in place.
Throw light on the subjectLamps say a lot about your style. They can act as a decorative accessory, serve a purpose or create a striking effect. To add some dramatic lighting to your space, vary the height of the lamps throughout the room.
Floor lamps: Tall floor lamps provide adjustable light without taking up table space. Table lamps: Table lamps measure between 60 to 80 centimetres high. Use table lamps to light your living room, bedrooms, dining room, and family room. The base and lamp shade should be in proportion to each other and the rest of the furniture in the room. The shade should be at eye level when you’re seated, and the bulb should be out of sight. Desk lamps: Desk lamps are typically 30 to 50 centimetres high and are used to light a specific work area. Accent lamps: Use accent lamps measuring less than 50 centimetres tall to provide extra lighting in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and entrances.
When choosing a lamp shade, think about how much light you want the lamp to emanate. A transparent shade adds the maximum amount of light to a room. An opaque shade focuses light downward for task lighting, such as reading, writing, cooking, or grooming. Maximize space with mirrorsMirrors, a magical design accessory, can transform a room, making it appear brighter, lighter, and glamorous. Mirrors also can multiply the space in a room, adding depth and dimension by optically expanding the view. You'll find a wide variety of mirrors in different shapes and sizes on eBay Australia. They can come bevelled (meaning they don’t need a frame), frosted, bronzed, etched, antiqued or tinted in a variety of ways. Bronze-tinted mirrors tend to make people’s reflections look softer and more appealing. A mirror framed with mouldings should complement the rest of the accessories in the room. You can place mirrors in nearly any room of the house. Varying the shapes, sizes, tints and frames of mirrors in your home will add interest. Lean oversized mirrors against walls to visually increase the room in a small space. Mount a collection of small mirrors to add vibrancy and sparkle to your walls. It is important to evaluate what the mirror will reflect before hanging it. While a mirror in your hallway may open up the space, it may not be the best location choice if placed across from a bathroom door. |
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Explore Today’s Home Décor Trends
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Explore Today’s Home Décor TrendsStick to your own personal taste and keep your home looking updated and fresh by incorporating one or two ideas from today's hottest looks into your current home décor scheme. Embrace colour: Make a splash with citrus colours like orange, lime green, cherry red, and banana yellow. Chocolate brown, pink, and soft green are showing up in home décor pieces around the country as well. Try draping a pink throw blanket over your sofa for a fresh look or add some soft green slipcovers to your dining room chairs. Dress up your bookcases: Take the books off of your bookcase shelves and add more creative decorative touches. From simple floral arrangements to decorative fruit, vases, boxes, jars, and tins, there are countless ways to dress up a book shelf. Accessorise with silver: Get the softer look of brushed and distressed-finish silver, chrome and stainless home décor items, such as lamps, frames and vases. Let pillows talk: Replace your small pillows or cushions with larger pillows in square, rectangular and cylindrical shapes. Dressmaker touches are also making a comeback with silk tassels, fringe and beads adorning decorative pillows. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Framed bath mirrors have really taken off. Today, it’s less about standard bathroom cabinet and more about large framed mirrors that add big personality and presence to your bathroom. Also, there is a revival of the Venetian mirrors. They are perfect for a guest bathroom, entry hall or dining room. Glass home décor products: Consider glass décor items, such as glass lamp bases that are lighting up homes everywhere. Coming in shapes that are short, tall, curvy, square, and conical, this clean look is a bright home decorating idea. The Great Outdoors: Turn your patio or deck area into an extension of your living area. Hurricane lamps and candle lanterns add a festive feel to the outdoors, and colourful pillows in vibrant stripes and floral tie everything together.
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Find Home Décor on eBay Australia
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Find Home Décor on eBay AustraliaNow that you know what to buy, narrowing down item listings to the pieces you want shouldn't take much time. Go to the Home & Lifestyle portal, click Home Décor, and start searching for item listing on eBay Australia.  Keywords: Search eBay Australia listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Venetian mirror, type "venetian mirror" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.
If you can't seem to find exactly what you want on eBay Australia, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available. |
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Buy Home Décor with Confidence
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Buy Home Décor with ConfidenceBefore making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you. 
Know your purchaseCarefully read the details in item listings. Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.
Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs. Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Know your sellerResearch your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise? Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protectionIn the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you. Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500. eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.
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Legal Disclaimer
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Legal DisclaimerBuying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. Content, trademarks and brands referred to and contained in the third-party links provided are the property of their respective owners, and eBay has no control over and accepts no responsibility for their content. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.
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