Easy Furnishing: My Top 7 Go-To Furniture Stores and Retailers

Okay, so nowadays there are a million and 1 furniture stores, and with so many choices, the paradox of choice really kicks in. ​​As both a designer and a consumer, my primary focus when it comes to furniture shopping is guaranteeing that my clients receive the utmost value, ensuring the product’s longevity, and assessing the piece’s functionality (and of course the style). Over the years, I’ve shopped at many furniture stores and I can now say that I have my go-to spots. 

Now, I have to preface this by saying that considering that I am a designer, I do get access to designer-only furniture stores, which honestly tend to be my preference for a number of reasons (which I explain at the end of this post). BUT that’s not to say that I don’t shop at regular retail stores as well. So, to ensure this post is helpful for most, I am going to focus on regular-degular furniture stores and retailers.  I am also not going to rank the stores in terms of my favourites, they will be listed in random order. I like certain furniture stores for particular reasons and I like other furniture stores for totally different reasons. 

My top 7 go-to furniture stores and retailers (in no particular order)

1. Urban Barn 

Urban Barn is a good retail furniture store if your style is a little country and/or transitional. I find that Urban Barn has gotten a little more contemporary over the years, but at its core, it still holds true to that rustic-transitional style. The prices are pretty reasonable. I find that the regular priced items are a bit pricy if you’re comparing to HomeSense or Ikea. But they have pretty decent sale prices, so I’d keep an eye out for sale time. I have found that they have in-store sales a lot which do not reflect the online store prices, so it may be worth the in-store visit.

2. CB2

Okay, so this is a bit more of a pricey furniture store. But, honestly, they have some gorgeous pieces. CB2 is the sister store to Crate & Barrel (which I also love), CB2 is a little more contemporary compared to Crate & Barrel. CB2 carries more stand-out and unique pieces in my opinion. If you’re on a decorating budget, it may be worth splurging on one or two pieces from here that are really unique. 

3. Etsy

Okay so as you probably know, Etsy is an online marketplace platform. So there is no physical Etsy store or anything and you kind of find a hodge-podge of different things on there. I have found some super cool and unique furniture pieces on Etsy, including this beautiful handmade wooden headboard from Bali for one of my clients…check it out in the photo below.

Etsy is great if you’re looking for unique, handmade items from all over the world. You can find amazing Turkish rugs, cool accessories, vintage furniture pieces and original artwork. And of course another plus is, we all love online shopping…it just makes the procurement process so much easier. 

4. The Bay

The Bay (which we Canadians are all probably all familiar which) carries many different brands, including different furniture brands. This retailer gives you a lot of variety and access to various well-known furniture/ accessory brands (such as Renwil) all under one domain. So shopping at The Bay can really make things convenient in that regard. The reason why I like The Bay, is because they have many sales. Just sign up for their email notifications and you’ll know when they have sales, special offers and promo codes. I love a good promo code, in fact, I rarely buy something online without a promo code!!! I’ve found plenty of home goodies at a steal on The Bay’s online store…I don’t go into the actual store very often as I hate malls. 

5. Bouclair 

Bouclair has become one of my go-tos simply because of the great price point. Some of my clients don’t want to spend a lot on certain furniture pieces, and hey that’s understandable. Bouclair carries a decent amount of small furniture pieces and accessories at a very reasonable cost, so the value is certainly there. I mostly rely on Bouclair for accessories and maybe the odd furniture piece. It’s a good alternative to Ikea, as it’s a bit more stylish. 

6. Structube 

Structube is another one of those good value furniture stores. The prices are very reasonable and they carry a ton of items. This is another go-to of mine when my client doesn’t want to break the bank. It’s also super easy in terms of ordering and setting up delivery. I wouldn’t say to order your main furniture pieces from Structube (furniture pieces that intend to get a lot of use), but I’d say go for the accessories and some small furniture pieces.

7. Article 

Article is a cool, hip online-only store that sells furniture at a mid-price point. I’ve found some really nice, simple and modern furniture from Article. I’ve noticed that this retailer has really gained popularity over the recent years. It’s really a nice in-between of furniture that is good quality and not SOO expensive. So, it kind of hits the spot. 

How to shop at furniture stores like a pro…

So, this wraps up my list of my 7 go-to furniture stores. However, like I said earlier, my favourite furniture stores tend to be designer-only stores.

There are numerous advantages to exclusively shopping at designer-only stores, including reduced markups on furniture pieces. This means you pay considerably less for the same products that other retailers often mark up by 30%, 40%, or even up to 70%—no bueno.

Also, when you opt for designer-only stores, you gain access to a much wider selection of furniture. This abundance of variety significantly simplifies the sourcing process. Plus, the designer-only shopping experience is overall just more easy, relaxed and comfortable. These stores tend to be less crowded, and you often have the entire showroom at your disposal. This allows you to take your time, feel completely at ease, and engage in more informative conversations with sales representatives regarding the products.

These are the compelling reasons why I primarily choose to shop at designer-only furniture stores about 90% of the time. You might be wondering why I’m mentioning this, especially if you’re not a designer. However, the good news is that when you collaborate with a designer, you gain access to these exclusive designer-only furniture stores! So, if you’re interested in connecting with me and exploring these unique shopping opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out.