So where does one shop nowadays to find affordable furniture that has some quality to it? I basically need an end table or two, a low profile TV stand and a console table. I can see spending between $100-200 per piece. Any good deals out there?
I’m in the Chicagoland area, so local places would be a huge bonus!
Craigslist is the only way. My friend Darla has gotten some amazing deals there.
Ikea. I bought my solid pine bed in the early '90s and it’s still great. I’ve just bought another bed (new apartment) from Ikea and it’s very stoutly built. The Lack end tables are simple and sturdy, come in a choice of colours, and only cost like twelve bucks. My Ivar shelves are really good too. My simple pine table at home has been going strong as long as my bed, and the new one in my apartment is the same.
I like the clean, functional look of Ikea’s furniture. They have fancier stuff, but this is what I like. I bought a sofa and love seat at Big!Lots for the house. Very comfortable black faux leather, and they only cost $700 for the set.
Garage sales are your friend. I got a solid oak table that would probably survive a nuclear holocaust for $30.
Alternately, check out the Kane County Flea Market.
I like World Market, if you’re into their aesthetic. It’s reasonable and the pieces I’ve gotten (tables, mostly) are VERY solid. My coffee table from them is almost heavier (and has more actual hardwood in it) than my dining room table.
I’d second Ikea, and overstock.com. I think I’ve also had good experience with homedecorators.com.
I also build a lot of furniture… but I don’t thinks that’s the type of cost savings you were interested in. However, I do have some mahogany and cherry pieces I’d never pay retail prices for.
We’re very happy with our sofabed from Value City Furniture. It’s a bit of a hike out to the 'burbs, but I was impressed with their quality:cost on almost every item I saw in the store.
It ain’t heirloom quality, but it’s real honest to goodness grown up furniture, if you know what I mean.
I’m a Cost Plus World Market slut but as Zsofia said, you’d better like Bombay Company Brit Colonial Caribbean plantation ethno-furniture. It’s dark, heavy woods that are matched with loads of dark silk brocade. My parents and I furnish in exactly the same way.
I got an awesome coffee table from them and when I move into a nice, big place, I’m probably going to buy the rest of my livingroom pieces from them, too.
Rent a U-Haul and come to Las Vegas.
They have multiple hotel furniture warehouses here…think about it…if one hotel decides to renovate, that is 3000 beds, mattresses, side tables, lamps, desks, tv stands, curtains, bedspreads, etc.
My guest room in the house has all of the Rio Hotel/Casino artwork, bedspread, curtains and dresser drawers…I paid about $50 for the entire room full of clean, barely used furnishings.
I also bought two, aqua-marine, leather chairs for my living room…they were originally designed for a suite at Caesar’s and, once they were delivered, the designer hated them. Two new leather chairs, never sat in, that would normally cost about $500 each…I got them for $25 each.
Affordable Portables has some nice stuff, if you’re downtown.