Living & dining room furniture buying guide Furniture is a major investment, whichever room you're shopping for. Whatever look you’re trying to create, our guide's intended to help you find the perfect fit for your style and your living or dining rooms. Getting new furniture can be exciting, but we do want you to make sure that it will fit before you order, so please take a little time to determine if your new furniture of choice will fit your room, and have the right proportions. See our ‘Measuring up for Furniture’ buying guide for more information. Some smaller items, such as occasional tables and chairs, may be available to buy and take away from our shop collection points. When you shop online, you’ll notice that some items of furniture are “Available to order” rather than in stock – these made to order pieces take longer to be delivered but will be worth the wait. These pieces are often delivered directly to you by our suppliers. If you need your new furniture quickly, many pieces can be delivered within 14 days (or even less if you buy in our shops).
We also offer some beds for 48-hour express delivery - perfect for unexpected guests. Please note: conditions apply to made to order furniture on returns. Darker woods look bigger, heavier, and more dramatic, thus suit larger rooms Glass and mirrored, polypropylene and clear acrylic furniture give the illusion of light and space in smaller rooms, and you’re free to change the colour of your décor Less is more – the more furniture you have, the smaller a room can appear. Aim for unity if you’ve got a small room, as co-ordinating furniture is more sympathetic in compact spaces Clutter also diminishes the size of a room, so calculate a generous amount of the storage furniture you’ll need, such as cupboards, shelves and drawers If you work from home, we’ve an extensive collection of stylish home office furniture, and if you need more than just a desk and a chair, we also offer a fitted bedroom service. See also our buying guide to office chairs.
Wood, combined with leather and faux leather, has a fairly minimal, masculine “bachelor pad” look which demands modern styling. It’s best matched with different textures, and plain or geometric textiles and backgrounds. Soften the look with a choice of soft furnishing accessories, rugs and curtains. Most living spaces will need a small occasional table or two, and your choice will naturally depend on the space available and whether or not you want them for decoration, entertaning, or storage For more style inspiration, take a look at our Living and Dining room ideas, and our What’s new in Home magazine features. Some of our ranges are crafted from solid wood, and some are made from an inner board covered with real wood veneer. We have a few ranges that combine both. Ardennes dining furniture perfect for the rustic look. Is beautiful, considered more desirable and tends to have the more upmarket reputation, though it’s not always more expensive than veneered products
Buy all your furniture in one batch if you want the colours to be as close as possible, but individual trees will have varying characteristics Some woods display different grain patterns, and and blemishes, knots or burrs are just part of the natural and individual beauty of the wood Are thin slivers of real wood cut straight from the log to cover the inner board (usually MDF, particle board or another, cheaper, wood) Are much lighter in weight and so easier to move around than solid wood Are stronger than solid wood, thanks to technology and modern adhesives; less risk of twisting or warping Allow distinctive patterns and effectsto be created on flat surfaces, such as table tops and drawer fronts, by the way the slivers are arranged Carefully considered use of solids and veneers reduces the demand on natural resources Your furniture may have a lacquered or oiled finish, or if the wood is untreated, it may just be finished with a colourless wax. Furniture with a hard lacquer or wax polish finish should just be dusted with a soft dry cloth
Waxed furniture needs a coat of beeswax a couple of times a year to help maintain its lustre Spray polishes are quick and easy to use, but those containing silicones may spoil the furniture’s surface by building up over time – they’re best avoided Protect surfaces from heat and liquids by placemats and coasters. Wipe up any spills immediately Have a pad underneath if you write on a sheet of paper on your furniture’s surface, to avoid the pen making impressions Move or turn the piece if it’s in sunlight. Over time, natural light will will mellow the colour of wood or wood Avoid placing furniture next to heat sources such as radiators or fires The lack of humidity caused by central heating or air conditioning can warp solid wood and cause other changes Never drag furniture - to avoid weakening the joints, alwayslift it Simply use glass cleaner or soapy water (on plastics) for cleaning, but don’t use anything abrasive. Protect leather from spillage and heat.
A slightly damp cloth is the best cleaning agent for both materials. Well-made pieces that look like heirloom antiques (without the hefty price tags) are what you'll find here, with stately wood and metal side tables, chic leather X-benches, and ladylike linen vanity stools among the standouts. "I love the upholstered headboards—they're curvy and elegant, with details like nailheads and tufting," says designer Jessica Becker. Also notable: a supply-your-own material program. The site outlines the yardage and the specs needed for each item (like an ottoman or an armchair); you send in your fabric for a custom piece. The gems at this easy-to-search online warehouse never cease to amaze. Filter your results by price, pattern type, color, style, and more to comb through the reliably great selection of steeply discounted furniture in every style, with (bonus) free shipping over $50. The range of chests and dressers is especially stellar. Think traditional, goes-with-anything painted-wood pieces and dressier mirrored styles.
This mecca for clean, contemporary furnishings turns out high-design, reasonably priced goods, including leather beds, lacquer nightstands, and reclaimed-wood dressers. Largely responsible for making the trendy midcentury style more mainstream, this retailer has deftly crafted pieces that strike a beautiful balance—bold enough to anchor a room yet subtle enough to seamlessly blend in. City dwellers: Behold the plethora of options for small spaces, like beds with built-in storage and nightstands with petite proportions. Sized just right for small spaces, the clean-lined, well-priced offerings—many in glossy lacquer—feel fresh but aren't so ultramodern that they'll look out-of-date in a year. The wall-mount storage shelves are particularly useful for hiding eyesores, such as cords and chargers. Fact: The Swedes know storage, particularly when it comes to minimalist, modular units that are easy on the eyes. Customizable options abound (adjustable shelves, vertical or horizontal configurations with or without basket inserts)—as do the astoundingly affordable prices.
It's no wonder legions of folks around the world have bought a Billy bookcase at one point or another. You'll telegraph a nicely grown-up vibe with PB's sturdy, substantial wall storage units. Many are made from solid hardwood, with special features, like beveled glass—a fine means of corralling bric-a-brac while helping the other pieces in a room feel pulled-together. True to its name, contemporary pickings are the go-to here, all easily searchable by material (wood, glass), category (computer desk, writing desk), and even width, depth, and height. "The metal Strut table by Blu Dot looks great as either a desk or a dining table, and it comes in pretty colors, like watermelon and navy," says designer Kimberly Ayres.Candelabra For sleek, decorator-beloved pieces in unusual materials and bold colors, you've come to the right spot. Case in point, the brightly colored grass-cloth side tables and lacquer consoles by Bungalow 5, a line favored by designer Jenny Komenda: "If I'm looking for a show-stopper for the entryway, this site is always my go-to."
Originally known solely for traditional furniture, this company now also offers an expanded collection that includes Bauhaus-inspired metal coffee tables and modern wood designs. Rest assured, you can still count on the same handcrafted, long-lasting quality, with 70 percent of its merchandise still made in North America.Zinc Door It's hard to imagine a more robust selection of modern-glam pieces (hundreds of coffee tables alone!). Designer Catherine Brophy is a fan, particularly of consoles like the Woodard, from Worlds Away: "It's light and only 10 inches deep, so it works well in a hallway with a pair of lamps on it and art above, or behind a sofa in a tight space." Cost Plus World Market For a dining room that's elegant but unfussy, browse this affordable emporium, which offers sturdy, reliable standards with a stylish spin. You'll find wood-top tables with a trestle base or hairpin legs, classic tub chairs in sleek metal, and upholstered seats in a panoply of unexpected shades (like topaz, peacock blue, and fuchsia).
Keep an eye on the home page for promo codes to apply discounts or land free shipping. Don't miss this e-tailer's museum-worthy collection of high-end contemporary pieces that lend instant clout, including groovy Saarinen tables and iconic metal Tolix Marais stools. "Classic Eames chairs in fun colors always brighten up a kitchen or less formal dining space, and this site offers 14 hues," says feng shui expert Catherine Brophy.Wayfair Turn here for a mind boggling array of styles (seriously—the site has 7 million items from more than 7,000 suppliers), all competitively priced, with free shipping over $49. The product categories, including patio pieces and bathroom fixtures, are wide ranging, but dining-room furniture is a major draw. This is the place to go for anything from washed-wood Parsons-style tables to Lucite chairs. Circle back often for the steeply discounted, blink-and-you'll-miss-out selections of furnishings at this flash-sale stalwart. The bench selection alone includes more than 600 styles that run the gamut from classic nailhead-embellished models to sheepskin-topped pieces.
Think past cooking tools. Here you'll find an array of posh, well-made seating options in countless fabrics and colors. Ottomans have unique appeal by way of Lucite legs and zebra-motif cowhide; benches come in all styles, from Chippendale to minimal and modern. You would be hard-pressed to find a more sophisticated assortment of statement-making seating than the one at this high-end vendor. From a regal emerald green settee to handsome tufted wing backs, nearly everything can be customized with the fabric, wood finish, and cushion fill of your choosing.Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Each piece in this designer duo's awesomely broad upholstery assortment is carefully crafted in North Carolina, the furniture capital of the United States. "I love Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams's quality and fabric selection, from buttery-soft leathers to the silkiest velvets," says Komenda. "Their London sofa is my current obsession—it's the perfect mix of traditional and modern." The secret is now out about this under-the-radar source specializing in fully customizable American-made sofas.