Where's good for quality, reliable, house furniture (and where to avoid)?

Savingforahouse123

Hey I'm trying to get items like living room chairs, TV cabinet, curtains, kitchen table and chairs, TV bracket, mirrors, pictures/canvas designs/paintings).

Where'd you recommend I look? I'm looking for somewhere with a good rep for high quality, reliable items that'll last long term. Also where'd you suggest I avoid?

Eg:

• Sofology

• Ikea - Good

• DFS - Good

• Wayfair

• Argos

• WIckes

• Dunelm - Good

• The Range

• John Lewis

• Tool station

• Screwfix

• Homebase

• Next - Good

• Etsy

• Barker and Stonehouse

• Costco

• M&S - Good

• Made.com - Bad

• etc

Cheers

UnsureTenant

I’ve had a few items from Argos over the years which have always been sturdy and lasted for years. 

I bought a desk from Wayfair which was flimsy and I got rid of it immediately. It was cheap so maybe I just got what I paid for. 

SandyShores

I'd say Furniture Village are good.

EssexHebridean

We’ve had a set of IKEA Billy Bookcases in various configurations for the past 20 years - in fact, several for nearer to 25 now I think of it  and those have been through a house move too - and they look as good now as the day we got them. 

JReacher1

I always find the best quality mass produced furniture is Oak furniture land. Very solid wooden furniture that is not flat pack. 

You can also get decent furniture from Etsy but obviously that’s lots of different traders so can be hit and miss. 

[Deleted User]

To be honest, you can buy junk as easily as you can quality from any of those retailers on your list. Many of them are winging it, these days, on their reputations from former glory days. The name above the door is no guarantee of quality anymore.

If you want decent quality, though comes at a price, seek out the small businesses and one-man bands selling their wares on Etsy. I have kitchen furniture that will outlast me. Etsy is equally as littered with mass produced junk you’d find elsewhere, you just have to develop your own filter (that exists in your own head) and block it out.

if you want high street decent quality, think more about what you’re buying rather than from where, what it’s made of, etc. so you can spend well. Furniture made from solid oak will be pricey, but it will last. Cheaper alternatives, usually mdf, can feel solid but once they’re damaged, that’s it. You can’t sand down or wax mdf. 

Buying mirrors is best done in person. Buying anything under £100 (if it’s a fair size) comes with the risk of it using cheap glass that looks distorted at a short distance. 

For everyday storage furniture I’ve fallen back in love with IKEA. I have some of their mid range stuff; the stuff made out of wood. With ikea, if it’s priced cheap, it’s made cheap, that how they operate. They do have a super cool system for putting up non-eyelet curtains, as well; anyone who has ever had the trauma of dealing with pencil pleat curtains will understand.

Martico

 I'd second what @[Deleted User] says, and add that you shouldn't discount local second-hand furniture stores. Some of my best, nicest and least costly bits of furniture have come from those

JReacher1

Also just to add I wouldn’t have DFS as good. They’re ok but don’t think they’re brilliant. 

EndlessStruggle

I'm after a new sofa so I'll lurk for suggestions. (I want a big 4 seater extra deep sofa)

youth_leader

I'll lurk too.  We had a great second hand warehouse locally until late last year, unfortunately it's moved 35 miles away although they still deliver here. 

With the rotten floors here I lost the fitted wardrobes and big fitted unit, still have my clothes in suitcases and books in piles in the corner. I've still got the huge Ikea Hemnes chest of drawers the seller gifted me, but it still smells of mould.  I've soaked it with white vinegar but the smell has permeated the drawer lining I think.  I also need a sofa but think I want to sit on some before choosing.

Martico

Oh, and looking at your list I'd say (perhaps stating the obvious here) you can probably go for budget on things that get little day-to-day wear, like shelves and TV stands. As long as they look OK and do a job. But for stuff that you sit, eat or sleep on, best not skimp too much