@1214mom, do they have Homesense nearby? I’m in MD and we have one nearby. It’s part of the Marshalls, Homegoods chain but the one near me has a lot more actual furniture than Homegoods (couches, chairs, tables, rugs, lamps, etc). In MD, there is one in Columbia and Annapolis and in VA there is one in Fairfax.
Being in the DC/Baltimore area, I’ve had great luck with Craigslist as there are so many areas to search. For quality wood furniture that isn’t expensive, you have to be willing to buy older stuff. I’ve gotten some beautiful dressers with dovetailed drawers in excellent condition. I also found a set of 6 kitchen chairs, perfect condition, for $100 when the same exact chair was selling on Ballard Designs for $125 per chair. We also have a couple of really nice consignment furniture stores where I live that have a pretty good selection of couches, etc. People around here redecorate frequently so the items are still on trend and in excellent condition.
Room and Board has a clearance and floor sample event this Saturday. I bought almost all of our real-wood furniture there years ago, lifetime things. But, R&B has increased in price since then. I would not think R&B a good value for young adults unless it’s a really, really great sale. (For perspective, I’m in the market for some real wood end tables, and clicked away from R&B after seeing some that were $599 per table. But maybe I’m just cheap even in my old age.)
I would look at Overstock, etc., with the caveat that finding real wood online can be tricky. Lots of “real” wood veneers out there lol. Read all reviews carefully. One time I did manage to get some real wood tables at Target online, but most of them are not. Buyer beware.
Sometimes creative googling can turn up independent local wood furniture makers such as those that sell unfinished pieces in a warehouse, for example.
Wayfair furniture can often be found at Joss and Main or Hayneedle for a better price.
I will second the second hand shops or consignment shops. Don’t think Goodwill (although that’s fine) or outlets. Also some our consignment shops actually have BRAND NEW furniture at discount prices - couches, chairs, sectionals. But you can buy a nice couch for under $500.
My D and SIL got their furniture from AllModern (which is owned by Wayfair I believe). They don’t mind putting stuff together.
My S who didn’t want to have to put a ton of furniture together himself bought from a combination of West Elm (couch, chair, and rug), Raymour & Flannigan (TV stand and kitchen table), and Wayfair (coffee table).
Fresh out of college, DD bought herself 2 small “click clack” (simple, easy to move) couches and a bed (rarely used, from a guest room) on Craigslist. She got lucky, but you do need to be careful about beg bugs etc. For wood furniture, I think less risky.
DS bought an Ikea couch after graduation almost 5 years ago, and he still likes it very much. He purchased his bedroom set from a warehouse that sold furniture from hotels that had been remodeled. (He bought new queen mattress, with a split boxspring that has made moving around Boston much easier.)
Few years ago I got a job few hundred miles from my house, so I rented an apartment for M-Thu. I furnished the whole place through Wayfair and Amazon. I ordered a very nice bed from Amazon, which a CC friend’s husband put together for me. The stuff I got were so stylish that my kids took them after I moved back.
Facebook Marketplace. Lots of high quality furniture that people sell when they are moving, downsizing, etc… Also, most big colleges have Facebook Groups for housing and/or furniture. A lot of the furniture is Ikea stuff, but there are also lots of very nice furniture which students buy, use for less than 2 years, and then sell before graduation.
On our local Craigslist, I’ve seen MANY very inexpensive dining room sets (Ethan Allen etc, nice wood). Much of it is dated, but what is old will be new again someday
All Modern is a great suggestion. IIRC they are owned by Wayfair but are a little more trendy. My DD just bought a rug from them…very reasonable and she liked their selection of things.
My son has bought several pieces from a second-hand place called Another Man’s Treasure. He’s also frequented the Habitat for Humanity Restore, where he’s found some good pieces - items are donated and the sales proceeds help with H4H house builds.
My youngest and her H just bought a couch at Costco. The couch was 300 dollars less in the store, she said Costco had a lot of couches last week. Most of their furniture has come from friends and Facebook marketplace. My other kid furnished her apartment mainly from a 2nd hand furniture store that was in a nice area outside her large city.
Macy’s and Target get new furniture in February so I expect that they would have good sales in January to clear their old inventory. I would get two Poang armchairs from IKEA that can be ordered online for the living room.
Two thumbs up to Poang chairs. Kid took ours to her (our) condo. The chair is close to 25 years old and still looks and feels great. Her cats love hanging out in the Poang.
The chair is close to 25 years old and still looks and feels great. Her cats love hanging out in the Poang.