Best Online Furniture Stores of 2025

West Elm

Shop furniture at West Elm

West Elm sells beautiful mid-century furniture that’s well-made and will last for years. You’ll find everything from sleek consoles to cozy sofas, and the brand’s upholstered pieces are often available in hundreds of different fabrics, so you can choose a material that perfectly matches your space. West Elm also offers free design services.

West Elm is a sister brand to Pottery Barn, so the two furniture retailers have similar policies. Shipping costs will vary depending on your distance from the warehouse, and you have 30 days to initiate returns. However made-to-order furniture is considered final sale and furniture is delivered via white glove delivery. West Elm also has many physical stores where you can see popular furniture pieces like the Harmony Sofa in person, but some items are online-only.

How we chose

We considered a variety of factors while selecting furniture stores for this guide. We looked at each retailer’s selection, considering factors such as styles available, showroom availability, materials, customization options, and overall price range. We also dug into every store’s shipping and return policies, looking for any hidden fees that could impact your buying experience.

While curating this list, we also relied heavily on our own personal experiences shopping with these brands. Our team has tested furniture from many of the retailers on this list, and we can attest to the quality of the products, as well as the ease of ordering and delivery.

Furniture store FAQs

When is the best time to shop for furniture?

Retailers frequently offer storewide discounts around holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day and of course, Black Friday. Retailers looking to clear out inventory will also drop prices before launching new collections. You can also save by shopping off-season, like scooping up outdoor patio furniture in the fall, while indoor furniture is most deeply discounted in the winter and summer months. If you have your eye on a more expensive piece, it’s worth waiting until one of these holidays to save a bit of money on your purchase. Typical furniture discounts fall anywhere from 20 to 40% off.

Which furniture pieces are worth the splurge?

It’s often worth spending more on furniture that will be used heavily in your home. For instance, if you’re shopping for a sofa that will be used daily by your family, it’s worth splurging on a model with a solid hardwood frame, stain-resistant upholstery, sinuous spring seats, and dense foam cushions. These features will help ensure the sofa can stand up to daily use and will last for several years — cheaper models will often start to sag quickly and generally need to be replaced much sooner.

On the flip side, if it’s going to be a decorative piece in your home like aside tables, decorative chairs, and even bookcases that won’t be used directly, I think it’s acceptable to opt for less expensive pieces. This could come at the expense of less durable materials like MDF and particleboard Just be sure to check their weight capacity and whether they have exposed hardware that you’ll need to hide while styling the piece in your home.

Is it better to buy furniture online or in-store?

There are benefits to buying furniture online and in person. When you shop online, you’ll have a much larger variety to browse through, as most retailers only have a small selection of their furniture on display in showrooms. Many salespeople are also trained to be design experts and make recommendations about what pairs well with each other. Although, this leaves room for upselling and pushy behavior if they work on commission.

On the other hand, you’ll be able to see furniture in person and try it out when you shop in-store. This is particularly beneficial for pieces like sofas or mattresses, where comfort is paramountYou’ll also be able to assess the quality and scale of the furniture more carefully, and if you’re shopping locally, your furniture may be delivered much sooner (if the retailer has it in stock). It’s also a fairly typical practice to browse in store for inspiration and research and make final purchasing decisions from the comfort of your own home, and vice versa.