Online Eames chair dealers. Mom-and-pop (or pop-and-pop) furniture showrooms. Big chains (Pottery Barn, West Elm, Ashley) hawking everything from couches to coasters. So many businesses want to outfit your home, it can be hard to tell which ones sell which style of stuff, or which retailers suit your budget, be it IKEA low or latter-day Versailles high.

That’s why, in addition to our ratings of local furniture stores by price and quality of service, we’ve also produced brief summaries on what you’ll find at retailers with store locations in the Washington area and online. It was spearheaded by our editorial director Jennifer Barger, who has covered the home décor industry for more than two decades for publications like The Washington Post. She wrote summaries for all of the companies listed in our Ratings Tables (those that received 10 or more ratings from our surveys of consumers), plus other well-known local, national, and online-only retailers. She tried to give basic and fair descriptions and conclusions based on her in-person and online research.

Adam Furniture

Makers like Lane, Flexsteel, Crosley, and others headline at this long-running, mid-priced to expensive furniture showroom known for smaller, apartment-sized pieces, custom upholstery, and appliances in a spacious storefront. Room vignettes include classic, contemporary, and eclectic goods. Local store in Chicago

AllModern

Part of the jumbo Wayfair group of online retailers, this mid-century modern and contemporary web-site deals in moderate to expensive furniture with a poppy, sleek vibe. Brands include those made for the site as well as lines like Gus Modern, Jonathan Adler, Calligaris, and Greenington. Lighting, custom options on some upholstery, rugs, and bathroom accessories and linens. Online only

Amish Furniture Shoppe

Jumbo space for expensive traditional and contemporary furnishings in American wood by Amish craftspeople. Also selling some upholstery. Local store in Tinley Park

Anthropologie

The boho, downtown-cool women’s clothing retailer also offers its own line of upholstery and case goods both in many of its stores and online at moderate to very expensive prices. Some custom up-holstery and many trendy accessories, window treatments, and lights. Local stores in Chicago, Deer Park, Highland Park, Naperville, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Skokie

Arhaus

Expensive retailer known for its own line of large-scale furnishings and showrooms with bohemian, aspirational vignettes. Upholstered pieces mostly made in America and customizable in a range of mostly neutral fabrics. Also stocks outdoor furniture, gifts, and unusual accessories. Local stores in Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, South Barrington

Art Van Furniture

Inexpensive to moderately priced furnishings spots stocking sofas, mattresses, leather upholstery, and case goods, plus a range of decorative accessories in contemporary or farmhouse styles. Brands, some locally made, include ROMA and Detroit. Local stores in Chicago, Bedford Park, Burbank, Deerfield, Downers Grove, Harwood Heights, Orland Park, Willow Brook

Ashley HomeStore

Inexpensive to moderately priced showrooms for the world’s largest furniture manufacturer offer upholstered pieces and other furniture including case goods, kids’ styles, and outdoor stuff, plus ac-cessories like rugs, lighting, and décor. Merchandise comes in modern and traditional styles and is ar-ranged in room vignettes. Local stores in Algonquin, Bolingbrook, Broadview, Burbank, Chicago, Down-ers Grove, Geneva, Naperville, Niles, Orland Park, Romeoville, Schaumburg, Vernon Hills

Ballard Designs

Mid-priced brick-and-mortar showrooms for the web-and-catalog retailer offering its own line of tra-ditional, farmhouse, and transitional upholstery, case goods, outdoor furnishings, and accessories, all shown off in room-like settings. Custom upholstery available in dozens of colors and patterns, includ-ing a large selection of weatherproof fabrics. Local store in Oakbrook

Bassett Furniture

Expensive stores for long-running company with roots in the American South (and still producing a portion of its upholstery and case goods in the U.S.). Its own line of contemporary, eclectic, and tradi-tional-style pieces are displayed in room settings. Also custom upholstery and custom-size dining ta-bles plus in-house design services. Local stores or affiliates in Arlington Heights, Crystal Lake, Glenview, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills

Birch Lane

Under the Wayfair brand umbrella, this country, rustic, and casual style website hawks inexpensive to expensive upholstery, case goods, and accessories. Carries its own house line as well as brands like Lexington and Trisha Yearwood Home Collection. Big focus on whole-room sets. Online only

Bloomingdale’s

Expensive New York City-based department store has furniture showrooms in many of its branches, selling contemporary and transitional upholstery, case goods, and accessories. Besides its own line, it also features upholstery by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, case goods by Calligaris, and some custom upholstery. Local stores in Chicago, Northbrook, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Skokie

Blu Dot

Mid-century modern-meets-contemporary maker, known for small space designs and cheeky colors, fills repurposed vintage buildings with upholstery, case goods, and accessories at mid to expensive prices. Local store in Chicago

Bob’s Discount Furniture

Chain store with outsize, warehouse-like digs for inexpensive to moderately priced furnishings in a range of styles. Local stores in Aurora, Burbank, Chicago, Calumet City, Joliet, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Shorewood, Skokie, Vernon Hills

BoConcept

The expensive Danish modern furniture and accessories manufacturer known for its modular, often small-space-centric designs, offers its goods in chic, contemporary digs. Custom upholstery and design services available. Online only in Chicago area

CB2

Known for a contemporary, downtown loft aesthetic, Crate & Barrel’s younger-feeling sibling offers its own line of upholstery, case goods, seasonally changing accessories, and lighting, plus art and collab-orations with artists and designers like Robert and Cortney Novogratz. Prices are moderate to expen-sive, and there’s custom upholstery. Local store in Chicago

Crate & Barrel

Expensive mod, country, and transitional furniture, rugs, and accessories star in crisp retail venues for the Chicago-based home giant. Sells its own lines of custom upholstery, home décor, kitchen items, and seasonal goods. Design services also available. Local stores in Chicago, Deer Park, Geneva, North-brook, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Skokie

Dania

Sleek contemporary furnishings depot with moderate to expensive prices on upholstery, case goods, and accessories. Mid-century and Scandinavian lines a focus, and custom upholstery and design ser-vices are available. Lombard, Northbrook, Orland Park

Darvin Furniture

Vast furnishings and mattress retailers dealing in inexpensive to expensive furniture (including some U.S.-made pieces) in styles like farmhouse, traditional, and contemporary from brands such as Klaussner, Craftmaster, and Lane. Also offering design services. Local store in Orland Park

Design Within Reach

Very expensive, crisp, minimalist showrooms stock modern (and mid-century) upholstery, case goods, lighting and accessories. Brand names include Saarinen, Knoll, Eames, and Noguchi. Custom uphol-stery and design services, too. Local store in Chicago

Ethan Allen

Long-running (since 1932), expensive American furniture maker selling a mix of classic and contempo-rary style upholstery, case goods, and décor. Custom upholstery, quick-ship items, and design services also available. Local stores in Chicago, Lombard, Orland Park, Naperville, Schaumburg, Skokie

Geneva Home Works

Ten thousand square foot, family-run operation for mid-priced contemporary and traditional furniture and customizable upholstery by brands like Rowe, Whittier Wood, Flexsteel, and King Hickory. Local stores in West Chicago

Good’s Furniture

Mammoth mid-priced furniture showroom with contemporary, classic, country, and traditional fur-nishings from names like Bassett, Flexsteel, and Hooker. Also offering custom upholstery plus an on-site restaurant and bed-and-breakfast. Local store in Kewanee

Hive Modern

Expensive to very expensive, contemporary furniture with sleek lines and a mid-century feel by brands including Borge Mogensen, Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and others. Custom upholstery, in-teresting accessories. Online only

IKEA

Inexpensive, Sweden-based warehouse stores with extensive room vignettes displaying its own line of bright, contemporary furniture, accessories, kitchen and bathroom fixtures plus a jumbo marketplace with kitchen goods, lighting, kid’s items, and Scandi foodstuffs. Many furniture pieces are flat pack and can be picked up and taken home, delivered for a fee, or assembled for a fee. Local stores in Boling-brook, Schaumburg

Industry West

Newish website for maker of industrial, mid-century modern, and Scandinavian vibe furniture at in-expensive to expensive prices. Trendy, millennial vibe means lots of cane case goods, pink upholstery, and whimsical stuff (a rattan swing chair, plug-in neon lights). Custom upholstery available on some pieces. Online only

Jayson Home

In a vintage space with exposed brick walls, this trendy showplace for expensive to very expensive fur-nishings carries its own line of customizable upholstery, case goods, lighting, and some vintage, much of it with a modern or industrial look. Local store in Chicago

JCPenney

Inexpensive department stores with upholstery, case goods, and, in most locales, a custom blinds and curtain section. Some brand-name goods including Ashley and Martha Stewart. Local stores in Algon-quin, Aurora, Calumet City, Chicago, Joliet, Lombard, Matteson, Mokena, Montgomery, Niles, North Au-rora, North Riverside, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Vernon Hills

Joss & Main

Transitional, traditional, and boho furnishings on a website owned by the jumbo Wayfair group of online retailers. Prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and many pieces have a decidedly feminine vibe (aka lots of pink and glam velvet). Custom upholstery, accessories, and window treat-ments, too. Brands include Tommy Bahama Home and Cynthia Rowley. Online only

La-Z-Boy

Expensive, jumbo showrooms for comfort-based upholstery, recliners, and case goods. Custom up-holstery in dozens of fabrics and quick-ship items available. Design services. Local stores and affiliates in Algonquin, Bolingbrook, Chicago, Glenview, Gurnee, Harwood Heights, Lake Zurich, Naperville, Oak Brook, Orland Park, Plano, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Vernon Hills

Luminaire Chicago

High-style, high-end contemporary furniture dealer filling a three-level, 21,000-square-foot showplace for brands including Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Vincent Sheppard, and others. Interior design services, customizable upholstery. Local store in Chicago

Macy’s

Mid-priced American department store features traditional and contemporary furniture sections in many of its branches with upholstery (some in custom fabrics) and case goods. Room settings include brands created for the store by names like Martha Stewart and Ennia Leather, and many items are quick ship. Local stores in Chicago, Skokie, Oak Brook, Schaumburg

Mayfair Carpet & Furniture

Room vignettes set the scene for mid- to expensively priced furnishings in contemporary and tradi-tional styles from brands including Catnapper, Flexsteel, Lane, and Uttermost. Custom upholstery, carpeting, and design services available, too. Local store in Crystal Lake

Mike’s Furniture

Family-owned, mid-priced furniture dealership for brands including Ashely, Benchcraft, and Best Home Furnishings. Trafficking in country, traditional, and contemporary pieces including case goods, accessories, mattresses, and upholstery (the last including some customizable options). Local store in Joliet

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Very expensive, sleek, contemporary furniture showrooms for U.S.-made upholstery, case goods, and accessories like lighting and pottery. Dozens of custom upholstery fabric availa-ble, and showrooms channel a downtown- loft vibe with art for sale, too. Local stores in Chicago, Oak Brook

Morlen Sinoway Atelier

Sixty expensive contemporary European and American brands like Gubi, Kartell, and Mater in a bright, sleek showroom. Design services and custom upholstery are also offered. Local store in Chicago

Perigold

Expensive to very expensive online source of high-style, high-end upholstery, case goods, and accesso-ries. Traditional, transitional, contemporary and other styles from names like Bernhardt, Century, Juliska Home, and Aerin Home, with many custom options on upholstery. Also wallpaper, rugs, and fabric by the yard. Online only

Pottery Barn

Expensive classic furniture and accessories chain known for oversized, comfortable furniture and an all-American vibe. The chain’s multiple stores display furniture and accessories together and have many items that switch seasonally. Custom upholstery in a limited number of fabrics; separate baby and kids’ lines that are sometimes shown in the same spaces. Local stores in Algonquin, Chicago, Deer Park, Geneva, Highland Park, Naperville, Oakbrook, Orland Park, Skokie

RH

Aka Restoration Hardware, the sleek, modern-meets-classic brand known for very expensive uphol-stery with many custom fabrics, case goods, rugs, custom draperies, and oversized furniture. Also of-fers design services, outdoor furnishings, and bath hardware. Some locations have restaurants or other extra features. Local stores in Chicago, Oak Brook

Roche Bobois

Very expensive, very modern upholstery, case goods, and accessories by the avant-garde French company are offered in gallery-like surrounds. Known for partnerships with fashion houses like Mis-soni and Kenzo, Roche Bobois also offers custom upholstery and design consulting. Local store in Chi-cago

Room & Board

Expensive contemporary furniture retailer offering its own lines of upholstery, case goods, décor, and rugs, much of it made in the U.S. with sustainable materials. Custom upholstery available with dozens of fabric choices. Showrooms are often carved out of vintage, repurposed buildings. Local stores in Chicago, Oak Brook, Skokie

The Room Place

Furnishings retailers in businesses since 1912 dealing in inexpensive to mid-price case goods, uphol-stery, mattresses, and kids’ stuff in spacious showrooms. Traditional and modern styles are both fea-tured. Local stores in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Bloomingdale, Chicago, Downers Grove, Gurnee, Homewood, Joliet, Lincolnwood, Lombard, McHenry, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Vernon Hills

Roy’s Furniture

Family-owned, two-level space proffering mid-priced to expensive upholstery, case goods, rugs, and accessories in contemporary and farmhouse styles. Custom upholstery and interior design services are also a feature. Local store in Chicago

Scandinavian Design

In crisp surrounds, the moderately priced to expensive retailer of Nordic furniture offers upholstery, case goods, and accessories. Showcases Stressless and offers custom upholstery and design help. Local store in Skokie

Serena & Lily

Beachy, breezy expensive traditional and transitional upholstery, case goods, outdoor furniture, and bedding in coastal-chic digs. Custom upholstery, design services. Online and catalog, too. Local store in Chicago

Steinhafels Furniture

Inexpensive to expensive furnishings depot with a range of styles from farmhouse to traditional from brands including Direct Designs, Natuzzi, and Lane in a large open space. Specializes in apart-ment-sized furniture, sleeper sofas, kids’ stuff, and mattresses. Local stores in Crystal Lake, Kenosha, Vernon Hills

Strode’s Colonial Vermont Furniture

Bright showroom for classic, contemporary, and farmhouse-style furnishings at moderate to expen-sive prices. Local store in Huntley

Toms-Price Home Furnishings

Furnishing stores marketing a range of furnishings styles (traditional, contemporary, craftsman) at price points from mid-priced to very expensive. Showrooms put together room scenes utilizing dozens of brands including Baker, Hickory Chair, Stickley, and Uttermost. Design services and custom uphol-stery available. Local stores in Bloomingdale, Lincolnshire, Skokie, South Barrington, Wheaton

Turk Furniture

Family-owned chain of furnishings stores for mid-priced to expensive lines including Ashley Furniture, Canadel, Craftmaster and Millcraft. Displayed in jumbo, warehouse-like digs with room vignettes and a range of styles including traditional, modern, and farmhouse. Local store in Joliet

Value City Furniture

Inexpensive to moderate-priced chain store for furnishings and accessories in a range of styles (mod-ern, traditional, farmhouse) displayed in jumbo, warehouse-like spaces with room vignettes. Some upholstered items can be customized. Local stores in Aurora, Burbank, Calumet City, Chicago, Downers Grove, Gurnee, Joliet, Niles, Northlake, Orland Park, Schaumburg

Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design

Expensive to very expensive case goods, customizable upholstery, kids’ pieces, and quick-ship styles in contemporary and classic styles, many with a citified, sleek vibe, fill showrooms for this longtime local chain. Multiple designers on staff. Local stores in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Geneva, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Oak Brook, Orland Park, Skokie, Vernon Hills

Wayfair

Online furniture and accessories giant selling trendy, transitional, and country pieces at inexpensive to moderate prices. Custom upholstery on some items, large stock of rugs and lighting. Online only

West Elm

Known for its millennial vibe, this mid-priced chain (owned by the same company as Pottery Barn) fills its downtown-loft-like stores with mid-century inspired furniture, case goods, and seasonally changing accessories. Custom upholstery program with 80-plus fabric options. Local stores in Chicago, Oakbrook, Skokie

Wisteria

Family-run online shop and catalog for bohemian, exotic-looking, traditional, and contemporary up-holstery, case goods, and accessories at moderate to expensive prices. Some handicrafts, seasonal goods, and antique items, too. Mirrors and small tables a focus. Online only

World Market

Warehouse-style home, décor, and foodstuff chain and website offers its own inexpensive to moder-ate-price furniture and lighting, too. Stock generally includes small-space items (futons, small dining sets) as well as trendy pieces. Some upholstery available in more than one color, but no custom up-holstery. Local stores in Chicago, Crystal Lake, Evanston, Hoffman Estates, Kildeer, Mount Prospect, Na-perville, Oak Brook, St. Charles

Wright’s Furniture Warehouse

Mammoth warehouse setting for mid-priced to expensive brands including Ashley, Lane, Rowe, and Stanley with traditional and contemporary vibes. Local store in Blue Island

Wrightwood Furniture

Eclectic emporium with 10,000 square feet of industrial, eco-minded, and exotic-looking furniture at inexpensive to expensive prices. Local store in Chicago

Z Gallerie

Glam, colorful upholstery, case goods, and accessories at moderate to very expensive prices from an online and brick-and-mortar maker of goods with a flashy, Miami look. Custom upholstery available on many items. Local store in Schaumburg