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.

Allen’s Furniture

Family-owned furnishings dealership stocking upholstery and case goods in a range of styles (country, contemporary, traditional) by moderately priced to expensive brands including Ashley, La-Z-Boy, and Stanton. Also selling mattresses and customizable upholstery. Local store in Enumclaw

AllModern

Part of the jumbo Wayfair group of online retailers, this mid-century modern and contemporary website 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

Anna’s Home Furnishings

Warehouse setting for moderately price to expensive high-style room vignettes of furniture with contemporary, country, and transitional lines. Large range of brands include Ashley, Barcalounger, and Flexsteel, and customizable upholstery and room sets are a specialty. Local store in Lynnwood

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 upholstery and many trendy accessories, window treatments, and lights. Local stores in Bellevue, Seattle

Arnold’s Home Furnishings

Jumbo space with room vignettes and lots of art on the walls focusing on contemporary and traditional comfort-focused furniture at moderate to expensive prices. Brands include American Leather and Flexsteel, and mattresses are also on offer. Local store in Bremerton

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 accessories like rugs, lighting, and décor. Merchandise comes in modern and traditional styles and is arranged in room vignettes. Local stores in Burlington, Silverdale, Tacoma, Tukwila

Ballard Designs

Mid-priced brick-and-mortar showrooms for the web-and-catalog retailer offering its own line of traditional, 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, including a large selection of weatherproof fabrics. Online only in Puget Sound area

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 traditional-style pieces are displayed in room settings. Also custom upholstery and custom-size dining tables plus in-house design services. Local stores or affiliates in Mount Vernon, Redmond, Takoma, Tukwila

Bedrooms & More

Moderately priced to expensive mattress, bed, and furnishings store selling brands like Therapedic, Oregon Mattress Company, and 45th Street Bedding. Leather upholstery and comfort furnishings a focus. Local store in Seattle

Behar’s Furniture & Sleep Center

Large showroom for since-1963 business offering furniture and mattresses, custom upholstery, and design services. Styles include traditional, transitional, country, and contemporary at mid to expensive prices from brands Benchcraft and Palliser, with a major focus on Ashley. Local store in Everett

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

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 Seattle

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. Local store in Bellevue

Bothell Furniture

Bright, open setting for traditional, rustic, comfort, and contemporary upholstery, case goods, and comfort furniture. Showcasing American-made hardwood pieces plus customizable Flexsteel and Biltwell upholstery, all at moderate to expensive prices. Local store in Bothell

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 collaborations with artists and designers like Robert and Cortney Novogratz. Prices are moderate to expensive, and there’s custom upholstery. Local store in Seattle

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 Bellevue, Seattle

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 services are available. Lynnwood, Kirkland, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila

Del-Teet Furniture

Cozy, expensive showroom for contemporary and transitional furniture aimed at small space living. Exclusive line of Right-Size brand furnishings made for shop in the U.S. and many new and vintage Asian accessories. Local store in Bellevue

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 upholstery and design services, too. Local store in Seattle

Erickson Furniture

In a mid-century storefront, this long-running dealership offers home furnishings (including custom upholstery and mattresses) from brands like Flexsteel, American Leather, Hooker, and La-Z-Boy at moderate to expensive prices. Range of styles from traditional to craftsman. Local store in Everett

Ethan Allen

Long-running (since 1932), expensive American furniture maker selling a mix of classic and contemporary style upholstery, case goods, and décor. Custom upholstery, quick-ship items, and design services also available. Local stores in Bellevue, Lynnwood

Foster’s Furniture

Jumbo, family-run showroom with expensive and moderate contemporary European and American brands including Natuzzi, Arteriors, and Fjords. Interior design services, custom upholstery, focus on sculptural art. Local store in Tacoma

Greenbaum Home Furnishings

Since 1959, family-run showroom for moderate to expensive furniture from 50-plus brands including Lexington, Hooker, Stressless and Tommy Bahama Home. Styles like traditional, rustic, and transitional are featured, and custom upholstery, design services, and window coverings are available. Local store in Bellevue

Harkness Furniture & Mattress

Circa-1920 family-run dealer for contemporary, country, and traditional upholstery, case goods, and accessories at inexpensive to moderate prices from makers including Ashley, Jofran, and Intercon. Also selling mattresses and outdoor furniture. Local store in Tacoma

Hayek’s Leather Furniture

Showcase for expensive leather upholstery by Omnia and Palliser carrying or customizing many recliners, media seating, and sofas in a range of styles. Local stores in Lynnwood, Tukwila

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, interesting 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 store in Renton

Industry West

Newish website for maker of industrial, mid-century modern, and Scandinavian vibe furniture at inexpensive 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

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 Lynnwood, Marysville, Olympia, Puyallup, Silverdale, Tacoma, Tukwila

Josh Underhill’s Family Furniture

Since 1946, family business selling mid-priced to expensive traditional, rustic, craftsman, and mission upholstery and case goods from brands including Emerald Home Furnishings, North American Wood Furniture, and Martin Furniture. Kids’ pieces a feature, too, and custom upholstery is on offer. Local store in Lynnwood

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 treatments, too. Brands include Tommy Bahama Home and Cynthia Rowley. Online only

JR Furniture & Mattress

Inexpensive to moderate-priced retailer with focus on furniture sets and country, industrial, and classic styles. Also selling mattresses and accessories like lamps and rugs in large spaces. Local stores in Bellingham, Lynnwood, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila

La-Z-Boy

Expensive, jumbo showrooms for comfort-based upholstery, recliners, and case goods. Custom upholstery in dozens of fabrics and quick-ship items available. Design services. Local stores and affiliates in Enumclaw, Everett, Issaquah, Lacey, Lynnwood, Monroe, Olympia, Silverdale, Tacoma, Tukwila

Kasala

Expensive to very expensive contemporary furniture showplaces with mid-century and Scandinavian-style upholstery and case goods plus art in crisp digs with room vignettes. Custom upholstery, design assistance, and whimsical accessories. Brands include Cattelan, Natuzzi, and Mobital. Local stores in Bellevue, Seattle

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 Lynnwood, Olympia, Redmond, Seattle, Silverdale, Takoma, Tukwila

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 available, and showrooms channel a downtown vibe with art for sale, too. Online only in Puget Sound area

Mor Furniture for Less

Chain retailer for furniture in wide range of styles including country, beachy, traditional, and contemporary at inexpensive to moderate prices. Comfort furniture (recliners, sofas) a specialty. Local stores in Kent, Lacey, Lynnwood, Marysville

Newell Hunt

Three-story historic brick storefront for long-running furniture business with focus on American makers with craftsman and country styles plus custom finishes available. Moderate to expensive brands include American Woodcraft, Broyhill, and Vaughan-Bassett. Also window treatments. Local store in Puyallup

The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse

Retro blue vintage cannery building-turned-furniture store for contemporary, traditional, and country upholstery and case goods by names like Ashley and England at moderate to expensive prices. Also selling kids’ furniture, mattresses, and range of accessories. Frequent tent sale events. Local store in Sumner

Perigold

Expensive to very expensive online source of high-style, high-end upholstery, case goods, and accessories. 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 Bellevue, Lynnwood, Seattle

RH

Aka Restoration Hardware, the sleek, modern-meets-classic brand known for very expensive upholstery with many custom fabrics, case goods, rugs, custom draperies, and oversized furniture. Also offers design services, outdoor furnishings, and bath hardware. Some locations have restaurants or other extra features. Local store in Seattle

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 Missoni and Kenzo, Roche Bobois also offers custom upholstery and design consulting. Local store in Seattle

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 store in Seattle

Sansaco

Cement-floored warehouse for moderately priced to expensive case goods, upholstery, and accessories in traditional and transitional styles. Brands include Emerald Home. Local store in Tukwila

Scan/Design Furniture

Showy, glass-windowed spot for modern, contemporary, and mid-century modern style furnishings from mid-priced to expensive European makers, where warm woods star in a 45,000-square-foot bright showroom with room vignettes. Custom upholstery, design assistance. Local store in Lynnwood

Schoenfeld Interiors

Bright, big space for expensive contemporary furnishings by Thayer Coggin, Lee, American Leather, and other, with on-staff interior designers and custom upholstery. Local store in Bellevue

Seldens Designer Home Furnishings

Elegant showrooms for expensive to very expensive upholstery, case goods, and accessories in contemporary, transitional, and traditional styles from brands such as Baker, Lexington, and Hooker. Design services a focus, and custom upholstery available. Local stores in Bellevue, Tacoma

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. Online only in Puget Sound area

Strands Home Furnishings

Outsize store for contemporary, classic, and country furnishings from Ashley, Coaster, Klaussner, La-Z-Boy, and others at moderate to expensive prices. Custom upholstery, mattresses and focus on recliners. Local store in Monroe

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 Bellevue, Seattle

Wisteria

Family-run online shop and catalog for bohemian, exotic-looking, traditional, and contemporary upholstery, 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 moderate-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 upholstery. Local stores in Lynnwood, Olympia, Redmond, Silverdale, Tacoma, Tukwila, Woodinville

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. Online only in Puget Sound area