The Odessa table can be found at Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture, one of Canberra’s most recommended furniture stores. Photo: Supplied.
Buying furniture is a big deal. Whether you’re looking to furnish an entire home, upgrade a few pieces or find that very special piece, you’ll want to get it right.
Furniture shopping involves many factors like your personal style, comfort, budget and value for money.
A great furniture store has pieces that cross many ‘looks’ and price points. You’ll want to head to a furniture store with knowledgeable staff who can help you uncover the best pieces for your budget.
In this article, we’ll outline the qualities to consider when choosing a furniture store, and share where to find the best in Canberra.
What makes a great furniture store?
Choosing the right furniture store can help fast-track your shopping and make it an enjoyable experience, not a stressful one.
It can be helpful to keep the following in mind when choosing a furniture store.
- Range. The best furniture stores offer a range of styles. They have a variety of stock on display that inspires.
- Quality. Besides visual appeal, a great furniture shop has pieces that are built well, crafted with care and designed to last. Staff will be able to discuss specifications, fabrics and more.
- Price. You’ll want to shop at a furniture store with product that suits your budget. Look for a store with a range of price points so you get what you want for what you want to pay.
- Service. Choose a furniture store with knowledgeable staff who know their stuff and aren’t only about sales. Knowledgeable staff can provide details on furniture, including structure, quality and how long items will last. They can also tell you how to protect and maintain your furniture.
- Warranty. Make sure you ask about warranty and guarantees when you’re furniture shopping. That way you can rest easy that if something goes wrong you’re protected.
The best furniture stores in Canberra
Riotact’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.
To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Riotact and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.
Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture
Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture has been manufacturing quality, solid timber furniture for over three decades. Founded by Ross and Juli Triffitt from humble beginnings, this handcrafted, hardwood furniture boutique is highly regarded for its beautifully designed and crafted pieces. Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture is now inspiring a growing list of Canberra clients, including for custom pieces.
Every item is individually crafted by a skilled artisan in the Wagga Wagga workshop. The furniture range includes heirloom quality tables, sideboards, chairs, liquor cabinets, and media units across all styles and for all spaces. Round, oval or rectangular handcrafted tables can be designed to accommodate between six and 18 seated places. The range of sideboards and liquor cabinets are equally as impressive. All pieces are designed and built to last a lifetime.
Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture has a steadfast focus on sustainably sourced, Australian-made furniture. Showstopping pieces are available in hardwoods including Red Gum, Tasmanian Oak, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, and Messmate Stringybark.
Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture has a solid reputation for thoughtful design. Each item is a true original, with its own story to tell.
Clients can visit Wagga or Sydney showrooms or head to Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture’s online gallery and store.
Louise Cassidey wrote on Google, “We bought a beautiful side table and small cabinet from Eclipse Handcrafted Furniture a few years ago. We liked them so much that we’ve now taken delivery of a gorgeous, eight-seater dining table and chairs. The team went to every effort to ensure the timber in all of pieces tied in together.”
OZ Design Furniture
Locally owned and operated, Oz Design Furniture has furnished homes for over 40 years. It provides stylish and highly liveable furniture that follow global trends. Some custom pieces and Australian timber products are available. Oz Design Furniture’s diverse range has something for every taste and size of home. Knowledgeable staff provide customers with interior advice. Oz Design Furniture warehouses many products for quick delivery.
On Google, Sepi Helali wrote, “Very good customer service … Very good range of products and reasonable prices.”
Miko Designs
Miko Designs opened in 2018 by Canberra locals Stuart Finlayson and Stephanie McKenzie around a culture of quality design, creativity and innovation. Miko Designs places emphasis on high value, ethical, and sustainable designs that stand the test of time. They source top-end Australian furniture and accessories, many one-of-a-kind pieces from established and emerging Australian talent.
On Google, Wendy Lo wrote, “It is one of the best shops that we have come across in Canberra. Great furniture, minimal design in good quality.”
Thor's Hammer
For more than 25 years, Thor’s Hammer has been custom making furniture from handpicked, recycled Australian hardwoods with rich histories. Each piece is well-designed and built to be enjoyed for generations. All furniture is made in Canberra by skilled craftspeople. Thor’s Hammer minimises waste and its impact on the environment.
On Google, Karen Shaw wrote, “Thank you to Rohan and the team for delivering such a beautiful table and bench seat for our new home … made from Blakely's Red Gum timber.”
Sears Morton
Sears Morton is a small family business that has been serving the Canberra community for over 50 years. They offer a huge range of dining, bedroom, entertaining and wall units, all produced in Australian native timbers.
As happy customer Brendon Kelson writes on Google, “Sears Morton have forever provided a quality of service you will look hard for in this day and age. Professional, ever helpful and always courteous; a pleasure to deal with. In the furniture stakes: a gold standard.”
Provincial Home Living
Provincial Home Living is a family owned and managed business that seeks global inspiration to curate a range of enduring classics with hallmarks of timeless, understated elegance. Located in Fyshwick, Provincial Home Living stocks classic furniture and homeware.
On Google, Robert Watson wrote, “Great product range and lovely items in-store. Definitely recommend for those looking for nice homewares. Some nice pieces here that are different to the average items found in more mainstream stores.”
If you’re looking for more information on furniture, you might like our articles on the best curtain & blinds suppliers, the best office furniture supply stores, best designer furniture, best second-hand furniture stores, best upholstery repairs and restorations, the best outdoor blinds and awning suppliers and the best flooring specialists Canberra has to offer.
Your experience with furniture stores in Canberra
Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.
Have you had experience with any of the furniture stores listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare for furniture buying?
Before heading out to shop, make sure you measure spaces the furniture will be placed in. Also consider your colour scheme and the style of your home so what you choose tells a story and fits well. It’s a good idea to take photos of the room the furniture will be placed in so you can share visuals with furniture store staff.
How can you assess the quality of furniture?
It’s a good idea to talk to staff about furniture quality. Ask about essentials like construction materials and methods. If you’re looking at a wooden piece of furniture, for example, ask if it’s solid wood, veneer or a composite. With construction, ask what the frame is made of. With fabrics, ask about durability and colour fastness. You’ll also want to talk to staff about how to clean furniture. Read literature available in store. Head to the manufacturer’s website to learn more. You can also check out online reviews.
How long should new furniture last?
The lifespan of a piece of furniture depends on factors like the quality of construction, nature of materials, and how regularly it’s used. Ask the staff to be clear on durability. Mattresses, for example, may last between seven and 10 years. Leather couches may last anywhere from five to 20 years or so. Don’t forget to look at warranty periods before you buy.
When is the best time to buy furniture?
While you can buy furniture all year round, it might be best to shop when major sales are on. Most major furniture stores have at least two big sales a year—January and June are typical sales periods.
Can you negotiate at a furniture store?
As with any retail purchase you can try to negotiate. It never hurts to ask. Some furniture stores are happy to negotiate. Others aren’t.
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