This article is dedicated to some of the furniture and home stores in the United States that we personally tested after our expatriation. When we moved, we no longer had furniture with us. We had calculated that shipping a full container would cost much more than sending a shared container with around thirty boxes and then buying new furniture on site. So we ended up furnishing our new life little by little in American stores.

To settle in properly, we bought furniture, decorations, appliances, paint, and DIY supplies in several different chains. This is one of the first realities of moving abroad: you very quickly become an expert in local home stores.

Rooms To Go

Rooms To Go is one of the furniture chains that quickly appears when you start looking for practical solutions. It is useful when you want to furnish several rooms with coordinated styles and a very American approach to complete room packages.

Rooms To Go Kids

The children’s section is also worth noting because it offers ready-made furniture solutions for kids’ rooms, often with a very visual and thematic approach that feels extremely American.

City Furniture

City Furniture is another major name for furniture and decor. It is useful if you want a broad choice and want to compare styles, comfort, and prices. Like many American furniture stores, it often gives a very clear picture of current home trends in the region.

Kane’s

Kane’s is another furniture and decoration chain we visited. When you are furnishing a whole home, comparing several stores becomes essential because prices, styles, and delivery conditions can vary a lot.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond used to be a huge store for accessories, decoration, and home goods, with some furniture as well. It was the kind of place where you could find all sorts of practical items for daily life.

 

Target and Super Target

Target and Super Target are very practical for a mix of home goods, decorative items, household basics, and everyday shopping. For newcomers, these stores can be useful because you can buy many essentials in one visit.

Walmart and Costco

Walmart and Costco are also part of the furniture and equipment discovery process in America, even if they are not classic furniture stores. They are useful for certain practical purchases, household items, electronics, and all the little things you suddenly need when you are starting over in a new country.

Mattress Firm

For bedding, Mattress Firm is one of the specialized chains worth knowing. This is a very American kind of store: an entire retail concept dedicated mainly to mattresses and sleep-related products.

Best Buy

Best Buy is the obvious reference when you need electronics and appliances. When you settle in, this type of store quickly becomes part of the essential addresses for household installation.

Lowe’s and Home Depot

If you need paint, tools, repairs, or home improvement supplies, Lowe’s and Home Depot are the American equivalents of major DIY chains. They are extremely useful when you want to customize or improve your home.

Our takeaway

What this experience taught us is that furnishing a home in the United States often means comparing many stores rather than relying on a single one. Each chain has its strengths: furniture, decor, bedding, appliances, or DIY. For expatriates, these stores become part of the installation adventure just as much as the paperwork or the first grocery shopping trips.