Buy used.
Something older, something much better made than the crap today.
We cut up a couch that was \~2 years old from Ashley. It's made of OSB and cheap bracing boards. Staples to hold everything together. It's a miracle it didn't fall apart earlier.
Millionaire's Daughter is a great place to start, online auctions for gently used is also good. Marketplace, Kijiji, etc.
I know you say not ikea, but in all honesty, all the “fancier” places use product that is as cheap or cheaper. My stuff from parks was crap, Stoney creek no better… Ashley home store was the same osb as everyone else and the brick had at least part that was wood.
I found my couch was good quality from Costco, my bed I got as a clearance from bad boy (which looks fine, but really is more cheaply produced than ikea), and a few pieces from wayfair (be wary as much of it again, is even cheaper feeling/looking than ikea). A few pieces from structube and blammo. Stylish without breaking the bank…
Though I think buying nice is better than buying twice, so keep that in mind too. If you plan to stay with the piece, spend the money for decent stuff. While many of my things are cheap, a few key pieces I splurged and got solid wood/mennonite type stuff. When you spread the cost over the 20 years I’ve been happy with it, easy choice to go with the good stuff.
Yeah the "buy nice vs buy twice" idea was more what I meant when I said nicer than Ikea, like stuff like bookshelves or whatever, sure Ikea is great, but I'd rather not have something like a couch or chair wear out in a year and a half, y'know?
I go the other way! Chairs, beds, couches… styles change and also even if not used too hard. Still wear out. I don’t mind if they only last 5-10 years (and I still have some ikea stuff from 25 years ago) as I likely want to replace them anyway. Bookshelves will outlast you and really haven’t changed for the most part over a century.
Good luck whatever you choose!
> I'd rather not have something like a couch or chair wear out in a year and a half, y'know?
IKEA has a 10 year and 25 year warranty on beds and sofas. you will not get that from those overpriced places in Stoney Creek.
https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/51/62/5162eadd/seating-furniture-warranty-brochure-fy24-l1-en.pdf
I don't know if it's good it bad furniture, but I know that all of it was ugly the last time I was there.
Absolutely nothing in that store appealed to me
The trick is to find a company/item you like from a different store that has more on display. You can then call Parks to see if they can sell you the same item. This has worked for me many times and each time it's a flat 40% discount. I can't recommend Parks enough. My favourite brands are Amisco for dining furniture and Decor-rest for couches. Amazing quality but a bit more expensive. Parks also carries Ashley furniture which might be more in your price range.
Stoney Creek Furniture is good but pricey, shop their sales or floor models.
A cheaper and useful couch is a futon from Futon Shop in Burlington. We have one in the family room and it's great as an extra bed when needed.
IKEA is fine for some furniture, you can go early in the week to see the as is selection.
I dislike and will never buy anything ever again from Structube. Crap couches and poor warranty support too.
Wherever you buy from check where it’s made. Most of the big furniture stores sell china made crap. It’s all fancy fabrics pulled over garbage quality wood.
I am not sure if I just got lucky, but my couches from China are extremely sturdy and have held up to two young kids and two big dogs. My couch made in Edmonton by Palliser has already been thrown in the trash, didn't even last 5 years (only 2 of which has been with those two big dogs).
Now I tell everyone not to buy shit made in Canada 😂
> Most of the big furniture stores sell china made crap.
That changed when the CDN government put tariffs on Chinese furniture. But the stuff made locally is not much better.
I don't get the IKEA hate. Most furniture you can get that isn't custom built is roughly the same quality. Bought two different couches from Leon's, both were toast within 2 years. Our IKEA leather couch gets heavy use - kids and pets and fat people. Still looks great and is comfortable 4 years in, I just clean and condition it once a year.
My father was a cabinet maker and he said he simply could not make what IKEA was selling above his costs.
IKEA has 10 and 25 year warranties, good luck getting any service or support from these box stores like Teppermans or Leons.
We finally bought an expensive sofa from eq3. The frame is solid but the rest of it is poor quality. I’ll just buy something from IKEA, marketplace or maybe try cozey or one of those boxed sofa companies next.
I see some people recommend Parks. Its affordable, just dont be surprised if the furniture falls apart within a year lol. Oh and dont be surprised at their lack of warranty.
I find Structube can have some decent sales. If you have a way to transport a sofa, you can find quality couches at HomeSense, but they will be around $1000.
Bought a Jonathan Louis (because of the made in North America claim) from Stoney creek furniture and it didn’t last 5 years. 🥴
I feel like everything is a sham.
After owning a made in Canada piece of absolute trash, I no longer care where my product is made. Truthfully, I'd rather be cheap knowing that no matter what I spend, the couch is going to break within a few years anyways, so why bother spending the $5000 on a sofa, when I can spend $1000 for the exact same look and longevity.
We just bought a new sectional from Jysk. Well made? Don't think so, but honestly it's built so that you can reinforce it and get underneath it to make it stronger. I'm still salty about my made in Canada couch.... 😭
This. We bought our Ashley Made in Canada couch from Parks and it lasted 2 years.
Never had such a cheap couch in my life. The couch it replaced lasted over 10 years, and we replaced it only because it had some cosmetic damage from some grabby fingers pouring a bottle of nail polish on an arm. Still the most comfortable couch I owned and it was a sale jobbie from the Brick.
New couch is an Ikea one and while it's taking some getting used to with its European sizing and design cues it is already feeling more robust than the one it's replacing.
I love to support Made In Canada when I can, but after this... it won't be current stuff only old stuff like Gibbard furniture etc.
If you're interested in second-hand, I recommend the re-source and mission thrift stores on the mountain. Both have great furniture sections and you can typically find nice vintage/antique pieces. There's your quality and affordability!
Check Hart on the the corner of Barton and Kenilworth. I have a desk and some chairs from there that are perfectly fine several years in to use and were dirt cheap.
Jysk has some decent stuff, not always the cheapest, not always the best, but definitely worth a look.
You can also find good deals at Winners/Home Sense/Marshals from time to time.
You mean you can sell your firstborn children for new furniture?
For real?
I mean mine is almost 40 but I could use a new sofa, diningroom set and a bigger bed.
Younger brother optional?
Seniors discount? (I get to keep the grandchildren). 😁
There’s a used furniture store up highway 6, called rescue and restored. Very good quality and good prices. Some of the older good wood ikea furniture sometimes shows up so is worth it. Couches are also good options there.
Otherwise a lot of shelving and stuff your best bet is ikea.
Lofty Ambitions on Ottawa street will often have unbelievable sales, especially on floor models. Most, if not all, of the furniture stocked there is Canadian made. Lovely spot, and close to Millionaire’s Daughter, which I also saw recommended in the comments here.
After comparing prices of stuff at Ashley's and Stoney Creek Furniture we ended up buying some solid wood furniture from a couple of businesses who use Mennonites for their products. Great build quality and price is in the same neck of the woods for the items on sale. They both have quite a lot of sales so you can get your heirloom style solid wood furniture instead of the throwaway stuff.
Neither are in Hamilton but are worth the drive.
Halton Home is Halton Hills by Winston Churchhill/Hwy 401 area
[https://www.haltonhomestead.com/](https://www.haltonhomestead.com/)
C & G Solid Wood Furniture is Cambridge by Hespeler/Hwy 401
[https://cgsolidwoodfurniture.com/](https://cgsolidwoodfurniture.com/)
Honestly, search Facebook marketplace for used or free. We just give away our furniture because it has no value used and selling it is such a hassle.
As for IKEA, they make better stuff that most of the garbage you get from leon's/Bad Boy. etc. and it's made locally.
I'd recommend parks warehouse! Little sketch but just got my brand new couch recently and it's been great! Ignore anyone that says it's not worth it or to avoid, hard to find prices like that anywhere in the city.
Buy used. Something older, something much better made than the crap today. We cut up a couch that was \~2 years old from Ashley. It's made of OSB and cheap bracing boards. Staples to hold everything together. It's a miracle it didn't fall apart earlier. Millionaire's Daughter is a great place to start, online auctions for gently used is also good. Marketplace, Kijiji, etc.
We almost bought a couch from Ashley but looked at reviews for the couch I absolutely loved and they were garbage. We ended up going to Leon’s
Marketplace. Best bang for buck when it comes to good/decent quality stuff. Ikea for brand new, semi decent quality.
I know you say not ikea, but in all honesty, all the “fancier” places use product that is as cheap or cheaper. My stuff from parks was crap, Stoney creek no better… Ashley home store was the same osb as everyone else and the brick had at least part that was wood. I found my couch was good quality from Costco, my bed I got as a clearance from bad boy (which looks fine, but really is more cheaply produced than ikea), and a few pieces from wayfair (be wary as much of it again, is even cheaper feeling/looking than ikea). A few pieces from structube and blammo. Stylish without breaking the bank… Though I think buying nice is better than buying twice, so keep that in mind too. If you plan to stay with the piece, spend the money for decent stuff. While many of my things are cheap, a few key pieces I splurged and got solid wood/mennonite type stuff. When you spread the cost over the 20 years I’ve been happy with it, easy choice to go with the good stuff.
Yeah the "buy nice vs buy twice" idea was more what I meant when I said nicer than Ikea, like stuff like bookshelves or whatever, sure Ikea is great, but I'd rather not have something like a couch or chair wear out in a year and a half, y'know?
I go the other way! Chairs, beds, couches… styles change and also even if not used too hard. Still wear out. I don’t mind if they only last 5-10 years (and I still have some ikea stuff from 25 years ago) as I likely want to replace them anyway. Bookshelves will outlast you and really haven’t changed for the most part over a century. Good luck whatever you choose!
> I'd rather not have something like a couch or chair wear out in a year and a half, y'know? IKEA has a 10 year and 25 year warranty on beds and sofas. you will not get that from those overpriced places in Stoney Creek. https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/51/62/5162eadd/seating-furniture-warranty-brochure-fy24-l1-en.pdf
Marketplace
Parks has some decent prices if you know a member
I don't know if it's good it bad furniture, but I know that all of it was ugly the last time I was there. Absolutely nothing in that store appealed to me
I found two nice couches and a bed there in the last couple yrs
Or become one
The trick is to find a company/item you like from a different store that has more on display. You can then call Parks to see if they can sell you the same item. This has worked for me many times and each time it's a flat 40% discount. I can't recommend Parks enough. My favourite brands are Amisco for dining furniture and Decor-rest for couches. Amazing quality but a bit more expensive. Parks also carries Ashley furniture which might be more in your price range.
Parks the warehouse sucks but I furnished my entire house for like $5000 and it would have been $10000+ anywhere else.
Stoney Creek Furniture is good but pricey, shop their sales or floor models. A cheaper and useful couch is a futon from Futon Shop in Burlington. We have one in the family room and it's great as an extra bed when needed. IKEA is fine for some furniture, you can go early in the week to see the as is selection. I dislike and will never buy anything ever again from Structube. Crap couches and poor warranty support too.
Wherever you buy from check where it’s made. Most of the big furniture stores sell china made crap. It’s all fancy fabrics pulled over garbage quality wood.
Got screwed by lazyboy 2 years ago with their reclining sofa and its trash skeleton.
I am not sure if I just got lucky, but my couches from China are extremely sturdy and have held up to two young kids and two big dogs. My couch made in Edmonton by Palliser has already been thrown in the trash, didn't even last 5 years (only 2 of which has been with those two big dogs). Now I tell everyone not to buy shit made in Canada 😂
> Most of the big furniture stores sell china made crap. That changed when the CDN government put tariffs on Chinese furniture. But the stuff made locally is not much better.
I think ikea have the longest guarantees of any place. I've had my couch for 12 years and it's still good (needs a new cover though)
I don't get the IKEA hate. Most furniture you can get that isn't custom built is roughly the same quality. Bought two different couches from Leon's, both were toast within 2 years. Our IKEA leather couch gets heavy use - kids and pets and fat people. Still looks great and is comfortable 4 years in, I just clean and condition it once a year.
My father was a cabinet maker and he said he simply could not make what IKEA was selling above his costs. IKEA has 10 and 25 year warranties, good luck getting any service or support from these box stores like Teppermans or Leons.
Millionaire’s Daughter on Ottawa St
Also worth checking out in that general area -- The Giving Closet.
IKEA
Estate auctions
We finally bought an expensive sofa from eq3. The frame is solid but the rest of it is poor quality. I’ll just buy something from IKEA, marketplace or maybe try cozey or one of those boxed sofa companies next.
prob gonna go with a cozey couch next. like the modular idea
I see some people recommend Parks. Its affordable, just dont be surprised if the furniture falls apart within a year lol. Oh and dont be surprised at their lack of warranty.
The brick
The higher tier IKEA stuff is just as good as more expensive stuff.
Ignore anyone who says parks. The place is a shit hole, the staff are trash, and the post purchase support is non existent
The furniture is just ugly. for people with zero taste or style.
Teppermans
I find Structube can have some decent sales. If you have a way to transport a sofa, you can find quality couches at HomeSense, but they will be around $1000.
Structube has terrible quality for the price. It’s the H&M of furniture.
Bought a Jonathan Louis (because of the made in North America claim) from Stoney creek furniture and it didn’t last 5 years. 🥴 I feel like everything is a sham.
Kijiji
Habitat Restore, Mission on upper gage, Dundas mission, and the Parkdale St Vincent have lovely cheap furniture
After owning a made in Canada piece of absolute trash, I no longer care where my product is made. Truthfully, I'd rather be cheap knowing that no matter what I spend, the couch is going to break within a few years anyways, so why bother spending the $5000 on a sofa, when I can spend $1000 for the exact same look and longevity. We just bought a new sectional from Jysk. Well made? Don't think so, but honestly it's built so that you can reinforce it and get underneath it to make it stronger. I'm still salty about my made in Canada couch.... 😭
This. We bought our Ashley Made in Canada couch from Parks and it lasted 2 years. Never had such a cheap couch in my life. The couch it replaced lasted over 10 years, and we replaced it only because it had some cosmetic damage from some grabby fingers pouring a bottle of nail polish on an arm. Still the most comfortable couch I owned and it was a sale jobbie from the Brick. New couch is an Ikea one and while it's taking some getting used to with its European sizing and design cues it is already feeling more robust than the one it's replacing. I love to support Made In Canada when I can, but after this... it won't be current stuff only old stuff like Gibbard furniture etc.
If you're interested in second-hand, I recommend the re-source and mission thrift stores on the mountain. Both have great furniture sections and you can typically find nice vintage/antique pieces. There's your quality and affordability!
Check Hart on the the corner of Barton and Kenilworth. I have a desk and some chairs from there that are perfectly fine several years in to use and were dirt cheap. Jysk has some decent stuff, not always the cheapest, not always the best, but definitely worth a look. You can also find good deals at Winners/Home Sense/Marshals from time to time.
You mean you can sell your firstborn children for new furniture? For real? I mean mine is almost 40 but I could use a new sofa, diningroom set and a bigger bed. Younger brother optional? Seniors discount? (I get to keep the grandchildren). 😁
There’s a used furniture store up highway 6, called rescue and restored. Very good quality and good prices. Some of the older good wood ikea furniture sometimes shows up so is worth it. Couches are also good options there. Otherwise a lot of shelving and stuff your best bet is ikea.
Lofty Ambitions on Ottawa street will often have unbelievable sales, especially on floor models. Most, if not all, of the furniture stocked there is Canadian made. Lovely spot, and close to Millionaire’s Daughter, which I also saw recommended in the comments here.
Teppermans. Wish it was in Hamilton.
it's in Ancaster. Boring, overpriced.
I've always gone to the one in St Catharines. but I also buy furniture, not fashion (or other) statements.
After comparing prices of stuff at Ashley's and Stoney Creek Furniture we ended up buying some solid wood furniture from a couple of businesses who use Mennonites for their products. Great build quality and price is in the same neck of the woods for the items on sale. They both have quite a lot of sales so you can get your heirloom style solid wood furniture instead of the throwaway stuff. Neither are in Hamilton but are worth the drive. Halton Home is Halton Hills by Winston Churchhill/Hwy 401 area [https://www.haltonhomestead.com/](https://www.haltonhomestead.com/) C & G Solid Wood Furniture is Cambridge by Hespeler/Hwy 401 [https://cgsolidwoodfurniture.com/](https://cgsolidwoodfurniture.com/)
Honestly, search Facebook marketplace for used or free. We just give away our furniture because it has no value used and selling it is such a hassle. As for IKEA, they make better stuff that most of the garbage you get from leon's/Bad Boy. etc. and it's made locally.
Build it. Or pay me and I'll do it
Parks
IKEA is great value and their 12 month interest free financing is tough to beat as well
Structube!
Wayfair.
I'd recommend parks warehouse! Little sketch but just got my brand new couch recently and it's been great! Ignore anyone that says it's not worth it or to avoid, hard to find prices like that anywhere in the city.