Stores Like Rooms To Go: 12 Furniture Retailers Where You Pick the Pieces
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About Rooms To Go
Founded
1991
USA
Ships to
US (regional showrooms, primarily Southern and Eastern US)
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
The room-package model that made Rooms To Go famous is also the reason people outgrow it. The whole pitch — walk in, point at a living room display, and have the sofa, loveseat, coffee table, two end tables and a pair of lamps delivered as a single bundled price — is brilliant for a 26-year-old furnishing a first apartment who has no idea where to start. It is genuinely faster than agonizing over individual pieces, and the financing through Synchrony makes a complete den feel achievable on a starter salary.
But the same bundling that simplifies your first purchase fights you on your second.
Want the sectional without the matching cocktail ottoman and the pre-chosen accent pillows? You can, but the math stops favoring you, and the catalog clearly wants you to take the set. The quality is where the package logic shows its seams: the Cindy Crawford Home line and the kids' bunk sets look great on the Southern showroom floor, but the engineered-wood case goods and the foam that flattens by year two tell you exactly what a bundled price is buying. Delivery windows and the famous restocking friction don't help. Once you know what you actually want in a room, paying for seven coordinated pieces to get three is no longer the deal it was. The retailers below let you build a room one decision at a time.
But the same bundling that simplifies your first purchase fights you on your second.
Want the sectional without the matching cocktail ottoman and the pre-chosen accent pillows? You can, but the math stops favoring you, and the catalog clearly wants you to take the set. The quality is where the package logic shows its seams: the Cindy Crawford Home line and the kids' bunk sets look great on the Southern showroom floor, but the engineered-wood case goods and the foam that flattens by year two tell you exactly what a bundled price is buying. Delivery windows and the famous restocking friction don't help. Once you know what you actually want in a room, paying for seven coordinated pieces to get three is no longer the deal it was. The retailers below let you build a room one decision at a time.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Rooms To Go
1
Ashley Furniture
Est. 1945
Arcadia, Wisconsin, USA
≈
similar
Families who want Rooms To Go scale and price without the forced bundling
The most direct mass-market rival, with the same Southern footprint and family-room aesthetic, but you can buy a single sofa or a single bed without being nudged into the whole set.
Pros
- Enormous selection across every room
- Frequent financing and sale events
- Widespread showrooms for in-person testing
Cons
- Engineered wood and bonded leather are common
- Delivery and warranty service can be inconsistent
2
Bob's Discount Furniture
Est. 1991
Manchester, Connecticut, USA
$
cheaper
Budget shoppers who still want the option to bundle
Same value-first, family-buyer positioning with bundled package deals available, plus the Goof Proof protection plan that mirrors the all-in-one convenience pitch.
Pros
- Transparent low-price tags with no haggling
- Free snacks and play areas make in-store easy
- Goof Proof plan covers everyday accidents
Cons
- Quality at the lowest tiers is comparable to RTG's
- Style range skews safe and conventional
3
Living Spaces
Est. 2003
La Mirada, California, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who like seeing whole-room ideas but want piece-level control
Builds full rooms like RTG and shows them as complete vignettes, but lets you swap, drop, or add any single piece with a much more transparent online configurator.
Pros
- Strong online room visualization tools
- Next-day delivery in many markets
- Better mid-tier upholstery than typical bundlers
Cons
- Mostly a West and Southwest footprint
- Premium lines climb quickly in price
4
IKEA
Est. 1943
Delft, Netherlands
$
cheaper
First apartments and small spaces on a tight budget
Recycled
The original modular pick-your-own-pieces model — nothing is bundled, everything coordinates by system, and prices undercut RTG dramatically.
Pros
- Lowest entry prices in the category
- Modular systems like PAX and BESTÅ are endlessly configurable
- Strong sustainability commitments on materials
Cons
- Flat-pack assembly required on most items
- Particleboard construction won't last decades
Visit IKEA
Full guide: Stores Like IKEA
5
Wayfair
Est. 2002
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
$
cheaper
People who want maximum selection and to mix styles
The opposite of bundling — a near-infinite catalog where you assemble a room piece by piece from thousands of suppliers, often below RTG pricing.
Pros
- Massive selection across every price point
- Free shipping on most orders
- Frequent flash sales and clearance events
Cons
- Quality varies wildly by third-party seller
- No showrooms to test before buying
Visit Wayfair
Full guide: Sites Like Wayfair
6
Article
Est. 2011
Vancouver, Canada
≈
similar
Buyers who want mid-century-leaning style and real wood without retail markup
Direct-to-consumer pieces sold individually, with the clean coordinated look RTG sells in sets but at noticeably better build quality.
Pros
- Solid wood and genuine leather options
- Distinctive modern designs at fair prices
- Flat, transparent delivery fee
Cons
- Online-only with no showrooms
- Returns require a restocking fee
Visit Article
Full guide: Stores Like Article
7
Raymour & Flanigan
Est. 1947
Liverpool, New York, USA
≈
similar
Northeast families wanting in-person service and delivery
Northeastern full-service furniture chain with the same family-room range and financing, but a stronger leather and reclining segment than RTG.
Pros
- Strong customer delivery and service reputation
- Good selection of recliners and leather
- Outlet stores for deeper discounts
Cons
- Limited to the Northeast region
- Higher-end pieces match premium pricing
8
Value City Furniture
Est. 1948
Columbus, Ohio, USA
$
cheaper
Midwest and East Coast budget families
Same value-focused, complete-the-room positioning aimed at families, with package deals but flexible single-piece buying.
Pros
- Aggressive sale pricing
- Exclusive designer collaborations
- In-store financing available
Cons
- Build quality similar to RTG's lower tiers
- Regional footprint only
9
West Elm
Est. 2002
Brooklyn, New York, USA
$$$
pricier
Shoppers trading up in style and willing to spend more
Fair Trade
For someone leaving RTG specifically because they want a more deliberate, design-forward room — sold piece by piece, with better materials and a real point of view.
Pros
- Fair Trade Certified factories
- Distinctive mid-century and modern design
- FSC-certified wood on many pieces
Cons
- Notably pricier than RTG
- Delivery delays on upholstery are common
Visit West Elm
Full guide: Stores Like West Elm
10
Big Lots
Est. 1967
Columbus, Ohio, USA
$
cheaper
The absolute cheapest way to furnish a room fast
Rock-bottom alternative for the same value buyer, with the Broyhill furniture line offering coordinated looks at clearance pricing.
Pros
- Lowest prices in the comparison
- Broyhill line adds recognizable quality
- Widespread store locations
Cons
- Selection is inconsistent and clearance-driven
- Upholstery longevity is limited
11
Joybird
Est. 2014
Los Angeles, California, USA
$$$
pricier
Buyers who want a custom sofa in a specific color without showroom limits
Online maker of build-your-own upholstery — pick the frame, fabric, and legs individually, the antithesis of a fixed package, in a retro style families love.
Pros
- Hundreds of fabric and configuration options
- Kiln-dried hardwood frames
- Lifetime warranty on frames
Cons
- Higher prices than RTG
- Long lead times on custom orders
12
Costco
Est. 1983
Issaquah, Washington, USA
≈
similar
Members who want strong warranties and a no-questions return policy
An unexpected pick that hits RTG's value-per-dollar promise — individual sofas, bedroom sets, and outdoor pieces sold à la carte with a famously generous return policy.
Pros
- Industry-best return policy
- Good value per dollar on furniture
- Free shipping on online furniture
Cons
- Requires a paid membership
- Selection rotates and is unpredictable
Cheapest ways to furnish a full room
If the appeal of Rooms To Go was furnishing a whole room affordably, these go cheaper without the forced bundle. IKEA's modular systems are the lowest entry point and great for small apartments. Big Lots, especially its Broyhill line, undercuts almost everyone on clearance. Wayfair lets you assemble a room piece by piece from thousands of suppliers, and Bob's Discount keeps the transparent, no-haggle low tags. Just know that at the very bottom of these ranges, build quality lands close to RTG's lower tiers.
Better build quality for what you pay
The most common reason people leave RTG is the engineered wood and foam that flattens early. Article sells solid wood and genuine leather direct-to-consumer at fair prices. Joybird builds kiln-dried hardwood frames with a lifetime frame warranty. West Elm uses FSC-certified wood and Fair Trade factories. Costco quietly offers some of the best value-per-dollar furniture anywhere, backed by its famous return policy. All four reward you for buying one good piece instead of seven mediocre ones.
Pick every piece individually
The real frustration with RTG is the package logic that fights you when you only want the sofa. Living Spaces shows full-room vignettes but lets you swap or drop any item through a transparent configurator. Article and Joybird are built entirely around à la carte buying — Joybird even lets you choose the frame, fabric, and legs separately. Wayfair's near-infinite catalog is the opposite of a fixed set. These are the stores where the room is yours to assemble.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Furnishing a first apartment on the tightest budget? IKEA or Big Lots get you a complete room for the least money, with Wayfair close behind for selection. Want RTG's scale and showrooms but the freedom to skip the bundle? Ashley Furniture and Living Spaces are the natural step. If quality is what failed you — the sagging cushions, the particleboard dressers — Article, Joybird, and West Elm reward spending a little more per piece with materials that last. Regional shoppers should check Raymour & Flanigan in the Northeast or Value City in the Midwest. And if you simply want a great sofa in a specific color without a showroom dictating your options, Joybird's build-your-own model is the cleanest break from the package mindset. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhy do people leave Rooms To Go for individual-piece stores?
The room-package model is the main complaint. It's great for a first apartment, but the moment you only want the sofa and not the matching ottoman, lamps, and pillows, the bundled price stops working in your favor. Stores like Article, Living Spaces, and Wayfair let you buy exactly the pieces you want, which is why repeat furniture buyers tend to move on from RTG.
QIs Ashley Furniture better quality than Rooms To Go?
At equivalent price points they're roughly comparable — both lean heavily on engineered wood and bonded leather in their lower tiers. Ashley's advantage is mainly selection and the ability to buy single pieces without a bundle. For a genuine quality step up, you'd want Article, Joybird, or West Elm rather than another mass-market chain.
QWhat's the cheapest alternative to Rooms To Go for a full living room?
IKEA is the lowest entry point if you're comfortable with flat-pack assembly and modular systems. Big Lots, particularly its Broyhill line, undercuts most chains on clearance. Wayfair can also beat RTG on price if you piece a room together during a sale. All three skip the forced bundle entirely.
QWhere can I get a custom sofa instead of a pre-set Rooms To Go package?
Joybird is the strongest pick — you choose the frame, fabric, and legs individually, with kiln-dried hardwood and a lifetime frame warranty. Article offers fewer customizations but better-than-RTG materials at fair prices. Both ship nationwide without a showroom limiting your options.
QAre there alternatives to Rooms To Go outside the South?
Yes. Raymour & Flanigan covers the Northeast with a strong delivery and service reputation, and Value City Furniture serves the Midwest and East Coast at value pricing. For nationwide reach without regional limits, Wayfair, Article, IKEA, and Costco all ship across the country.
Our Verdict
The Best Rooms To Go Alternative For You
Furnishing a first apartment on the tightest budget? IKEA or Big Lots get you a complete room for the least money, with Wayfair close behind for selection. Want RTG's scale and showrooms but the freedom to skip the bundle? Ashley Furniture and Living Spaces are the natural step. If quality is what failed you — the sagging cushions, the particleboard dressers — Article, Joybird, and West Elm reward spending a little more per piece with materials that last. Regional shoppers should check Raymour & Flanigan in the Northeast or Value City in the Midwest. And if you simply want a great sofa in a specific color without a showroom dictating your options, Joybird's build-your-own model is the cleanest break from the package mindset.