The Best Online Furniture Stores To Visit Now

By Olivia Lidbury and Naomi Smart

Thanks to two years of being largely cocooned at home, the interiors market is booming. Online furniture stores are launching at a rate that's hard to keep up with – from small vintage sellers listing handpicked finds, to established retailers upping their digital presence.

While our parents’ generation might still baulk at the concept of buying a significant investment piece like a sofa or bed frame on the basis of what it looks like on a screen – or ordering a mattress without having laid on it – to the computer-savvy it's as fuss-free as ordering a Deliveroo. (Remember, you can order swatches of pretty much any soft furnishing to test it out in your space first, and the big retailers do allow returns if for a range of reasons if what arrives really isn't what you expected – just be sure to read the fine print on bulky items).

The problem isn't in the act of buying, but knowing where and what to look for in a crowded space. If you don't know a kantha from Kartell, don't worry – this Vogue-approved guide will equip you with insider knowledge of where to shop for the best that your budget allows. From high street stalwarts offering purse-friendly solutions on basics, to marketplaces specialising in one-off finds, today's generation of online furniture stores cater to all tastes – even the seasoned thrifter.

Our homes, regardless of size and scale, have had to work harder than ever recently (hands up if your hallway is still moonlighting as your office?). And we know how those small pick-me-ups – like pretty glassware, cult bedding buys or impactful tablecloths – bring joy to the everyday, so we’ve also added our favourite places for those non-essentials.

The golden rule is to take measurements, then take them again – and then get someone else to do it for you, if you can. There's nothing like the anxiety of a giant van parking on double yellow lines outside your front door only for its contents not to make it over the threshold.

Many of the larger retailers, like Made and John Lewis, have buying guides on their websites which can be mined for tried-and-tested points to consider (even if you don't plan to purchase from there). The latter's guides are comprehensive, covering everything from measuring up for cabinetry to selecting the right office furniture.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

If you are buying something pre-loved, it might have marks or variations in colour. Don't be shy in contacting the seller with more questions about its condition, or asking to see additional imagery.

Did we mention fabric swatches? Believe us, they’re the next best thing to having the actual armchair, cushion, or sofa in your home, so order and see how it behaves under a room's lighting orientation. And if you’re not sure how something like a light fitting or a bed frame might look IRL, check the "tagged" section of a brand's Instagram page to see if your desired item has been posted in someone's home – this can often give a better indication than highly stylised and often computer-generated imagery on websites.

All that's left is to browse our edit of the best online furniture stores around... Enjoy.

Glassette.

The brainchild of interiors enthusiast Laura Jackson, Glassette is a cleverly curated marketplace bringing together dozens of specialist makers and small brands who you might have seen on Instagram but whose name you can never remember. Now here they are in a single, easy-to-scroll place and with insightful interviews with tastemakers alongside. From strawberry-shaped candles that are far too pleasing to burn, to Al's Place's wonderfully bonkers wool-trimmed mirrors, prepare to want everything.

Twenty Twenty One.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

We love this Islington store's discerning and contemporary buy of lighting. For less ubiquitous pendants and floor lamps, Twenty Twenty One is the place to look, as it stocks leading (and niche) brands from around the world. Just don't be surprised if the odd small accessory ends up in your basket too – its woven throws and packs of kaleidoscopic soaps will brighten up any space.

Aram Store.

A Mecca for modern design lovers, merely browsing Aram's site will verse you in the pioneers behind the metal floor arc lamps (Flos) and quilted leather day beds (Poul Kjærholm) that are tirelessly copied to this day. The place to pick up an iconic Saarinen tulip table or USM's brilliantly versatile modular furniture, it's also worth checking its clearance section for one-offs by the store's late founder, Zeev Aram, OBE.

A Nordic Knots rug underpins a space at the Hackney home of Atelier LK founders Ruby Kean and Lisa Jones.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Those graphic grid rugs peppering your Instagram feed? Scandinavian brand Nordic Knots has cornered the market for contemporary floor coverings that don't call for a second mortgage. Its selection is equal parts serene (The Park collection comes in sophisticated neutral tones crafted from hand-knotted New Zealand wool) and playful: the collaboration with London design studio Campbell-Rey will charm even the most hardened minimalists.

The Conran Shop.

Kick-off your research with The Conran Shop, founded by the late Sir Terance Conran in 1974. The store is a crash course in design classics from Marcel Breuer armchairs to future-proof homeware pieces like Murano tumblers. Conran's contribution to design (he also founded The Design Museum and Habitat) had a revolutionary effect on the public's attitude to shopping for the home and the shop's range of furniture, atmospheric lighting, and accessories are still as relevant today as ever.

Soho Home.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

The members’ club's ‘Bring the House Home’ concept is a stroke of genius – allowing you to own a memento from an unforgettable stay into your home via a swooped armchair or pleasing wall sconce. House members automatically receive 15% off all prices (and 20% off sale) but anyone can sign up for the benefits for just £60 – a cost you’ll easily recoup if you’re buying a large item or a couple of accessories.

Made.com.

Democratising contemporary design in an affordable way akin to Ikea, the fact that Made.com started life online shows. Detailed imagery means you don't feel short-changed experience-wise when it comes to shopping for diminutive sofas and on-trend TV units. Its "Inspire" section is chock-full of happy shoppers sharing their recent finds in situ, giving you a tangible idea what that bed frame, wall light, or dressing table might look like in your home. Simple, but so clever.

SCP.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

If you’re in the market for a sofa to last you quite literally forever, may we point you in the direction of SCP, where pieces are handcrafted in Norfolk and come with a lifetime guarantee. A multi-brand retailer, it also stocks desirable brands like Hay, Gubi, and the cult collaborations between Vitra and the likes of Jasper Morrison and Verner Panton. If you’re into acquiring classics to name-dropping, this is the site to browse.

Pooky.

Buying lampshades was far too painful a process before the emporium that is Pooky came along. No need to go to interiors school, its search filters are an education in lighting lexicon: you’ll know your coolies from your empires to your drums before you’ve even decided on whether you want them in ikat or silk fabric, or both. Renovators, renters, and interior designers alike flock to buy their decorative wall sconces, pendant lights and portable table lamps – perfect for those hard-to-reach shelving nooks and dining table settings.

A concept store for design aficionados, East London-based Monologue is where you’ll discover emerging talent from around the world and the most exclusive pieces: think made-to-order marble dining tables and lamps with souffle-esque trims. Its prices reflect the rarity and craftsmanship of each item, but a must if you’re moodboarding your next scheme.

H&M Home.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

H&M has been capturing the interiors zeitgeist ever since its diversification into homewares in 2010 (yes, that long!). We came for the brass trinket trays and woven storage baskets, and have been hooked by its recent foray into rattan-fronted furniture, cane chairs and pastel-hued sculptural lighting. It also continues to provide an affordable source for washed linen bedding and crinkly curtains that belie their high street price tag.

Oka.

You don't have to live in a country house to inject a dash of Oka into your home. Amongst its offering of tailored sofas and grown-up side tables, there are bright, bulbous light bases and humbug-esque ceramic stools for that dash of English eccentricity. Those in the know also shop there for faux flowers: choose from single stems or handpicked arrangements for a perennial flower fix minus the wilting.

Arket.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

These days we’re headed to Arket just as much for its inexpensive, mix-and-match glassware, glazed plant pots, and cabbage crockery as its minimalist wardrobe basics. There's something about the way it presents even a banal tea towel that makes its edit so irresistible. A thoughtful mix of own-brand soft furnishings and ceramics rub along nicely against a curated edit of brands like Bordallo Pinheiro and Sabre Paris. Warning: if you’re partial to a serving platter or a vase, approach with caution.

Caravane.

If you can't get to Caravane's King's Cross or Marylebone stores in person, then whiling away an afternoon on the French brand's website is the next best thing. Imbued with a world-traveller sensibility (but certainly not ‘boho’) it excels in soft furnishings: its gauzy curtains have spawned dozens of imitations, and its padded comforters are worth saving up for. Its irregular take on lighting is equally strong too, handcrafted pendants made from recycled vegetable paper and brass flower lights are conversation-starters in their own right.

John Lewis.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

You know to expect exemplary customer service when you shop with the high street retailer, making that big-ticket online purchase like a bed or dining table all the less daunting. For mid-century lovers, its ongoing collaboration with Ercol is worth checking out. If you’re on a tighter budget but after a fun pop of colour, its new Anyday range delivers desk lamps for £20 and side tables from just £35.

MatchesFashion.

Scouring the world for bouji trinkets, glassware by the likes of Helle Mardahl (pictured) and photogenic accessories so you don't have to, the home edit on MatchesFashion is one to wishlist and share with your nearest and dearest. It has an extensive selection of quirky and colourful tableware by La DoubleJ and is the exclusive stockist of cult womenswear label The Vampire's Wife – whose decadently ruffled cushions look good enough to eat.

Ceraudo.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Founded by two London-based sisters, Ceraudo is the fashion insider's go-to for skirt-trimmed footstools and lacquered dining chairs (but it does coffee tables, bedside cabinets and armchairs too). Its USP is its must-have prints, which are designed in-house and now spans four collections, each bolder than the last. Ceraudo fabrics can be bought separately too, so if you have something that needs reupholstering, look no further.

The White Company.

A byword for crisp bed sheets, this beloved British retailer has everything you need to create the ultimate bedscape – from timeless duvet covers (and crucially, inners) to headboards and luxury mattresses. Its "Inspire" section is also worth a browse for stories on how to bring its infamous pared-back palette into your own home.

1stDibs.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Ready to drop five figures on a rare or one-off piece of furniture? You can do it with confidence via 1stDibs. This luxury marketplace has trademarked the slogan "The Most Beautiful Things on Earth" – so confident is it in its selection of exquisite pieces. It's here you can track down icons like a Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa or an Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola mirror and know it's the real deal. For a bargain (relatively speaking) be sure to check out its auction listings too.

Trouva.

What did we do before Trouva? Curating the best from independent high street retailers, you can hunt down anything from a cult Hay enamelware mug from Barcelona to the perfect rattan lampshade from Edinburgh, all in one scroll. An ideal place to pick up a gift (or self-gift), its extensive candle selection (25 brands and counting) is too good to pass up.

La Redoute.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Well-priced and contemporary without being enslaved to trends, there are some unique finds to be unearthed on the much-loved French retailer's UK website (and there is always some sort of ‘mega sale’ happening with discount codes – be sure to apply when you check out). Our money is on statement wall lights inspired by design classics at a fraction of the price, bed linen, rugs, and petite desks that double up as dressing tables.

Liberty London.

Nothing beats a mooch around the hallowed floors of this storied London department store, but a virtual browse of its maximalist cushion selection and rainbow-hued candle holders comes a close second to Liberty in the flesh. Its buying team has its finger firmly on the emerging talent pulse, so it's here you’ll discover the hottest new name in ceramics and art – which you can humble-brag about over a tablescape filled with charming accessories also sourced here.

Anthropologie.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Hats off to you if you’ve ever managed to exit Anthropologie without a pretty new plate (its designer collaborations and painterly styles serve up designs that you’ll want to wall-mount as opposed to eat off). But what you don't get in-store is the handpicked selection of furniture available online, such as desirable bed frames and playful chairs, which range from kitsch bistro styles that look great on a patio, to wooden dining chairs with bouclé seat pads.

Etsy.

We know… browsing Etsy can be overwhelming, but if you have something exact in mind – and it's proving impossible to track down – it can be the ultimate (and non-intimidating) place to commission it. That slimline radiator shelf? Enlist a craftsperson to make it for you. Interiors insiders also mine it for vintage furniture. Just be sure to switch shop location searches to "UK" only to avoid potentially eye-watering shipping taxes incurred from abroad.

Heal's.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

A London institution specialising in quality and innovative design for over 200 years, if it's not stocked at Heal's then it's probably not worth coveting. The place to pick up a cult classic, like an Eames chair or an Anglepoise lamp, its own-brand range is also worth considering for a timeless dining table or sideboard. Its plentiful selection of clocks will also leave you pining for a pre-digital era.

Urban Outfitters.

Positively putting the K in kitsch homewares, there are some gems to be unearthed online at Urban Outfitters, like Kantha-inspired mattresses (perfect for putting up impromptu guests) and enormous checkerboard rugs for less than £150. It's also the place to find a sweet hook – bound to bring a smile to your face every time you reach for that tea towel.

Vinterior.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

A scattering of vintage pieces will ensure that your home feels unique, making Vinterior one to bookmark for a virtual rummage. Whether you’re into art deco or mid-century modern, or just in the market for a Murano mushroom lamp, chances are one of the 1,700 dealers around Europe and beyond listing their finds on there will have exactly what you’re after.

Graham & Green.

Unless your taste veers on ultra-eclectic/maximalist, you probably wouldn't deck out your entire home from Graham & Green, but it is the place to add an exuberant twist to otherwise everyday items. Case in point: its brass dish-rack and gold animal lid jars elevate simple rituals like reaching for a teabag and washing up a mug. That said, its bamboo trolley has leap-frogged to the top of our wish list…

Urbanara.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

With an emphasis on natural materials, Urbanara is the place to hunt down that jute runner, a non-gimmicky doormat or linen bath towels. Homebodies will also rejoice at its selection of blankets – choose from lambswool, cashmere, alpaca, merino wool… and so it goes on. It also has a range of small but perfectly formed chairs and benches, with distinctive but neutral woven cotton bases.

Mango Home.

The cheapest way to impact a change in a bathroom without a re-tiling job is by switching up your towels, and Mango's recently-launched foray into homewares has covetable styles by the dozen: choose from bold stripes, earthy textured waffle and fringed edges. And unsurprisingly for a fashion retailer, the rest of its soft furnishings offering is just as strong, with cushion covers and tablecloths that won't break the bank.

Amara.

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

By Emma Spedding

Don't be put off by Amara's slightly corporate-looking interface – on it you’ll find treasures by big names like Jonathan Adler, Missoni Home and Kartell. The latter's Componibili cylindrical storage units are plentifully stocked in myriad heights and colourways, providing a clever update for a bedside or home office. It's also a place to get your fix of the aforementioned Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics.

Oliver Bonas.

No longer just a handy place to pick up tongue-in-cheek greetings cards before boarding a train, Ollie B's desirable homeware offering has mushroomed in recent years. Dispensing trend-led dopamine shots for the home, it's here that you’ll pick up a colourful bath mat, an atmospheric neon sign or an all-singing, all-dancing drinks trolley. Its mirror selection – both wall-mounted and free-standing – is pretty comprehensive too.

Sofa.com.

A brand new sofa is not something to be bought on impulse. But you’ll be in good hands with Sofa.com, which scores an impressive 4.5 stars on TrustPilot. With over 30 designs and 100 fabric choices, there's something for everyone (check out the new Larsen, which has a "midcentury Los Angeles" vibes about it). And its user-friendly "Perfect Fit" guide *should* ensure that you order a style that actually fits through the front door…