Decent quality bedroom set for a decent price?

[deadken]

I'm going through a divorce and am looking to buy some new furniture. I'm 'frugal', not 'cheap'. I have no problem paying top dollar for a product that merits it. I do have a problem paying good money for big markups when the products are no better.

So, I'm looking for a Queen size bedroom set. I absolutely do not want drawers that have a single track (slide)! I want at least two tracks and if possible, the ball bearing ones. I really would like storage drawers under the bed. I do not want a storage bed in which you have to pick up the mattress to access the storage area.

I was looking at Acme (http://www.acmecorp.com/ProductDeta...IT&CatId=3e656d6c-616a-4687-8ee4-33fadf0e2785) a friend-of-a-friend has an account there and he offered to assist. But, the set that I like (shown in the link) has a center track and that is a deal breaker. Then I started looking at Raymour and Flannigan (http://www.raymourflanigan.com/dena...m-bedroom-set-with-storage-bed-598321645.aspx) which at least has the better drawer tracks, but I'm not sure the price difference reflects the price markup.

Finally, I'm looking at Gothic (http://www.gothiccabinetcraft.com/queen-size-captains-bedroom-5-piece-set/) which certainly seems to have better quality. I'm not thrilled at the style, but if I have to choose, I'll take function over form.

I figured that I'd ask here. Frankly, I asked here about toilet suggestions and I couldn't be happier with the Toto that I had never even heard of before that thread. So, ATOT, please share your collective wisdom and help me find a new bed that won't be flimsy or overpriced.

FWIW: I live on Long Island, NY. And, I don't care for Craigslist for items like furniture.

 

[Mojoed]

I'm in the same situation. Following.

 

[MongGrel]

I's go with the ACME one personally out of the two.

Not really trying to be a pita, but there is a Home and Garden here now too

Sorry about the divorce thing, have been there and done that myself, was sleeping things much cheaper than that for awhile

 

[Red Squirrel]

Check out various local furniture stores. If you need other things too like appliances get a price for those too and get a few quotes. The more stuff you get the better deal you can get normally. When I moved out from my parents into my new house I needed pretty much everything you'd need in a house. I brought my bedroom set over and my computer desk, but that's it, and I wanted to put that set in the spare bedroom anyway. So I got a full blown bedroom set, dining room set, living room set, overhead microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer and it had come up to like 7k or something like that, maybe even less, I don't remember for sure, I just know it was an epic deal. It was not top of the line stuff but it was not bottom of the barrel either.

I ended up putting it on a "do not pay for 16 months" or w/e plan which worked out nicely for me as I had lot of other expenses to pay for. The key to those deals though you absolutely want to make sure you pay it ALL off by the due date. I just collected money aside and made a few large lump sum payments and made sure to be about a month in advance to ensure I don't get hit with any delays in the transactions or what not.

I'm not even sure how the financing companies make any money off those plans, I guess there's enough people who don't actually pay it on time. The interest is pretty crazy if you don't pay it.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend lot of money you could settle for used stuff in the meantime and only get bare essentials and save up and get better stuff later. That was actually my original plan when I moved in my house as I figured I can probably live without a dining room table for example but looking back I'm glad I just bought new right off the bat and got all furnished in one go.

 

[nageov3t]

I'll vouch for Gothic Cabinet's quality... be wary of the price, though -- usually the big-numbered advertised price is for unfinished wood. throw in a strain and a finish and you're looking at another $500

 

[DAGTA]

Overstock.com has a decent amount of bedroom sets and furniture (or did last time I looked). Some decent deals.

 

[BoomerD]

IMO, you can have good, or you can have cheap.

Have any of the Amish furniture stores in your area? I like them because almost everything is made in the USA, not China. Nearly all "mass-produced" furniture nowadays comes from China...with the usual problems that brings. (crappy workmanship, cheap materials and finishes.)

 

[senseamp]

I'd go with top of the line Ikea stuff.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69028233/

 

[deadken]

Thanks for the suggestions. I went to Gothic and wasn't thrilled with most of what they had. A lot of it was good solid construction, but a bunch looked like I had made it in a shop class. I went to Raymour and Flannigan and wasn't thrilled with the quality, but some of the prices were inexpensive. Of course, the problem is that the inexpensive stuff won't hold up very well.

Then I went to Bassett and WOW! I saw some really expensive stuff. Of which, the only set I was interested in was 8k. Ohh well. After Bassett, I went to Thomasville and found a 7k set and then a 6k set that I liked better. I then went to a different R&F store and again saw inexpensive sets, but this time the same sets were priced higher (compared to the other R&F store I had been to earlier). After that, I went to get some dinner and try and forget about all of the shopping.

I guess the bottom line is that I can pay cheap and get cheap. Or, I can pay good money and get good furniture. I hate to say it, but I'm really considering that 6k set. The problem is: While I can afford 6k, I had 'only' budgeted 6k for the bed and mattress. The dual zone sleep-by-number mattress I had bought was around $3.5k. Ohh great.... almost 10k and that doesn't include the work I want to do to the bedroom (flooring, new sheet rock, insulation, etc..).

I'll have to swing by Ikea. That might just be an inexpensive option that'll give me something better than garbage at a really affordable price.

Thanks for the information so far! Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[DrPizza]

I'd try an estate auction or sale; and purchase a brand new mattress, if I were in your situation. Stuff made 50 years ago was built to last - and it lasted. A lot of the stuff, like in your first link, isn't going to last. OR, you can buy new - but you're going to be paying a lot for it. And, being involved in a divorce, I'm guessing you're not in a situation to be spending several thousand on a bedroom set.

 

[mrjminer]

Wow man, your furniture budget is pretty high. Are you really sure you want to spend that much on some pieces of wood and shit that you can just sub out with some cheapo items and have it accomplish the same mission?

Personally, I would skimp on the mattress. Get a nice memory foam topper for a mediocre mattress for a few hundred bucks, and pick up a mattress on the cheap. You won't have "dual zone" shit or whatever, but that's what I did.

Ikea is a great option, for the tables et al, but I wouldn't use them for the pieces of furniture you sit on, just for comfort purposes. Their furniture is still built well, but for the same price you can usually go with a company that specializes a little more in couches / recliners / etc. Lazy Boy is still around, can grab an entire set of sitting furniture for a few grand, then get Ikea or something for all your end tables / coffee tables. Also, you could check estate sales or craigslist. You can find some high quality furniture on there occasionally (depending where you live), and a lot of time it sits because it's out of the price range of what some people are looking for. Estate sales / auctions you can luck out on since a lot of people aren't going to them for furniture.

IMO, new furniture is a ripoff a lot of the time, especially the higher quality you go up because the price seems to rise exponentially. I would go a little cheaper, take the money you save and get a badass car. That will probably help you get chicks after a divorce more than some furniture would.

 

[BoomerD]

Wow man, your furniture budget is pretty high. Are you really sure you want to spend that much on some pieces of wood and shit that you can just sub out with some cheapo items and have it accomplish the same mission?

Personally, I would skimp on the mattress. Get a nice memory foam topper for a mediocre mattress for a few hundred bucks, and pick up a mattress on the cheap. You won't have "dual zone" shit or whatever, but that's what I did.

Ikea is a great option, for the tables et al, but I wouldn't use them for the pieces of furniture you sit on, just for comfort purposes. Their furniture is still built well, but for the same price you can usually go with a company that specializes a little more in couches / recliners / etc. Lazy Boy is still around, can grab an entire set of sitting furniture for a few grand, then get Ikea or something for all your end tables / coffee tables. Also, you could check estate sales or craigslist. You can find some high quality furniture on there occasionally (depending where you live), and a lot of time it sits because it's out of the price range of what some people are looking for. Estate sales / auctions you can luck out on since a lot of people aren't going to them for furniture.

IMO, new furniture is a ripoff a lot of the time, especially the higher quality you go up because the price seems to rise exponentially. I would go a little cheaper, take the money you save and get a badass car. That will probably help you get chicks after a divorce more than some furniture would.

LazyBoy quality has gone into the shitter. We bought two of their recliners in 2013...bought new Lane recliners a few months later and put the LazyBoys in the spare room.

Absolutely nothing wrong with buying quality USED furniture...IF you can get the quality and style you want...at the price you're willing to pay.

Estate sales can be a very good way to score quality furniture at an affordable price.

 

[DAGTA]

LazyBoy quality has gone into the shitter. We bought two of their recliners in 2013...bought new Lane recliners a few months later and put the LazyBoys in the spare room.

Absolutely nothing wrong with buying quality USED furniture...IF you can get the quality and style you want...at the price you're willing to pay.

Estate sales can be a very good way to score quality furniture at an affordable price.

Bedbugs have become a concern the past few years. I avoid used furniture now. They hide in crevices in wood, too.