We review top stores in these above categories and suggest how you can find some bargains. Wait for annual and year end clearance sales and you can save up to 50 percent off. Shop the clearance centers for discontinued and slightly damaged furniture.

Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn are our two favorite stores for acquiring home furniture and accessories. In our opinion, both stores are great for buying furniture and we have shopped both extensively. Use their websites and catalogs for interior design ideas.

Their catalogues and other furniture catalogues for office and home furniture and accessories are available online. You'll have to subscribe to them.

Crate & Barrel's online store is easy to use. It is the ideal place for glassware, dinner ware, lighting, bath and other accessories. While Pottery Barn is great for furniture, bedding, draperies and cushions.

You can view Crate & Barrel's entire furniture selection online. However, online furniture purchases are limited to certain categories. If you need to purchase furniture, you will have to go to the larger Crate & Barrel stores in select cities.

Crate & Barrel has an excellent gift registry. Shoppers looking for good discounts should check out the online outlet site and also the physical locations of outlets in your state or province.

You may return and exchange most merchandise at any Crate & Barrel store. Shipping charges are not refundable and there is a special return policy on special and custom furniture orders.

Pottery Barn is a great place for furniture and most of their stores carry their complete line of furniture. Furniture can also be purchased online. Pottery Barn allows you to shop by the room that you want to furnish. We think this is a great way to get a total look and save time.

You can request a Pottery Barn Catalogue or shop online using Pottery Barn's catalogue. Simply find the item number and use the Catalogue Quick Shop feature.

Pottery Barn also gives you some great gift ideas as well. Pottery Barn's wedding and gift registry is also a great way of managing gift giving and getting the things you really want.

Returns and exchanges are gladly accepted at all Pottery Barn stores on merchandise ordered online. There are restrictions on furniture and a one year limit on other merchandise.

Kitchen and Household Items
Williams & Sonoma is one of our preferred merchants for the above products. Amazon and Target have combined forces to provide you a broad selection of kitchen and household products via Amazon's web site.

Williams & Sonoma are for the gourmet cook who is looking for top quality cookware and kitchenware. You can shop by category for for an extensive collection of cookware, electric appliances, and accessories.
Williams & Sonoma also features recipes for all occasions. We really liked this feature, because it showed the presentation of the meal or dish. However, we were troubled by the excellent photos of the food. They made us very hungry.

We also thought that Williams & Sonoma gift ideas by recipient, price and occasion were a great time saver for busy shoppers. We wish other web sites would provide this feature.ll merchandise sold online is guaranteed and can be returned at any Williams & Sonoma Store.

Alternatives Furniture and Accessory Stores
If you are on a tight budget consider shopping at Marshall's and Marhall's Home Stores for furniture and accessories, especially art work.

If you are living in a small apartment, home or room, your best bet is IKEA. The price is right and IKEA specializes in furniture and accessories for small spaces that are common place in Europe.