Top ten big home stores

1. ABC Carpet & Home
The industry and city standard for all things devoted to the home, this department-store-size space houses everything from delicate votive holders to modern chairs reupholstered in bright suzani. Floors are devoted to specific styles—from midcentury-modern vintage to traditional designs and outright antiques. 881 Broadway at 19th St (212-473-3000)

2. Ikea
The lure of $39 Billy bookshelves and $15 Rast bedside tables attracts droves of New Yorkers to this retail giant's blue and yellow one-stop depots, but the domestic accessories—not to mention the 99-cent breakfast—also merit the trip across the Hudson. Various locations, visit ikea-usa.com

3. Room & Board
It arguably has the best clean-line sofas—at totally reasonable prices—in the city. Sure, you'll pay more than at Ikea (a nightstand fetches $399), but you'll be rewarded with items that won't fall apart the minute you try to move them to new digs. 105 Wooster St between Prince and Spring Sts (212-334-4343)

4. CB2
Catalogphobes can finally test-drive mod sofas (from $900), rolling desks ($149), starburst-print accent tables ($199) and the like from this hipper, more wallet-friendly spin-off of domestic-goods behemoth Crate & Barrel. Beloved by design addicts for its boxy, modernist basics that are scaled down for apartment dwellers, the Chicago company planted its first NYC flagship—and third outpost—in Soho. 451 Broadway between Grand and Howard Sts (212-219-1454)

5. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Just around the time when budget-minded chains like CB2 and Muji were storming downtown, this high-end modernist-furnishings company broke ground. The 12,000-square-foot joint brims with sleek, investmentworthy couches, chairs and lighting—all of which should please folks tired of Ikea-ish decor. 210 Lafayette St at Kenmare St (212-431-2575)

6. West Elm
Williams-Sonoma's more accessible sibling has grown up from a fledgling catalog with a handful of stark, bare-bones pieces to a design-conscious powerhouse. But its Shakeresque wood beds (from $199), clean-line modular sectionals (from $269) and dialed-down nightstands (from $159) still exude a minimalist aesthetic that marries well with other decorating styles. Various locations throughout the city; visit westelm.com

7. Muji
This Tokyo line with a cult following (mujirushi ryohin means "no-brand quality goods" in Japanese) specializes in deliberately unflashy housewares that design purists adore for their simple aesthetics and smart, streamlined packaging. Various locations throughout the city; visit muji.com

8. Pottery Barn
What started as a single store in lower Manhattan in 1949 has since become a household name. Stop in for braided rugs (starting at $79), organic sheet sets (from $129), picture frames (starting at $19) and everything else you could possibly need to make your space feel like home. Various locations throughout the city; visit potterybarn.com

9. Gothic Cabinet Craft
When shoddy particleboard and flimsy plastic won't do, this 38-year-old chain, which dots NYC with 26 locations, is a go-to spot for cut-rate traditional styles of bookshelves (from $49), platform beds (from $99) and TV carts (from $99) hewn from pine, birch and oak. Various locations throughout the city; visit gothiccabinetcraft.com

10. Bobby Berk Home
Adding to the list of permanent outlet stores is Bobby Berk's new housewares showroom in Soho. You can score current luxury bedding, furniture and other home accessories, all marked 40 to 80 percent off. Decorate or furnish your abode with affordable wares from top brands including Dwell Studio, Casa Pogessi and Gus Modern. Among the selection are notNeutral wool rugs ($240), Lax Series by Mash Studios platform beds ($1,050) and Eva Solo metal wine racks ($95). 59 Crosby St between Broome and Spring Sts (866-965-9793, bobbyberkhome.com)

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