If you're moving to Germany, furnishing a new home is one of the first challenges. Long-term rentals are typically unfurnished (many even come without a kitchen) and the cost of shipping furniture from abroad can be prohibitive. As a result, most newcomers end up shopping locally – often starting with Ikea.
But what if you’re looking for something beyond the familiar Swedish flatpack? Whether you want more sustainable options, or simply something that not's instantly as recognisable as that Billy bookcase everyone else has, Germany has plenty of other places to buy furniture.
Here’s a guide to where else you can shop for furniture in Germany.
Höffner
Höffner, which you can find online and in 25 locations across Germany, sells good-quality furniture for most of the rooms in your house/flat and at a variety of different price points.
Overall, it's a little pricier than Ikea, but then you don't have to build anything yourself as it offers delivery and installation.
The stores are huge, so they're usually located on industrial estates and, like Ikea, they generally have an in-house restaurant.
Home24
If you prefer to shop for furniture for every room in your house from the comfort of your sofa, then Home24 is a good bet – it sells a whopping 250,000 items on its website.
If you'd still rather see what items really look like in real life before hitting the checkout button, then you can browse their goods at nine showrooms across the country, including three in Berlin.
They also sell off end-of-season and discontinued items in their online outlet store and three bricks-and-mortar outlet shops in Berlin, Cologne and Hannover.
Extra bonus: they can build your furniture for you (for a fee).
home24.de
READ ALSO: How do I get rid of unwanted old furniture in Germany?
Jysk
You can shop online or in person at this huge affordable chain – 960 shops in Germany – formerly known as Dänisches Bettenlager.
It's essentially the Danish equivalent of Ikea, so you'll have to put the furniture together yourself. It's a fair bit cheaper than its Swedish counterpart though and therefore arguably not as well made.
The website is similar, too, right down to the font choice, and it's also easy to navigate to what you're looking for as the products are split into sections of the room you'd find them in.
jysk.de
XXXLutz (plus Porta)
XXXLutz – the name's a reference to the vast size of its shops not any explicit content – is actually Austria’s largest furniture retailer, easily recognisable by its trademark giant red chair.
It sells a wide range of products, including sofas, dining tables, lighting, and homeware. Prices range from budget-friendly to higher-end, and both flatpack and pre-assembled furniture is available.
XXXLutz has 57 stores in Germany and a well-stocked online shop. It’s known for frequent promotions and discount days, making it a popular choice for bigger purchases.
XXXLutz now also owns Porta, which has 28 huge furniture shops across Germany. They also have a section in their online shop that sells display furniture at a massive discount.
Mömax
The Austrian giant also operates furniture discount shop Mömax – there is almost always a sale.
The store targets a younger, trend-conscious audience. Think modern, minimalist designs at mid-range prices, with an emphasis on affordability.
The shops – all 85 of them in Germany – are typically more compact than XXXLutz outlets, but the chain also has a strong online presence and offers home delivery across Germany.
Roller
If you’re on a very tight budget, Roller is another good option. It offers no-frills, affordable furniture for every room in the house. Quality tends to be basic but functional – perfect for renters or those furnishing a temporary home. It has stores nationwide and also operates online.
Bauhaus
If you're a DIY fiend, then you'll probably already know German institution Bauhaus. After all, the DIY and home improvement specialist has 160 stores across the country.
But as well as all the tools and accessories you might need if you're skilled/savvy/brave enough to do everything yourself, the giant also stocks kitchen, bathroom and garden furniture and fittings, and some rather nice lamps.
READ ALSO: 'Zu verschenken' - Is it legal to put old stuff on the street in Germany?
Local and regional furniture stores
Germany still has some family-run furniture shops and carpenters, too, especially outside the big cities. These local stores often carry furniture that’s more customisable or unique, though prices may vary.
Some offer personal service and even in-house delivery and assembly – something the big chains don’t always include. It’s worth exploring smaller regional retailers, especially if you're looking for solid wood furniture or bespoke solutions.
Buying second-hand
Whether you're looking to save money, rescue the planet from fast furniture, or are just sick of the, well, beige-ness of the prevalent Scandi furniture trend, then buying preloved is a great alternative.
Searching online marketplaces, such as Ebay Kleinanzeigen, German online resale platform Wellkauf, and Facebook marketplace for your area often turns up unexpected – and cheap – used treasures.
READ ALSO: Six apps to help you save money in your daily life in Germany
Many towns also have Caritas Möbellager (furniture warehouses run by the Catholic charity Caritas), where donated furniture is sold at low prices, as well as second-hand shops operated by Diakonie, the social welfare arm of Germany's Protestant churches.
In Düsseldorf, for example, there's a Caritas Kaufhaus Wertvoll that sells used and upcycled furniture and a Diakonie KadeDi second-hand store. The charity can also help with moving and delivering your furniture.
For retro or vintage furniture, prowling local flea markets (the sprawling Radschlägermarkt in Düsseldorf sells everything) can also unearth great finds, but don't forget to haggle rather than taking the first price offered.
A good option to know about in Berlin is NochMall, a "second-hand depertment store" where you can find a wide range of furniture as well as clothes, electronics, appliances and more.
There are other charity shops that sell furniture all over the country, too – Google Sozialkaufhaus plus where you live to find ones close to you.
If you'd rather not paying anything at all, Free Your Stuff has various city groups on Facebook (just search for your area) where people list items they're giving away for free.
And if you live in one of the big cities, then you may well spot furniture in the street that people have put out for someone to give a new home to.
With reporting by Amy Brooke and Amanda Previdelli.
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