Profile

Pier 1's prices are low enough to decorate a first apartment—from dinnerware to lighting to wall coverings—on a budget, while still infusing some worldly-wise, ethnic flair. Tabasco-red tiled floors serve as the store's equivalent to a white sandy beach; customers meander through coves of paradise-themed home furnishings, festive patio umbrella sets and a kaleidoscope of margarita and cocktail glasses that seem to encourage a year-long Cinco de Mayo fiesta.  Deeper inside the store, find clusters of bamboo-framed Papasan chairs and ottomans that double as discreet storage units, many upholstered in Moroccan-themed fabrics and wicker coverings. Nearby, the dark wood and wrought iron-trimmed furniture looks more like handcrafted finds from a Tibetan bazaar than the mass-produced tables, chests, and chairs they really are. Pier 1 is also a mainstay for African-themed statuettes, sconces, and tribal-inspired decorative masks, while a seasonal selection of summer-cottage-ready wicker furniture offers a pastoral contrast to the global souk. — Molly Noonan

Key Departments

This chain offers reasonable alternatives to some of the more upscale stores. You’ll find everything from bed frames to club chairs.