Here’s a concise, curated list of the best/most important furniture chains worldwide — grouped by what they’re best known for, with a short note and a source so you can read more.

Global giants (mass market / biggest scale)

• IKEA — World’s largest furniture retailer; huge global footprint, affordable flat‑pack design and strong supply chain. (statista.com)
• Ashley Furniture (Ashley HomeStore) — Major U.S. manufacturer + global retail network; strong presence in North America and growing internationally. (en.wikipedia.org)
• JYSK — Danish chain (often compared to a smaller IKEA) with thousands of stores across Europe, Asia and beyond. (en.wikipedia.org)

Top online / omnichannel players

• Wayfair — One of the world’s largest online home‑furnishings retailers (very strong e‑commerce footprint in the U.S. and other markets). (investor.wayfair.com)
• Williams‑Sonoma (includes Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams‑Sonoma) — Large multi‑brand retailer with strong e‑commerce + upscale and midmarket sub‑brands. (marketscreener.com)

Major regional / national leaders

• Nitori (Japan) — Japan’s biggest furniture/home‑goods chain with rapid Asian expansion. (nitorihd.co.jp)
• Rooms To Go (U.S.) — Large U.S. chain known for room packages and volume pricing. (en.wikipedia.org)
• La‑Z‑Boy — Famous for recliners and upholstered furniture; strong North American retail & licensing network. (en.wikipedia.org)
• DFS (UK & Ireland) — Leading sofa specialist in the UK & Ireland. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Conforama — Major home‑furnishings chain in France/Europe. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Courts — Well‑established furniture/electronics chain across Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Home Centre (Landmark Group) — Key home‑furnishings chain across the Middle East, India and MENA. (www2.homecentre.com)

Design / lifestyle / premium chains

• BoConcept — Danish contemporary design brand with a global store network (customizable modern furniture). (boconcept.shopping)
• RH (Restoration Hardware) — Upscale/luxury U.S. retailer (design galleries, premium positioning). (en.wikipedia.org)

How to use this list

• If you want lowest prices and widest global availability: IKEA or Nitori. (statista.com, nitorihd.co.jp)
• If you prefer online selection and home delivery: Wayfair or Williams‑Sonoma brands. (investor.wayfair.com, marketscreener.com)
• For mid‑range packaged rooms and fast delivery in the U.S.: Rooms To Go or Ashley HomeStore. (en.wikipedia.org)
• For designer/modern furniture with customization: BoConcept or RH (for luxury). (boconcept.shopping, en.wikipedia.org)

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to “best for small apartments,” “best budget options,” or “best luxury/modern” in your region (U.S.), or
• Pull store counts, revenue ranks, or the newest expansion news for any of these chains.

Which region or use case should I focus on?