Let's face it, Ikea is really geared more towards apartment dwellers than those who pay mortgage. Their smaller-scale furniture at rock-bottom prices work well for people just starting out.
Their Houston store is Texas-sized and holds an impressive array of basic furniture as well as pretty much every home decor/accessory you can [or the Swedish mind] can think of. On top of that, their cafe is also pretty impressive - good food at Ikea prices, it's really a one-stop shop.
A caveat: obviously, because of their low prices, their quality is not always the best. Every now and then you end up with missing pieces or scratched furniture - but then, that's small trade-off for being able to furnish your whole bedroom for the price of one nightstand at West Elm...
more