9 Furniture Designers You Probably Don’t Know — But Should!

Sure, shopping at IKEA has its benefits: It's cheap and stylish, and the meatballs make navigating the Swedish labyrinth worth it. But when you're ready to invest in quality, durable pieces, look no further than your own backyard. Buying locally made and designed furniture not only supports your community's creative minds, but it stimulates the multi-billion-dollar furniture-and-decor industry, plus the American economy as a whole. A win-win, if we ever saw one.

Not sure where to start? We've rounded up nine furniture designers who should be on any discerning home-lover's radar. Some of these up-and-comers are more established than others, with their own stores and full collections, while others are just starting out with a few design-forward pieces. But all nine will be influencing the next wave of furniture trends — just you wait!