what do we think of Dunelm?

[QueenoftheNights]

I used to think they were the poor man's John Lewis but recently they appear to be trying to go upmarket; swish brochure with this month's Ideal Home mag.

BUT when I went to my local store a few months back it was so disappointing. It's a big store but had a horrible warehouse feel about it and very dated displays. All the accessories were just dumped on shelves, it seemed pricey for stuff that you'd find at Wilko for less and it just felt depressing- like the old BHS used to be.

Any comments on quality and if it's worth another trip ( my closest is a good 12 miles away.)

We think Dunelm have very nice scones in their cafe.

Speaking of their cafe the price of they kids meals...

the*

I do like a mooch around there with my daughter occasionally if I've been into Ikea say first. But it is overpriced tat in the main so I rarely buy anything.

I go there for cushions, throws, duvets/pillows, towels, teatowels, kitchenware. Am very happy with the choice/colour range/wearability of all those.

I've recently moved house and my previous Dunelm shop was lovely and bright and recently refurbished. The one that's now closest to me is grim grim grim, I think if I hadn't already been a Dunelm customer I would have walked out.

Mostly order online now but some things you want to check stuff in person first. Guess their investment is going in the online side rather than the shops.

Have a decorative bowl from there which is lovely and unusual that everyone comments on so its not all mass appeal stuff.

I like their curtains and the dorma range too. We have a bucket chair from there that is a fair few years old now and it’s lasted really well. Haven’t bought any furniture but probably won’t now after these reviews!

I've had a mixed experience

Products Good

Customer Service Bad

I like Dunelm. But I have very un- Mumsnet taste in bedding, low thread count poly cotton suits us well, they do a great range of colours. I have also fitted out several rental properties with their thermal blackout curtains, good quality and choice of colours and sizes.

Their pencil pleat blackout and thermal curtain linings are brilliant and much cheaper than JL.

I prefer the Range, but there are some nice things in Dunelm.

Interesting. I went out of my way to visit a Range as I had heard such good things and that was an overcrowded tatty warehouse. Our Dunelm is pretty attractive and well laid-out but it is quite new, having taken over the unit from BHS.

My local Dunelm is very modern and has a nice cafe. I really like the haberdashery. I have bought some cheap soft furnishings that I don't mind the pets on too. I don't have a Wilko so can't compare.

It's obviously no JL though.

I quite like it. Mind you, the last bedding set I bought went bobbly after a couple of washes. I like their mirrors and some of the furniture though and always go in for a look. Got my eye on a faux fur giant bean bag at the moment.

I renewed all my towels there about 4 years ago. They've lasted really well, I think.

They still sell net curtains. That says everything you need to know.

I quite like Dunelm - but we bought some brightly coloured cotton bedding, the colour all came off on our Victorian cast iron cream bed grand which had been lovingly restored and expensively professionally painted. I contacted Dunelm and their customer service was absolutely brilliant, they asked me to forward the quote for repainting the bed and covered the whole bill, over £200. That said it was a right PITA as it took us so long to dismantle and rebuild the frame!

It's awful. I have a store near me that's been there about 5 years. They never seem to update the stock, they still have the same old crap out that was there when it opened. And I don't understand the prices. I've seen duvet sets for £95 for the set and sets for a tenner.

We have one very close by. We have used it to get curtains, blinds, towels and rugs which have been pretty good quality and better than like for like at say Argos. Their light fittings are also nice. However I don't enjoy wandering round it anymore as I do think it's overpriced on a lot of things and most the stuff is nothing special. Quite old fashioned in some cases.
My dd had some fitted cot sheets from there and they shrunk in the wash. Also had to return a rug as the fibres shed constantly. We also waited a long time for a sideboard to be delivered, which arrived badly damaged and the delivery men said it was commonplace with dunelm furniture.

John Lewis still sell net curtains.

They certainly do wowfudge and quite a lot of other old fashioned over priced items. Good and bad everywhere.

I love Dunelm. I have bought quite a bit of bedding from them over the years. I found them great for curtains and kitchen/household stuff as well.
(no, I don't work for them )

Price doesn't match the quality. If you can get stuff in the half price sale its reasonable.

They are big and warehousey but few other places have the choice in blinds/curtains /towels. Also the haberdashery is useful they have all the curtain making stuff. Our local one is quite new and tidy. It's not cutting edge design but I normally find what I've gone in for.

Every shop has overpriced tat even John Lewis and Marks and Spencer. Dunelm is no different but you may have to look past any shabby surroundings to find what you want.
I think some people on here are being snobby, the same way that some people are about ikea.

I've not bought anything from them for a few years. But the things i bought - towels and mattress toppers, were good quality and a veyr good price. Sounds like they've gone down hill.