Bombay Bargains: The Best Things to Buy at The Bombay Company

BRINGING FURNITURE TO THE MALL:

In the past, purchasing a piece of furniture was a major decision that often involved long discussions with your spouse or the assistance of an interior designer. In 1978, The Bombay Company changed all that with the launch of it mall-based chain of home furnishings stores. Now consumers could pick up a lamp or an occasional table while they shopped for shoes. With affordable prices and familiar, non-threatening designs, Bombay brought decorating into the realm of the impulse buy.

AFFORDABLE TRADITION:

That strategy has helped grow the chain to include several hundred stores, catalogs, a Web site and an ancillary chain, BombayKIDS. The emphasis is on classic, traditional furniture and coordinating accessories and wall décor—a easy mix that helps take the guesswork out of decorating and provides an Old Money look for a Little Money price. That said, there are certain things that Bombay does better than others.

PORCELAIN:

Visiting my local Bombay, the first thing that caught my eye was their collection of blue and white porcelain. A decorating staple for centuries, blue and white looks great in a dining room hutch or living room table, and you can augment a collection of vintage pieces with low-cost shills and no one would be the wiser. I loved Bombay’s patterned porcelain balls—a real bargain at just $3 each. Put five of them together on a table or in a bowl and you’ve got a great look at a discount price.

OCCASIONAL TABLES:

Bombay offers a nice selection of classically designed occasional tables at very reasonable prices—usually less than $200. Make sure you bring a measuring tape, though—in order to sell furniture in a 1,500-square-foot mall space, Bombay keeps the scale small. And although these pieces look very classy, we are not talking heirloom furniture here. Side tables are finished in veneers applied over inexpensive composites and cannot be easily refinished if they become chipped or scratched.

True story: On a recent visit I saw a discounted table that had a chipped corner, revealing an underlayment made of what appeared to be compressed paper. That said, if you’re looking for something to fill in a room or are trying to furnish a first apartment on a budget, you’ll get an attractive piece that will tide you over until something better comes along.

CURTAINS:

Bombay sells a line of sumptuous Estate Embroidered Silk Panels for only $79 a panel. The curtains come in a nice selection of colors and include an attractive embroidered valance at the top. The panels are only 42 inches wide, so you’re not going to get a voluminous look, but they’re a great way to give a room a touch of elegance without spending a lot of money.

ACCESSORIES:

Bombay offers a decent selection of table lamps at reasonable prices. I also like their selection of mirrors—some of the ones marked “special purchase” are a real steal.

AVOID:

If you’re in the market for case goods—chests, cabinets, desks—I would recommend shopping elsewhere. Bombay’s prices are not particularly strong in this category, and the quality is not as good as what you’d find elsewhere for the same money. If you have your heart set on that Old World look, I’d recommend shopping at an antiques store or secondhand shop. You’ll probably end up with a piece that’s better constructed, can be refinished or repaired if it becomes worn, and has more inherent value.