Furnishing a bedroom? I did the math on prices at IKEA, Lowe's and Home Depot to find out which is the winner — the result may surprise you

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Whether I'm planning a redesign or I've got a new room that needs fully furnishing, I always tend to shop in the same place – IKEA.The blue and yellow allure and modular designs have continuously and cleverly been sold to me as the most budget-friendly option for an entire collection of furniture. But, is that actually the case?Don't get me wrong, I know there's other options. In fact, the market has largely been dominated for decades by two juggernaut home retailers – Lowe's and Home Depot.How do they hold up against IKEA though? I sometimes struggle to find clarity in which is the more affordable choice.So, I thought I'd put it to the ultimate test. I mocked up a complete bedroom design and found similar items across IKEA, Lowes and Home Depot to compare the prices.Spoiler alert: you might be shocked by the results.Different stores, different luresPros and cons of IKEA (Image credit: Tom's Guide)Pros:Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Competitively pricedUnique, space-friendly designsLots of stockEase of collectionCons:Build-it-yourself flat packsPotentially expensive shipping costsLess than 100 stores in the USPros and cons of Lowe's (Image credit: Shutterstock)Pros:Price match guaranteeStock diverse and exclusive range of brandsOver 1700 stores across USCons:Less stockStrict discountsLess choicePros and cons of Home Depot (Image credit: Shutterstock)Pros:Extensive range of brandsLots of stockOver 2000 stores in the USCons:Concerns over deliveryNot as affordableWarehouses overwhelmingly largeCost comparison Bedroom (Image credit: Shutterstock)To carry out this cost comparison, I set out to find items from each store that looked incredibly similar. Of course, if you're planning a different aesthetic, you can shop around and compare all three.But to fully furnish a bedroom with a bed, wardrobe, dresser, and nightstand, here's what the costs had to say. Swipe to scroll horizontally IKEA vs Lowes vs Home Depot bedroom decor price comparison Retailer IKEA Lowes Home Depot Bed STJÄRNÖ bed frame, Anthracite (Queen) $229 Mondawe bed frame, Black metal (Queen)$209 VECELO bed frame, Black metal (Queen)$232.20 Wardrobe BRIMNES wardrobe, White$199.99 FUFU&GAGA wardrobe, White$217.41 FUFU&GAGA wardrobe, White$235.10 Dresser STORKLINTA 6-drawer dresser, White$249.99 FUFU&GAGA 6-drawer dresser, White$229 FUFU&GAGA 6-drawer dresser, White$265.72 Nightstand HEMNES nightstand, White$149.99 Fortman nightstand, White$209.99 Fortman nightstand, White$190.41 Total cost $828.97 $865.40 $923.43 It's also important to note that there can be additional costs when purchasing online, especially with delivery (varies dependent on location), but also including some potential extra costs for fittings, removal and storage fees.Verdict (Image credit: Shutterstock)So, it turns out while IKEA is still the most affordable during this price comparison, it's not by as far as I would have thought.For Lowe's, it's less than a $40 difference. Home Depot is considered widely to be the more premium priced of the three, but still only came in around $60 more than Lowe's.What was surprising about Home Depot though, was that three of the items chosen were the same product as Lowe's, yet more expensive.I did also notice that some of Lowe's and Home Depot's prices changed a little during my comparison, whereas IKEA tends to stick to their prices (unless during a sales event).Yes, IKEA is still the most affordable, but there are other things to consider, like delivery costs to you and accessibility to stores. It wasn't the total washout that I was expecting from IKEA, especially as far as Lowe's is concerned.I know that when I make up a mood board for my next redesign, I'll be creating the look across all three retailers rather than assuming that I know the answer. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. More from Tom's GuideIKEA's new collection is designed for frequent movers — I'm excited about how portable and affordable it is5 ways to update your bedroom without a complete revampHow to create a show home aesthetic — 7 interior tips to try Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.