Big purchases, bigger return bills.
A sofa that doesn’t work out can cost you $100 to send back. Bedding can go back after a year. Before you buy for the house, know which kind of store you’re at.
Wayfair ships free over $35 but takes return shipping out of your refund, which gets expensive on large items. Wait for Way Day in spring or fall for the real discounts.
Brooklinen is the opposite: you pay more up front, but you can return sheets for 365 days, even washed. Buy during its sitewide sales, which usually run around 25% off.
Our picks, by what you need
01 / Picks- Furniture & decorWayfairThe widest catalog, free shipping over $35, and real discounts during Way Day.7.6
- Sheets & beddingBrooklinenSolid cotton sheets and a 365-day return window. Buy during a sale.8.2
Home brands we’ve checked
02 / Reviews
Brooklinen
Good cotton sheets with a 365-day return window. Wait for a sale.
Wayfair
Huge furniture catalog, free shipping over $35. Returns on big items cost you.
Side by side
03 / Compare| Brand | Score | Biggest saving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklinen | 8.2 | Wait for a sitewide sale Often 25% off | Deals → |
| Wayfair | 7.6 | Free standard shipping Free over $35 | Deals → |
Fine print to check at any home store
04 / Checklist- Who pays return shipping. On bulky furniture this is the number that matters. Look for it before you look at the discount.
- Assembly and final sale. Assembled items, open-box and clearance pieces often can’t go back at all.
- Measure the doorway. Check the box dimensions against your door, stairs and elevator, not just the room.
- Sale calendar. Home stores run a few big events a year. Buying a week before one is the most common way to overpay.
- Membership math. Paid programs like Wayfair Rewards only pay off above a certain yearly spend. Do the division first.
Home shopping questions
Facts checked Sep 2026. Store policies change; the checkout page is final.
When is Way Day?
Twice a year, usually late April and October. Spring 2026 ran April 25 to 27. Wayfair tends to announce dates about 10 days ahead.
Is it expensive to return furniture to Wayfair?
It can be. Wayfair deducts return shipping from your refund unless the item arrived damaged or wrong, and for large pieces that can run $50 to over $100.
Can you really return Brooklinen sheets after a year?
Yes, within 365 days of purchase, even used and washed. Mail returns have $9.95 taken off the refund. Final-sale items are excluded.
Is Wayfair Rewards worth $29?
Only if you spend about $580 a year or more there. Below that, the 5% back doesn’t cover the fee.