“People are still surprised when they visit for the first time and the store isn’t full of unfinished wood furniture,” laughs Trisha Claridge, one of owners of Woodshed Furniture in Lacey. And her laughter is because this local mainstay, first opened in 1972, has been a full service furniture store for many years, but locals still recall its roots in the unfinished wood furniture business.
Opened initially in the old Lacey Post Office by Harvey Coburn, Woodshed Furniture has undergone many changes over the years. From their origins in unfinished wood items to their current full service line including upholstered furniture and mattresses, Woodshed has truly grown with the area, meeting the needs of shoppers in Thurston County.
In 2010, the new store, located on Martin Way in Lacey, opened its doors. The new facility consolidated the old Lacey showroom and the business’s Westside location. “When we had two stores, we were constantly telling people, ‘Oh…we have that in Lacey or try over in the Westside store.’ They were driving back and forth to look at things and we decided it made a lot more sense to have one large showroom,” shares Claridge. “That’s when we became a more full line furniture store with sofas, recliners and mattresses along with quality finished wood furniture.”
So what will you find at Woodshed? First, you’ll find a family owned business (Claridge’s parents, Ned and Linda Hart purchased the business in 1988) that values being a local mainstay in an industry that includes many large national retailers. And on top of knowing you are supporting a small business in the community, you’ll find a wide range of furniture to meet your family’s needs and budget.
Woodshed works hard to strike a balance between quality, style and price. “We look for things that are built really well. For example, the sofas all have solid wood frames and will last. But we know that the average family is on a budget and we are realistic about what our customers want to spend,” explains Claridge.
The modern family wants classic-lined furnishings that can stand the test of time, but won’t break the bank, and Woodshed can offer just that. But, you’ll also find fun and trendy accent pieces that can spice up any room at a price that allows you to update that piece in a few years when trends change.
“We truly have something for every room of the house,” says Claridge. And, admittedly, I could not help myself from doing a bit of shopping while in the store, chatting with Trisha. With the wide variety of styles and clever staging, I could truly see several pieces in my home.
Woodshed also provides delivery and can haul away your old items, including mattresses, for either Goodwill donation or recycling. The business even offers the traditional option of layaway for those who prefer not to finance, something that many businesses are no longer willing to do. And if your furniture piece has an issue, Woodshed handles much of the warranty work on site with their capable craftsman so your furniture isn’t sent away for weeks at a time.
Custom work and special orders are the norm with Woodshed. Upholstery is of course customizable but so are bookshelves and other items. So, if you have an odd-sized space or have never found the right sized desk for your home office, chances are Woodshed can order the perfect item for you. And with access to each manufacturers full line, they can find the matching pieces as well.
“We want to help people find what they really want, not just sell them what we have at the store,” shares Claridge. And it’s this philosophy that makes shopping in the store such a pleasure.
Woodshed Furniture has been serving residents of Thurston County for more than 40 years and will continue to provide the high quality, well-priced furniture that has been the cornerstone of their business. Just don’t mistake them for purveyors of only unfinished rocking chairs (although the child’s sized one they carry is adorable). The selection they provide will have me returning for the fantastic accent chair I can’t stop thinking about and chances are, there is something perfect for your family, too.
6127 Martin Way E
Lacey, WA 98516
360.491.0700
