At Home is no longer only rumored to be filing for bankruptcy. The home decor and furnishings chain filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on June 16, 2025, then announced that it emerged from bankruptcy on October 24, 2025. The restructuring addressed substantially all of its nearly $2 billion in funded debt, and reporting after emergence placed the reorganized company at 229 stores in 39 states.
For shoppers, that means At Home is not simply disappearing in 2026. Some stores closed during the process, and more underperforming locations may stay under pressure, but the company continues operating under a smaller, more disciplined model. For homeowners, the bigger story is this: discounted decor can help finish a room, but it cannot fix poor layout, bad lighting, worn flooring, weak storage, moisture problems, or unsafe electrical work.
On our job sites, we see this pattern often. A homeowner buys a sofa, rug, sideboard, lamps, and wall art, then realizes the room still feels unfinished because the floor is tired, the paint undertone is wrong, the ceiling light is harsh, and there is no built-in storage. The better approach is to separate loose furnishings from permanent improvements and build the room in the right order.
What Happened to At Home?
At Home entered Chapter 11 on June 16, 2025, with lender support reported at more than 95% of its debt holders. During the bankruptcy process, retail reports identified initial store closures, including 26 stores slated to close early in the case, with additional closures reported as proceedings continued. The company later announced on October 24, 2025, that it had completed its financial restructuring and emerged with new backing, less debt, and a smaller operating footprint.
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That matters because bankruptcy in retail does not always mean a company is closing every store. Chapter 11 is commonly used to restructure debt, reject or renegotiate leases, close weaker stores, and preserve the profitable parts of a business. In At Home’s case, the result was not a full shutdown. It was a reset.
The pressure behind the filing is not unique to one chain. Furniture and home furnishings retailers have been squeezed by high interest rates, softer housing turnover, cautious consumer spending, import and tariff costs, and e-commerce competition. Federal retail data showed furniture and home furnishings store sales around $11.323 billion in June 2026, essentially flat month to month. That is a challenging environment for any retailer that depends on big-ticket discretionary purchases.
What It Means for Homeowners Shopping in 2026
If you live near a closing or restructuring-affected store, you may see discounts on seasonal decor, rugs, mirrors, lamps, accent furniture, patio pieces, bedding, and accessories. Those deals can be useful, especially for guest rooms, playrooms, staging, rentals, and secondary spaces. The mistake is treating a liquidation sale like a design plan.
Before buying anything final-sale, measure the room, the wall where the piece will sit, the doorways, stairs, elevators, hall turns, and ceiling heights. We typically want at least 30 to 36 inches for a main walking path, 18 inches between a sofa and coffee table, 24 to 30 inches beside beds where possible, and 36 inches of clearance in front of major storage, drawers, or appliance doors. A bargain console that blocks a return air grille or makes a hallway feel tight is not a bargain.
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Use Closeout Deals for the Right Categories
Closeout furnishings are best for items that are easy to inspect, easy to move, and not tied to future construction dimensions. Accessories, mirrors, baskets, lamps, removable shelves, rugs, side tables, bedding, and occasional chairs can be good buys when the price is right and the condition is clear.
Be more cautious with large sectionals, dining sets, vanities, lighting fixtures, flooring, tile, and anything that depends on matching inventory later. If you buy discontinued flooring or tile, purchase at least 10% to 15% extra for cuts and future repairs. For diagonal layouts, complex rooms, herringbone patterns, or older houses with out-of-square walls, that waste factor can climb higher.
Final-sale lighting deserves special attention. Plug-in lamps are straightforward, but hardwired fixtures should be listed for the intended use and installed correctly. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, and exterior areas may require GFCI protection, wet- or damp-location ratings, proper boxes, and code-compliant switching. A discounted chandelier is not worth overloaded wiring, loose mounting, or an undersized electrical box.
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Furnishing Refresh vs Remodel: What Costs More?
A room refresh and a remodel are different budgets. A furnishing refresh changes movable pieces. A remodel changes the surfaces, systems, or construction of the room. Most homeowners get into trouble when they price the furniture but forget the labor and site work around it.
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| Project Type | Typical 2026 Cost Range | Best For | What Homeowners Forget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decor and furnishing refresh | $1,500 to $12,000+ per room depending on furniture, rugs, window treatments, delivery, and assembly | Rooms with good flooring, lighting, paint, storage, and layout | Delivery, rug pads, wall anchoring, haul-off, missing hardware, and final-sale limits |
| Light cosmetic refresh | $15 to $35 per sq ft | Paint, basic flooring, fixtures, appliances, and finish updates without layout changes | Drywall repair, trim work, floor leveling, outlet changes, and prep time |
| Interior remodel | $50 to $90 per sq ft | Kitchens, baths, cabinetry, tile, lighting updates, and fixture swaps | Permits, inspections, plumbing tie-ins, electrical labor, and temporary disruption |
| Structural or whole-house remodel | $85 to $150 per sq ft; high-end custom work can reach $140 to $250+ per sq ft | Wall moves, system replacement, layout changes, and premium finishes | Engineering, structural repairs, HVAC changes, lead times, and contingency |
| Whole-home renovation | Commonly $19,470 to $88,345 nationally for 1,250 to 1,600 sq ft, with an average around $52,133 | Homes that need coordinated flooring, paint, kitchens, baths, lighting, and repairs | Soft costs, permit timing, storage, debris removal, and change orders |
Those numbers explain why a $900 closeout furniture haul can still leave a room feeling half finished. If the floor is failing, the walls need repair, and the lighting is wrong, the permanent work may cost more than the furnishings. That does not make the furniture a bad purchase. It means the room needs a sequence.
Build the Room in the Right Order
For most interior projects, our preferred sequence is planning, demolition or repairs, rough electrical or plumbing if needed, drywall repair, paint, flooring, trim, built-ins, lighting finish, window treatments, large furniture, rugs, then accessories. Buying in that order keeps new pieces from being damaged and prevents expensive rework.
Start With Measurements and Circulation
Measure wall lengths, ceiling heights, window locations, door swings, register locations, outlet locations, and furniture clearances. Sketch the room before shopping. For living rooms, maintain 30 to 36 inches for main walkways and avoid pushing every piece against a wall unless the room demands it. For dining areas, allow roughly 36 inches behind chairs so people can sit and pass comfortably. For bedrooms, check that drawers can open fully without hitting nightstands, radiators, or closet doors.
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Interior paint is often the highest-impact starting point. 2026 cost guides commonly place wall painting around $2 to $6 per sq ft, with ceilings, trim, prep, high walls, and multiple colors increasing the total. We usually recommend low-VOC paint, proper primer where stains or color changes exist, washable finishes in halls and kids’ spaces, and moisture-resistant coatings in baths and laundry areas.
Flooring is another major design foundation. Installed flooring can range roughly $9 to $31.50 per sq ft depending on material, demolition, subfloor repair, leveling, baseboards, and transitions. Luxury vinyl plank, engineered hardwood, tile, carpet, and refinished hardwood all behave differently under furniture and rugs. If a room will get heavy use, pay attention to wear layer, water resistance, slip resistance, transitions at doorways, and whether the subfloor is flat enough for the product warranty.
Lighting is where many rooms fail. A single center fixture rarely handles ambient, task, and accent lighting. We like layered lighting: recessed or ceiling fixtures for general illumination, sconces or lamps for eye-level warmth, under-cabinet or shelf lighting for task zones, and dimmers where code and fixture compatibility allow. Plan outlet locations before buying media consoles, reading chairs, desks, or built-ins.
When Discount Furniture Makes Sense
Liquidation or closeout furniture can be a smart buy when the piece is structurally sound, properly sized, and not mission-critical to a future remodel. Inspect legs, frames, seams, drawer slides, hinges, shelves, mounting hardware, fabric flaws, finish damage, odors, and missing parts. Sit on chairs. Open every drawer. Check that tables do not rack side to side. For rugs, inspect backing, edge binding, stains, and whether the size actually fits the seating group.
For living rooms, a rug should usually be large enough for at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs to sit on it. In many rooms, that means 8 by 10 feet or 9 by 12 feet rather than a small accent rug floating in the middle. In dining rooms, the rug should extend far enough that chairs remain on the rug when pulled out, often 24 inches or more beyond the table on each side.
For tall furniture, plan anchoring. Bookcases, wardrobes, media towers, nursery furniture, and narrow cabinets can tip. We anchor tall pieces into studs or proper blocking whenever possible, using hardware rated for the load and wall type. Drywall-only anchors are not a universal solution, especially for heavy units or homes with active children.
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- Stay Organized: Keep all your household documents, receipts, and inventory in one place with the Homeowner Book of Records 3 Ring Binder, which comes with 13 category envelopes for mortgage, taxes, insurance, home warranty, utilities and services, home furnishings, landscape, appliances, electronics, home improvements, homeowner's association, and a blank envelope. It also includes a household inventory sheet.
- High-Quality Binder: The sturdy design and double-sided household inventory contents sheet ensure that your important documents stay safe and secure.
- Oversized Envelopes: The up-to-date category envelopes are perfect for detailed record-keeping and receipts, making it easy to stay on top of your finances.
- Unforgettable Closing Gift: Give your clients a gift they'll never forget with the Homeowner Book of Records, featuring two business card holders (one on the front cover and one on the inside) and a thank-you letter expressing gratitude for their business. Clients will remember you for providing them with a practical and thoughtful gift that helps them stay organized long after the closing.
- Top Real Estate Agent Supply: Keep these on hand so you are always ready with a closing gift for your cusomters! Your clients will always know where your contact information is so they can hand it out to thier friends and family - getting you referral business for years to come! These also make a great gift for a housewarming party!
When Decor Becomes Construction
A project crosses from decorating into construction when you alter electrical, plumbing, walls, structure, built-ins, egress, moisture assemblies, or life-safety systems. That is where permits and inspections may enter the picture. The 2024 International Residential Code establishes administrative provisions for residential construction, and states or municipalities adopt and amend codes on their own schedules. In Pennsylvania, for example, code applicability depends on application date and local conditions, so homeowners should verify requirements before work starts.
Built-ins are a common gray area. A freestanding bookcase is furniture. A wall-to-wall media unit with outlets, lighting, concealed wiring, anchoring, ventilation, and finish carpentry is construction. Custom built-ins and bookcases commonly run $300 to $850 per linear foot installed, with many projects landing around $2,000 to $7,500. Costs rise with hardwood, shop finishing, integrated lighting, complex walls, scribed trim, cabinet doors, and site-built details.
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When to DIY vs When to Hire a Pro
Good DIY candidates include assembling furniture, installing simple wall-mounted decor with proper anchors, painting small low-risk rooms, swapping cabinet hardware, adding rug pads, organizing closets, and installing non-electrical window treatments. A careful homeowner can handle many of these with a tape measure, level, stud finder, drill, painter’s tape, drop cloths, patching compound, and patience.
Hire a pro when the work involves electrical changes, plumbing relocation, tile waterproofing, structural framing, stair modifications, exterior openings, basement finishing, large-format flooring, custom built-ins, or anything that affects egress, moisture control, or fire safety. Bathrooms are a good example. A budget cosmetic bath update may start around $2,500 to $15,000, but full bathroom renovations commonly land around $15,000 to $45,000, and luxury primary baths can exceed $80,000 when plumbing moves or premium materials enter the scope. The expensive part is not just the visible tile and vanity. It is waterproofing, substrate prep, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, layout, and inspection-ready work behind the finishes.
Flooring is another place to be honest. A square bedroom with clean subfloor and floating LVP may be manageable for an experienced DIYer. A first floor with transitions, dips, squeaks, old adhesive, doors to undercut, stair nosing, and baseboard replacement is different. Poor prep telegraphs through the finished floor and can void warranties.
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Safety Checks Before You Bring Bargains Home
Before buying final-sale furniture or lighting, inspect it as if you cannot return it, because often you cannot. Confirm dimensions, damage, missing hardware, warranty limits, assembly requirements, and whether replacement parts are available. Photograph labels and model numbers before checkout. For upholstered furniture, check for tears, stains, odors, loose seams, broken frames, and uneven cushions. For case goods, check corners, shelves, drawer slides, hinges, and whether the piece sits level.
At home, keep furniture away from HVAC registers, return air paths, egress windows, electrical panels, and required appliance clearances. Do not run extension cords under rugs or overload power strips behind media cabinets. If a room needs more outlets, that is an electrical project, not a decorating inconvenience. We would rather add properly located receptacles than hide a chain of cords behind a new console.
For children’s rooms, nurseries, rentals, and high-traffic family areas, anchoring is not optional for tall or top-heavy pieces. Use proper fasteners, hit studs where possible, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If the wall construction is unknown, get help before assuming a plastic anchor is enough.
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- Stay Organized: Keep all your household documents, receipts, and inventory in one place with the Homeowner Book of Records 3 Ring Binder, which comes with 13 category envelopes for mortgage, taxes, insurance, home warranty, utilities and services, home furnishings, landscape, appliances, electronics, home improvements, homeowner's association, and a blank envelope. It also includes a household inventory sheet.
- High-Quality Binder: The sturdy design and double-sided household inventory contents sheet ensure that your important documents stay safe and secure.
- Oversized Envelopes: The up-to-date category envelopes are perfect for detailed record-keeping and receipts, making it easy to stay on top of your finances.
- Unforgettable Closing Gift: Give your clients a gift they'll never forget with the Homeowner Book of Records, featuring two business card holders (one on the front cover and one on the inside) and a thank-you letter expressing gratitude for their business. Clients will remember you for providing them with a practical and thoughtful gift that helps them stay organized long after the closing.
- Top Real Estate Agent Supply: Keep these on hand so you are always ready with a closing gift for your cusomters! Your clients will always know where your contact information is so they can hand it out to thier friends and family - getting you referral business for years to come! These also make a great gift for a housewarming party!
A Practical Buying Plan for At Home Shoppers
Before visiting a store closing sale or loading an online cart, make a one-page room plan. Write down the room dimensions, ceiling height, doorway width, stair or elevator constraints, furniture clearances, paint color, flooring type, lighting needs, storage gaps, and maximum size for each piece. Bring a tape measure. If the room is under renovation, bring finish samples or photos taken in natural and artificial light.
Set two budgets: one for furnishings and one for construction. The construction budget should include labor, prep, permits, inspections, delivery, assembly, haul-off, drywall repair, trim, paint, flooring, lighting, window treatments, and contingency. For small refreshes, a 10% contingency may be enough. For older homes, hidden damage, bathroom work, or wall changes, 15% to 25% is more realistic.
Buy flexible pieces first: lamps, mirrors, baskets, side tables, art, bedding, and accessories. Delay large sofas, dining tables, built-in-looking cabinets, vanities, and rugs until paint, flooring, lighting, and layout decisions are firm. If you are planning built-ins, do not buy furniture to fill that wall until the cabinet design is complete.
The Bottom Line for Homeowners
At Home’s bankruptcy and restructuring are useful retail news, but the homeowner lesson is bigger than one chain. Discount furnishings can stretch a design budget, especially when stores close or inventory is marked down. They should not drive the remodel.
Start with the room’s fixed problems: layout, light, flooring, paint, storage, moisture, safety, and code requirements. Then use closeout decor to finish the space, not to compensate for work the room still needs. That is how a sale purchase becomes part of a lasting home improvement instead of another piece headed for donation in two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is At Home going out of business in 2026?
No. At Home filed Chapter 11 on June 16, 2025, and announced that it emerged from bankruptcy on October 24, 2025. The company continues operating, though with a smaller store base and a more focused business model.
Which At Home stores are closing after bankruptcy?
Store closures varied during the bankruptcy process. Early reports identified 26 stores slated to close, and additional closures were reported later. Homeowners should check their local store directly before planning a trip around liquidation pricing.
Are liquidation furniture deals worth it for a remodel?
They can be, but only for the right items. Rugs, lamps, mirrors, accent tables, baskets, and accessories are often safer buys than discontinued flooring, large sectionals, hardwired lighting, or items that must match future construction dimensions.
Should I buy furniture before or after renovating a room?
Buy major furniture after the layout, paint, flooring, lighting, and built-in plans are set. Small accessories can be purchased earlier, but large pieces should match the finished room dimensions and traffic flow.
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What upgrades usually add more lasting value than new furniture?
Paint, flooring, lighting, trim, built-ins, window treatments, storage, and bathroom or kitchen finish upgrades usually create a stronger design foundation than loose furniture alone.
Do built-in shelves or cabinets require a permit?
Simple freestanding shelves usually do not. Built-ins may require permits when they involve electrical work, structural changes, plumbing, fire blocking, egress issues, or local code requirements. Check with your local building department before work starts.
Quick Recap
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