Wayfair 101: What It Sells, Why It’s Popular, and If It’s Legit

Looking for the perfect blend of convenience and style for your home? Wayfair delivers exactly that. Here at Rank & Style, we're consistently impressed by this online destination's vast selection of furniture, small appliances, and home décor essentials. While we typically spotlight individual brands, Wayfair got our attention with its exceptional quality, reliability, and range. Read on to discover why this one-stop shop deserves a place in your bookmarks as we spotlight everything Wayfair has to offer.

So, What Is Wayfair?

Wayfair is an online-only retailer that specializes in all things home. Whether you're swapping out a few throw pillows or tackling a full-blown room makeover, Wayfair has you covered. The process is simple: head to the site, choose your category, and start browsing. With an enormous inventory that ranges from budget-friendly picks to luxe home upgrades, it’s safe to say Wayfair offers a little something for every style and price point.

Compared to other major online retailers (think Amazon), Wayfair’s shopping experience feels more curated and user-friendly. The site features a sleek interface, stylish visuals, and clear, concise product descriptions. Plus, its robust filtering system makes it easy to narrow down your search and find exactly what you're looking for—fast.

How Wayfair’s Business Model Works

Wayfair runs on a drop-shipping model, meaning it doesn’t manufacture the products it sells. Instead, it partners with thousands of trusted suppliers who ship items directly to customers. But unlike many newer drop-shipping operations, Wayfair has been perfecting this model since 2002, so you can trust it knows what it's doing.

And if you're wondering, “Is Wayfair legit?”—the short answer is yes. What sets Wayfair apart is the way it vets its partners. Each seller must meet strict criteria before being approved to list on the platform, ensuring a higher standard of quality, reliability, and customer service. With over two decades in the business and millions of satisfied shoppers, Wayfair has built a reputation as a dependable destination for furniture and home decor.

What Does Wayfair Sell?

Wayfair is all about the home. The online retailer offers just about everything you need to furnish, organize, and style your space—from the front door to the backyard. 

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find on the site:

• Furniture
• Lighting
• Organizational storage
• Small appliances
• Bedding and textiles
• Kitchenware
• Home decor
• Patio and gardening essentials

Wayfair’s marketplace includes a mix of private labels, exclusive collections, and big-name designer brands. You’ll see products from Wayfair-owned favorites like Joss & Main, Birch Lane, and Perigold, alongside premium options from designers like Bernhardt, Lexington, and Hooker Furniture.

With such a wide range of styles (think rustic farmhouse, boho chic, modern minimalism, and beyond) Wayfair makes it easy to find pieces that suit your aesthetic and your budget.

What Wayfair Doesn't Sell (Much or At All)

With such an extensive selection of home goods, it’s honestly easier to list what isn’t on Wayfair. While the site covers just about everything you need to furnish and decorate your space, there are a few categories it generally skips.

Here are some items you won’t find on Wayfair:

• Groceries and household staples
• Personal electronics (think phones, laptops, and gaming systems)
• Raw building materials (like lumber or drywall)
• Clothing and accessories

In short, if it’s not related to making your home more beautiful or functional, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere.

A Quick Look Back—The History of Wayfair

Wayfair’s story begins in 2002, when founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine launched CSN Stores—a collection of niche websites focused on selling storage furniture online. As demand grew, so did their vision. CSN expanded into more categories, eventually managing over 200 specialized sites that sold everything from patio furniture and office supplies to lighting and home decor.

In 2011, the founders made a bold move: they consolidated all those separate storefronts into one streamlined platform—Wayfair. The goal? To create a one-stop online destination for all things home. It worked. By 2014, Wayfair had become the largest online-only home retailer, and in the same year, it went public. Just five years later, in 2019, the company earned a spot on the Fortune 500 list.

As one of the first major furniture retailers to go fully digital, Wayfair helped prove that shoppers are more than willing to buy home goods sight unseen—as long as the experience is seamless, the selection is vast, and the brand can be trusted.

Wayfair’s Top 5 User Favorites

Wondering what people actually buy on Wayfair? While the site has something for every room and style, shoppers consistently rave about Wayfair’s private labels, especially AllModern and Birch Lane, for delivering trend-forward looks at wallet-friendly prices. Larger home essentials like beds, sofas, and rugs also tend to top the charts. 

Below, we’ve rounded up five fan-favorite products that Wayfair shoppers can’t get enough of:

• Sand & Stable TV Stand for TVs up to 65"
  This low-profile TV stand is a go-to for its clean look, generous storage, and versatile finishes. Whether you’re going coastal, rustic, or contemporary, there’s a color option to match your vibe.
• Three Posts Upholstered Platform Bed
  With its streamlined design and modern appeal, this platform bed is a top pick for upgrading any bedroom. It’s easy to style and even easier to assemble.
• Mistana Hillsby Oriental Rug
  Available in a variety of sizes, patterns, and colors, this versatile rug is a favorite for instantly pulling a room together. Bonus: It’s budget-friendly and durable enough for high-traffic areas.
• Zipcode Design Caines Upholstered Sofa
  Ideal for small spaces, this sleek sofa strikes a balance between style and comfort. Reviewers love its timeless silhouette and cozy feel—perfect for lounging without taking over the room.
• Ebern Designs Rolling Kitchen Island Cart
  This compact, multifunctional cart adds major storage without eating up square footage. It’s a favorite among apartment dwellers and anyone in need of a little extra counter space.

Wayfair’s Style & Aesthetic

One of the things we enjoy about Wayfair is that this company never limits itself. Instead, it focuses on offering a wide range of styles, allowing people to choose what works best for them. Whether you're looking for a Pinterest-worthy, trendy velvet sofa or a practical metal shelf for storage, Wayfair can help. The retailer is incredibly flexible and offers products for nearly every aesthetic imaginable. 

Though this massive amount of variety seems overwhelming, Wayfair does a very good job of curating its selection. When shopping for items, Wayfair allows you to refine your search by aesthetic category, including boho, modern, farmhouse, and mid-century modern.

Pricing—Affordable Finds & Budget-Friendly Luxury

Wayfair is known for offering home goods at a wide range of price points—so whether you’re splurging on statement pieces or sticking to a tight budget, you’ll have plenty of options. While high-end furniture is certainly available, you can also snag major deals: think spacious sectionals under $900 or full-size bathroom vanities for around $100. Smaller items like lamps, organizers, and kitchen accessories often start at just $10.

In addition to already-accessible pricing, Wayfair frequently runs sitewide sales and seasonal promotions. With the right timing (and a few smart shopping tricks), you can score discounts of 50% off or more. Even better? Rank & Style has an exclusive Wayfair coupon code to help you save even more on your next home refresh—just pop it in at checkout.

To sweeten the deal, Wayfair offers free shipping across the contiguous U.S. on all orders over $35. Orders under that threshold ship for a flat rate of $4.99. And if you’re looking to spread out your payments, the retailer provides financing options through Afterpay, Klarna, and its own Wayfair credit card.

Wayfair Shopping Tips

Want to shop like a Wayfair pro? These expert-approved tips will help you score the best deals, avoid buyer’s remorse, and uncover hidden gems.

For the best deals, try these hacks:

1. Wait for Way Day
   If you’re not in a rush, hold out for Way Day—Wayfair’s biggest sale of the year, usually held in the spring. Expect major markdowns across every category, from furniture to decor.
2. Use Filters Strategically
   Wayfair’s search filters are a game-changer. Narrow by style, price, material, brand, and even customer rating to find exactly what you need without the scroll fatigue.
3. Test It Out (Virtually)
   Download the Wayfair app to use its augmented reality feature, which lets you preview furniture and decor in your actual space before committing.
4. Read the Reviews
   Product photos and reviews from real customers offer priceless insight into color accuracy, quality, and assembly—don’t skip them!
5. Join Wayfair Professional
   Shopping for a business, rental, or commercial space? Sign up for Wayfair Professional to unlock exclusive pricing and perks tailored to your needs.

Love These Brands? You’ll Love Wayfair, Too

Not sure if Wayfair is your style? One easy way to find out is to think about where you already love to shop.If any of the brands below are your go-tos, there’s a good chance Wayfair will feel like home.

Here are some retailers that share Wayfair's DNA:

• Overstock
  Like Overstock, Wayfair offers an extensive range of home items at competitive prices. While Wayfair doesn’t carry clothing, it makes up for it with a broader selection of exclusive furniture and decor lines.
• IKEA
  If you’re drawn to IKEA’s mix of function and style, Wayfair takes that idea to the next level with a wider range of aesthetics, more materials to choose from, and the convenience of fully online shopping.
• Target
  Love Target’s home brands like Threshold and Project 62? Wayfair brings a similar design-forward, budget-conscious vibe, but with way more options, sizes, and finishes to help you personalize your space.
• Crate & Barrel
  Wayfair’s exclusive collections are perfect if you love Crate & Barrel’s modern-meets-classic aesthetic. Bonus: You can often find dupes at Wayfair for a fraction of the price.

Why We Love Wayfair (And You Should, Too)

At Rank & Style, we’re all about helping you find the right products for your unique space—and that’s exactly where Wayfair shines. Whether you’re decorating on a budget or curating your dream home, Wayfair offers a flexible range of options to suit every style and price point.

Yes, it’s great for furnishing your first apartment without breaking the bank, but that’s just the beginning. From luxe statement pieces to everyday essentials, Wayfair makes it easy to find exactly what you need, no matter your vibe or budget.

We also love Wayfair for its user-friendly experience and overall reliability. The brand has been around for over two decades and has fine-tuned the art of online home shopping. Whether you’re using the powerful search bar to find something specific or casually browsing categories with ultra-customizable filters, the site makes shopping feel simple and stress-free.

Bottom line? Wayfair is one of the most convenient, trustworthy places to shop for home goods online—and we’re big fans.