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

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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