Buying furniture in Chiang Mai and online in Thailand

Furnishing a place in Chiang Mai is half the fun of moving here, and the best pieces often aren't in a shop at all. A lot of Thailand's good second-hand and small-brand furniture is sold on Instagram, mostly by sellers in Bangkok, using a quick-fire system that confuses everyone the first time. This guide explains how that works, lists the sellers I keep an eye on, and covers the big stores in town, Baan Tawai for custom teak, and getting things delivered up north.

How the Instagram drop system works

Most Thai furniture sellers on Instagram don't run a normal shop. They post a batch of pieces at a set time, a "drop", and they usually announce it in their stories a day or a few hours ahead. Each piece has a code or number, its measurements and a price in the caption. The first person to comment on the photo, or to DM, gets it. Good pieces go in seconds.

The comment you'll see is CF, short for confirm, or just F. A Thai online-selling glossary explains that CF or F means you want the item and are ready to pay, though some shops use F to reserve and CF to confirm, so read the shop's own rules. You'll also see CC for cancel, and CF no CC, which means once you've confirmed you can't back out. Cancelling after you CF can get you blacklisted by that shop. Some sellers write their rules in the bio, for example one Bangkok seller tells buyers to F under the photo or DM, and another says to CF under the item or DM.

Once you've won it, you pay quickly, usually by Thai bank transfer or PromptPay, and send a photo of the transfer slip in the DM. Sellers normally give a short window to pay, and shop tools for live selling suggest wording like "pay within 30 minutes", so don't CF unless you can pay right away. Drop prices are fixed, so there's usually no haggling. Delivery is arranged after you've paid.

Turn on notifications

Follow the shop and turn on post and story notifications, so you see the drop the moment it goes up.

Have Thai banking ready

Have your Thai banking app logged in and PromptPay set up before the drop. Some sellers only take Thai bank transfer or PromptPay, with no cards or foreign transfers, so ask first if you aren't sure.

Know your measurements

Measure your space, doorways and the lift before the drop. You won't have time to go and check once it's live.

Ask about Chiang Mai first

Most of these sellers are in Bangkok. Ask whether they deliver to Chiang Mai and roughly what it costs before you confirm, not after.

Ask for more photos

A Thai home site notes that you can usually ask to see flaws and extra photos before you transfer. Do it, especially on second-hand pieces.

Messaging Thai sellers

Many sellers only speak Thai, so expect to message in Thai. A translator app works fine, and short, friendly messages get the best replies. A few words go a long way: sawasdee khrap or kha (hello), song Chiang Mai dai mai (can you send to Chiang Mai?), and khop khun (thank you). Be patient and polite, and say thanks when it arrives.

For sellers that don't use drops, such as warehouses, showrooms and shops that sell by DM, you can often negotiate around 5 to 15%, especially if you buy more than one piece or collect it yourself. Ask nicely, and don't push on drop items with a fixed price.

Second-hand and vintage sellers

These are the second-hand sellers I follow. Most are in Bangkok. Check each one's delivery policy before you buy.

Papaya Studio

Bangkok's huge vintage warehouse, four floors and more than 100,000 pieces of furniture, lighting and antiques, in Bang Khen. Its website says it delivers nationwide in Thailand. Instagram @papaya.studio.bkk, or papaya-studio.com.

Treejaroen Vintage

Industrial and vintage wooden furniture in the Red Building near Chatuchak, Bangkok. Closed Mondays. @treejaroen_vintage.

Second Hand Furnishings

Rattan, wood and clean minimal pieces, with lots of vintage sofas and design chairs, according to a Thai home site. @secondhand.furnishings.

After Store 7

Vintage and imported furniture, sofas, chairs and decor on Instagram as @after.store7, based around Bangkok.

Studio C 21

Vintage furniture, decor and coffee at 1st Avenue in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, just outside Bangkok. @studio.c21_.

Y50

Scandinavian and Danish mid-century furniture in Ekkamai, Bangkok. @y50_official.

MML

A reuse shop for second-hand furniture and home decor, with a LINE shop linked in its bio. @mml.mamalove.

Grand PAPA

Second-hand furniture, wooden pieces, vases and collectables. Comment F under the photo or DM, and there's a LINE shop link in its bio. @grandpapa1980.

Art Fo Furniture

A small furniture seller. @art_fo_furniture.

Okasan Interior Decor

An interior decor shop. @okasan.intdecor.

New furniture and rugs

Never Met

A furniture shop at the Avenue tree market near Watcharapol, Bangkok. Its bio says it ships anywhere in Thailand and takes enquiries on LINE (@nevermet), not in Instagram comments or DMs. @nevermetbkk.

Soulmate Furniture

A Thai furniture maker that took part in Bangkok Design Week 2025. @soulmate_furniture, or soulmatefurniture.com.

Supersoft

Made-to-order, one-of-a-kind rugs from Bangkok. @supersoft.bkk.

Fisher Man

A Thai furniture and home decor brand making its own pieces since 2019. @fisher_man.th, or Facebook. Message it to ask about delivery.

978 Studio

New furniture and decor, and it will hunt down a piece you're looking for. In-stock items are tagged #978studioinstock, and you reserve by commenting F under the post. @978.studio.

Sellers in Chiang Mai

If you want to see something before you buy, these are closer to home.

Hana

Imported and second-hand European furniture and decor in San Patong, south of the city. @hana_cnx.

Local Boy

Vintage and design-classic furniture, from Cesca chairs to retro IKEA tables. @localboy_______.

Happy Room Space

A small Chiang Mai seller. @happy_room_space.

For more second-hand furniture in town, my Chiang Mai vintage guide covers the shops and warehouses that carry it.

Baan Tawai for custom teak

Baan Tawai is the woodcarving village in Hang Dong, about 15 to 20 km south of the Old City, or 25 to 40 minutes by car depending on traffic. It's a long strip of workshops and showrooms selling teak furniture, carvings, Buddha statues and old architectural panels. It's also where you go to have a piece made.

Custom orders

Most workshops take custom orders. Bring measurements in centimetres and photos or a sketch. Agree the wood, the finish and the hardware in writing.

Lead times and deposits

Expect about 4 to 8 weeks for ordinary furniture and months for big carved pieces. A 30 to 50% deposit is normal. Ask for progress photos along the way.

Hours

Most shops are open roughly 9am to 5pm daily. Weekday mornings are quieter, and the open-sided street gets hot from March to May.

Getting it home

Many showrooms arrange packing and shipping, including overseas. Get a written quote for delivery, with timing and insurance, before you pay. Bring your own transport or a driver, because the village is spread out.

Regular furniture stores in Chiang Mai

For a mattress, a sofa this week or the boring basics, the big stores are easier.

IKEA

IKEA Chiang Mai is an Order Point, not a full warehouse store. It's at 171 Moo 7 in Mae Hia, about 15 minutes from the airport. You can buy smaller items and essentials on the spot, browse room sets, and pick up Click and Collect orders (11am to 7pm). Bigger furniture is planned and ordered on the second floor (11am to 7pm) and delivered later, so check stock on IKEA's Thai website before you drive out. The store is open daily from 11am to 8pm.

Index Living Mall

The Chiang Mai branch is at 132/1 Moo 4, Nong Pa Khrang, on the Lampang road side of town, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Good for affordable sofas, beds and wardrobes. indexlivingmall.com.

HomePro

HomePro has several branches around Chiang Mai, including Nong Pa Khrang on the Chiang Mai to Lampang road, Ruamchok, Hang Dong (in Mae Hia) and San Sai, plus a big Mega Home on the Superhighway. It's best for home improvement, appliances and some furniture. homepro.co.th.

MUJI

MUJI's Chiang Mai store is on the third floor of Central Festival on the Superhighway. It's good for storage, bedding and a few simple furniture pieces. muji.com/th.

Delivery and online shopping

Getting furniture from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is usually the seller's problem, so ask them first. Some ship anywhere in Thailand, and bigger stores like Papaya say they deliver nationwide. For everything else, Shopee and Lazada carry a lot of flat-pack furniture with delivery to Chiang Mai, the IKEA Thai website delivers large items, and local Facebook groups and Marketplace are good for second-hand furniture from people leaving town. If you're buying second-hand from a person, see it in person if you can and arrange the pickup yourself.