B&Q to offer home furniture range

B&Q is to offer sofas and chairs for the first time

DIY chain B&Q is taking on the home furnishing sector with plans to offer sofas and chairs for the first time, the group has announced.

The Kingfisher-owned group will launch a range of home furniture online and is also set to expand its bedroom offering and introduce a new range of home appliances in-store.

B&Q's move - coming as part of a wider £18 million revamp of its ranges - will put the firm in direct competition with the likes of Argos and Ikea.

Starting prices for its living room furniture are £499, while ready-assembled bedrooms will be available from £100 for a bedside cabinet to £400 for a three-door mirror wardrobe.

It said it was capitalising on the consumer trend for "improving rather than moving" amid the recession, while the demise of shops such as kitchen and furniture group MFI is also thought to have created opportunities.

But the expansion also comes as B&Q battles to halt falling sales. It said in March that the impact of the consumer downturn on sales had contributed to a £25 million slump in annual profits.

Profits for the UK arm of B&Q fell 19% to £106 million after like-for-like sales declined 6.1% in the year to January 31.

Euan Sutherland, chief executive of B&Q, said: "From bathrooms to bedrooms and showers to sofas, we've identified room to improve and expand our showroom ranges as well as identifying space for growth in new product areas."

B&Q's new range of home appliance "white goods" will be the first to launch, arriving in stores from June 19 with 950 products in the range, including washing machines, tumble dryers, microwaves and SMEG fridges.

B&Q's new living room and bedroom furniture ranges will be available from August, as will an improved bathroom offering. New kitchen ranges are planned for the autumn and winter, added B&Q.