Bunnings takes on Kmart with designer-look furniture for as little as $19

Australia’s giants are locked in a new battle for the nation’s living rooms, as hardware behemoth Bunnings makes an aggressive push into affordable home furnishings, a direct challenge to discount department stores such as Kmart and Ikea.

With stylish pieces starting at just $19, Bunnings isn’t just for DIY projects anymore; is now a serious competitor in the budget decor market, using its large brick-and-mortar network to match Kmart’s long-standing dominance.

Their latest strategic move, the release of the walnut look range, Astin Sinclair, has become the buzz of the night across social media.

The collection, which features items as affordable as a $19 side table, is proving to be a runaway success, drawing immediate comparisons to high-end designer pieces that cost a lot more dollars.

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“We know our customers are always looking for stylish pieces at affordable prices, and the Astin Sinclair range delivers just that,” a spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle.

“It’s a great example of Aussies looking to choose pieces that bring function, style and value to their home.”

A standout item, the $49 Walnut Harris Console Table, took buyers by storm. Its “soft and modern design” with “soft curved legs and the look of warm wood” has deeply impressed, especially considering its compact width of 30 cm, making it an ideal solution for hallways, living rooms, or even behind the sofa.

It also looks remarkably like Caliber’s walnut console table, which costs more than $600.

Brisbane resident Maddison recently showed off his new console table on TikTok, prompting a flurry of inquiries from eager buyers.

Brisbane resident Maddison has also fallen in love with the Astin Sinclair Harris Console Table which costs just $49. Source: @Maddionsmillie/TikTok

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“I’m worried about this,” wrote one commenter, while another exclaimed, “$49!!!! Well, I need this.”

There’s also an Astin Sinclair Walnut Harris Side Table for $19 and a Walnut Harris Coffee Table for just $39 in the new range at Bunnings.

Kmart just dropped a new line of furniture.

Kmart is also dropping a new range, including The Aleks Occasional Chair ($85), Claire Marble-Look Bedside Table ($65), and the Goldie Compressed Lounge Chair ($155). Photo: Kmart

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The Alex Occasions chair retails for $85 and comes in a rich chocolate velvet color, while a set of two walnut side tables retails for $59.

The Claire Marble-Look Bedside Table also has “walnut-look ribs”, and costs $65, while the Claire three-drawer chest is priced at $179.

Wesfarmers’ double game: Internal competition and asset strategy

Adding further depth to this retail rivalry is the fact that both Bunnings and Kmart operate under the same corporate umbrella: Wesfarmers.

This means that internal competition for consumer spending is as intense as the external market war.

However, Wesfarmers’ strategy extends beyond product lines.

Earlier this year, Wesfarmers announced plans to capitalize on this growing demand for retail goods.

This strategy has seen a significant number of Bunnings Warehouse properties change hands. A few months ago, HMC Capital’s HomeCo Daily Needs REIT sold Bunnings Warehouse Seven Hills for a whopping $64.71 million to private property finance and investment group Mosman Capital.

The transaction, the biggest for specialty stores in three years and the first sale of Sydney metropolitan Bunnings in four years, achieved a positive yield of 4.72 per cent, underscoring the strong investor appetite for these assets.

Bunnings has opened a new flagship store in Frenchs Forest, Sydney. Photo: John Appleyard

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The sale to a group of wealthy investors led by Mosman Capital highlights an interesting dynamic: by offloading these prime retail properties, Wesfarmers is effectively empowering other property groups and investors.

These companies could become key players in the retail space market, developing sites that directly compete with Wesfarmers retail brands, or strengthening property portfolios in competition with large tenants.

Since December of last year, 13 Bunnings Warehouse transactions have been recorded nationally, totaling $510 million, more than double the 10-year annual average of $250 million.

This strategic investment in real estate creates a complex web of competition, even within the wider Wesfarmers family of interests.

Bunnings’ blitz-and-mortar blitz: Extending the footprint

Despite the divestiture, Bunnings continues to aggressively expand its retail operations.

This commitment to physical stores is a key weapon in its battle against online-only retailers and a direct challenge to Kmart’s established presence.

In December, the hardware giant unveiled its largest store in Australia – a massive five-storey, $48 million warehouse in Frenchs Forest, north of Sydney.

This architectural marvel, so large that “the staff needs a map,” features three levels of retail, a new kitchen design center, and a Beaumont Tiles “store within a store” concept, alongside parking for more than 400 cars.

“It’s 101 aisles, it took me a while to learn where everything is,” commented store manager Paul Burgess, highlighting the scale and creation of 120 new jobs, from 15-year-olds starting their first job to an 82-year-old working in the hardware department.

This flagship store joins Bunnings’ existing network of 310 warehouses and small format stores across Australia, which will generate $18.97 billion in revenue by 2024.

Complex Manager Paul Burgess at the new Bunnings in Frenchs Forest. Photo: John Appleyard

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Continuing to strengthen its physical dominance, Bunnings recently opened new stores in Portland, Victoria, and Mount Barker, South Australia, reopened the destroyed Oxley warehouse in Brisbane, and secured approval for a new warehouse in Perth’s Maddington.

Bunnings’ smart brick-and-mortar expansion, alongside a growing homewares range, underlines a clear message: the hardware giant is no longer content with the shed and the garden.

The battle for the living room, once the undisputed domain of Kmart and Ikea, is now well and truly underway, with Bunnings proving it’s more than just a hardware store.