Ordering furniture on-line goes swiftly enough at first: Ecru or taupe? Brushed cotton or canvas? All done in a few clicks. Then, alas, comes the virtual stop sign: “Your order will ship in 12 to 16 weeks.” Of course, you want it yesterday. Real Simple logged on to 45 retail sites and ordered sofas, chairs, tables, and accessories to find the standout sites for quality, design, service, and — best of all — speedy delivery time. Twenty-one days later, the room was complete.

The Challenge

Decorate an entire living room with moderately priced classics as quickly as possible, using Internet retailers only. (All the items here arrived at Real Simple’s New York City offices within three weeks of ordering. Delivery time may be longer if you live in a remote location.)