Is the screeching noise coming from Dad’s recliner too much to bear?

Stop replenishing his supply of house slippers, and buy him something with quality, practicality and most importantly, longevity.

Furniture is the answer, and what better place or time is there to shop for it than now with the region’s vast array of furniture stores. The Northshore has one of the largest concentrations of furniture retailers, and most are offering special holiday promotions to make way for next year’s inventory.

So whether it’s a new recliner, loveseat, area rug or floor lamp, it’s bound to brighten up the holidays for your loved ones.

“Furniture is a great gift for Christmas,” Charlotte Levy with Levy’s Appliances and Furniture at 2024 Front St. in Slidell said. “Our sales are usually up in November and December. Recliners are the number one gift right now.”

Dining room sets are also very popular this time of year, Levy said, thanks to Thanksgiving family get-togethers.

Many galleries, like BFL Furniture Gallery at 2131 E. Gause Blvd. in Slidell, also offer special financing and layaway programs to help ease buyers’ financial burdens in today’s unstable economy.

The troubled economy has even changed the way Factory Direct Furniture at 1590 Gause Blvd. W. in Slidell is doing business.

“Because of the tight economy, we’ve changed up a lot of what we do. We’re doing a lot of sales with the bigger manufacturers that are in trouble and selling their merchandise for half the cost,” Eric Bremond with Factory Direct said.

Other locations like La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries at 31 Park Place Drive in Covington have also reduced prices on much of their stock to make way for the next year’s merchandise, Larry Mamquez said.

If you’re unsure about which loveseat or area rug to get for grandma, furniture stores like Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Robert and Rossie’s Furniture stores in Hammond have thousands of square feet of furniture to browse through.

Some tips buyers should consider when choosing furniture for the holiday season include:

• Make choices earlier rather than later to allot for shipment delays.

• Consider taking advantage of special discounts on floor models.

They’re more convenient because you can usually take them home with you that day.

Just be wary for any damage to the pieces.