Now you've mentioned the Alicante area, there are loads of good furniture shops around. OK, there is, of course, IKEA. I don't personally like them but, then again, I would run a mile from M&S stuff as well. Hnos Garcia in Torrevieja is excellent and has a marvellous choice. So does La Factoria Muebles. Torregrossa is another good company although I find them quite expensive (quality, though, is excellent so you get what you pay for). Descuenta Muebles (on the AP7 between Alicante and Benijofar) are good quality and reasonably priced.
You will also find the shop that provided the blue and pine stuff (I assume it was a furniture pack) will also have some good stuff and Los Arcos (who specialise in this type of cheap furniture) will also have some good quality items. Try to avoid some of the cheaper shops as they only seem to stock the leather suites coming from China which is not very good quality.
The good thing about these stores is that you will get your furniture within a day or two. unlike the "six to eight" weeks you get quoted in UK and delivery is, normally, free.
Best thing to do is have a look around. We actually shipped most of our furniture out from UK as it is a lot cheaper than you would think (about 1500 quid for a 3 bed house but less the white goods) but that was for a permanent residence and consisted of quality items from Church's and Langtons. Our holiday flat had the blue (chipboard painted) stuff which was great for a holiday home but not what we wanted for a home).