Ashley Furniture vs West Elm: Who Has Better Couches?
Looking for a budget-friendly yet stylish couch - but torn between Ashley Furniture and West Elm? Want to know if the lead times, shipping options, and warranties make a difference? Let's compare these two furniture giants and help you make the right choice.
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
Get ready to settle the age-old debate of Ashley Furniture versus West Elm when it comes to couches. Curious which brand will bring the winning combination of affordability, durability, and style to your living room? Let's unpack the details and find out!
Side By Side
Features
Ashley Furniture
West Elm
Made to Order Lead Times
N/A
8+ weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option
$99.99-$249.99+
$279-$429
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option
Ashley Advantage Card / Acima
Affirm
Assembly Required
Varies
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin
USA + Import
Import
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price
$$
$$-$$$
In the side by side comparison, Ashley Furniture stands out for its affordability and commitment to community and environmental efforts, offering a one-year warranty with labor coverage. On the other hand, West Elm shines with its strong sustainability initiatives and a diverse selection of stylish sofas. While Ashley Furniture provides multiple delivery options, West Elm has in-stock couches that ship quickly. West Elm's imported couches and lack of a standard warranty are highlighted, contrasting with Ashley Furniture's focus on sturdiness and white-glove delivery option.
BRAND #1: Ashley Furniture
From humble beginnings in 1945, Ashley Furniture has grown into a global powerhouse, known for their massive selection of affordable and stylish furniture. They prioritize convenience and accessibility, offering both online and in-store shopping experiences. While they don't boast the most luxurious materials, their focus on value and their commitment to community and environmental efforts make them a popular choice for families and budget-conscious shoppers alike.
Ashley Furniture | Brand Summary
Ashley Furniture is like the big box store of the furniture world. They offer a dizzying array of styles, and you’re almost guaranteed to find something that fits your budget. Ashley Furniture Homestore is known for its customer experiences with purchasing furniture, highlighting both positive aspects such as affordable pricing and extensive selection, and negative experiences involving delivery issues and varying furniture quality. They have a laser focus on affordability.
While you won’t usually find exclusive designer pieces, their furniture is surprisingly sturdy for the price point. Ashley Furniture's focus on affordability and extensive selection makes it a popular choice among budget-conscious shoppers. Their online shopping platform makes it easy to browse their extensive selection and find the perfect piece for your home.
Potential inconsistency in quality between different models
Reguard protection plans cost extra
Ashley Furniture is your friendly neighborhood giant in the furniture world, with options galore to suit any style and budget. Their sofas are surprisingly sturdy for the price, and their commitment to making shopping easy shines through with a user-friendly website, multiple delivery options, and even in-store pickup for the adventurous. They even offer a one-year warranty with labor coverage, which is a bonus in this price range.
But hey, even giants have their shortcomings. While their sofas might not be heirloom-quality, they're definitely built for real life. However, customization options are limited, and the materials and sourcing information could be more transparent. The standard warranty, while a good start, could be more comprehensive, and those extra protection plans will cost you.
If you're looking for a stylish, affordable sofa without the fuss, Ashley Furniture is worth checking out. Just be sure to do your research and choose a model that fits your needs and lifestyle. After all, a couch is more than just a place to sit – it's where life happens.
West Elm launched in 2002 and opened its first storefront in 2003. They're owned and operated by Williams-Sonoma who also owns Pottery Barn. Despite their corporate nature, West Elm actually has a great emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.
West Elm | Brand Summary
West Elm has stylish, modern furniture with the quality and backing of the Williams-Sonoma brand. They have surprisingly competitive prices considering their selection and their quality. They also get some points for focusing on sustainability and supporting a worldwide community of artisans.
But operating under the umbrella of Williams-Sonoma does have downsides. Most of West Elm's couches are imported from overseas, they don't have any meaningful warranty program, and the lead times could be better than they are. West Elm's prices are more affordable than other brands with similar styles, but there's also not a strong reason why you should choose West Elm over another brand that has better lead times and a stronger customer focus.
Competitive pricing, especially on their leather options
3rd party warranty option
Strong sustainability initiatives
Has brick-and-mortar locations
Cons
Couches are all imported
No standard warranty
Can't return made to order couches
7 day return window may not apply even to In-Stock options
Shockingly low 1.1 star rating on TrustPilot
West Elm has become a go-to brand for stylish sofas at surprisingly affordable prices. But those lower prices come at a cost. There’s no standard warranty on their couches, made-to-order couches can’t be returned, and their 7-day return window may not apply to their In-Stock or Quick Ship couches. That could make them an expensive gamble. Additionally, West Elm has a very low 1.1-star rating on Trustpilot, which could give you pause. But one saving grace is that you can purchase a 3-year Allstate Protection warranty for your sofa. This covers accidents, stains, material damage, and more.
On the positive side, West Elm has a huge number of glamorous couches to choose from. They’re also generally available in a wide range of luxury fabrics. So you can really design a couch that you love. The pricing is wonderfully competitive for their quality and the number of sofa styles available. West Elm also has plenty of brick-and-mortar locations where you can test out their couches in person. And if sustainability is important to you, West Elm has some impressive initiatives on that front. However, they are part of a big corporate umbrella, which might negatively affect some shoppers.
In the showdown between Ashley Furniture and West Elm for the best couch brand, the winner is Ashley Furniture. With its focus on affordability, sturdy construction, and commitment to community and environmental efforts, Ashley Furniture edges out as the preferred choice. While West Elm offers a wide selection of stylish sofas and strong sustainability initiatives, Ashley Furniture's overall package makes it the ultimate winner in this comparison.
Alex Back
Couch.com CEO & Founder
Alex Back is the founder and CEO of Couch.com. Previously, he was the co-founder and COO of the popular furniture brand, Apt2B, which was acquired by a large US retail furniture chain in 2018. He worked to integrate Apt2B, one of the very first online furniture retailers on the Shopify platform, into the operations of the 100 year old larger business entity and was deeply immersed in the business operations of both online and brick and mortar retail for 4 years before leaving in 2023 to start Couch.com. Working in various parts of the furniture industry since 2004, he has 20 years experience in retail sales, e-commerce, marketing, operations, logistics and wholesale manufacturing and distribution. He has worked extensively with partners such as Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon and his work has been highlighted in many publications such as Forbes, CNN and HGTV, among others. Alex is delighted to bring his experience and authority on couches and the furniture industry to this platform, along with many of his industry colleagues who are helping him keep the Couch.com audience informed and engaged on a daily basis.
