Ballard Designs vs Burrow: Who Has Better Couches?

Ballard Designs captures the essence of refined living with its elegant and timeless sofas. The brand's dedication to quality is evident in their use of high-end materials like top-grain leather and durable fabrics, all crafted in the USA. With a wide range of customization options and a generous selection of free swatches, you can create a sofa that perfectly complements your style and space.

The premium experience, however, comes with a few tradeoffs. The price tag for a Ballard Designs sofa can be substantial, reflecting their commitment to quality and craftsmanship. While they offer free shipping for smaller items, larger sofas may require additional delivery fees, and in-home delivery and assembly come at an extra cost. Additionally, returns, while possible, are subject to fees and certain exclusions.

Overall, Ballard Designs caters to discerning homeowners who appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and timeless design. While the investment may be significant, the brand's commitment to customer satisfaction and sustainable practices makes their sofas a worthy addition to any home.

Burrow’s primary goal is to modernize the furniture market. Their couches are designed to be modular and expandable so that they can grow with you. They’re also delivered in boxes and easily assembled and disassembled. Great for apartment dwellers!

Burrow’s couches ship for free via FedEx, though you might end up with a dozen boxes if you order a sectional. Their couches come with a 1-year warranty on craftsmanship. A Mulberry extended warranty is also available, which protects against accidents and damage.

Several of Burrow’s couches have multiple customization options so you can really design a sofa that suits your style. There are also modern, high-tech options like having a phone charger built right into the couch. Perfect for those nights you’re browsing on your phone while half-watching “Love is Blind” on TV.

One of Burrow’s drawbacks is that the material quality could be better. It’s not terrible at the lower end of their price range, but for their higher-priced couches, the cushions could feature higher-quality fill materials. On top of that, their business model implies that their couches will be inexpensive, but they can actually get quite pricey.

Lead times are also longer than you’d expect. If a couch is in-stock it could ship out in 1-2 weeks. It could take 4-6 weeks or even 4 months if not. And once your couch arrives, assembly can be much more challenging than advertised.